Human Race and RIS Team Up for Brother Wolf

by Rick Good, Artistic Director, Rhythm in Shoes

Rehearsals are history, tickets are selling well and anticipation is high for Brother Wolf, produced, presented and performed by the Human Race Theatre Company and Rhythm in Shoes.

Written by Preston Lane with music and lyrics by Laurelyn Dossett, Brother Wolf was first produced in 2007, at the Triad Theater in North Carolina. It's a retelling of Beowolf set in the Southern Appalachian Mountains where our hero is the subject of many tales. He travels the hills and valleys preaching the word of God and battling the forces of evil. The evil-doers—Grin Dell and Grin Dell's Maw—are mythical creatures of darkness terrorizing the land, while Rattler Man, with his box of serpents, spreads another kind of terror.

Not since the 1996 Dayton Stories Project have these two companies joined forces on such a large scale. Always on the lookout for a suitable fit, Brother Wolf came along and provided everything they were looking for—well-crafted music in the traditional style, a classic story line with a contemporary twist and the potential to challenge a group actors, dancers and musicians.

Among those challenges is the dynamic of four directors working at once, with three of them also in the cast. A potential train wreck of creative temperaments, the experience has turned out to be a high speed roller coaster ride through a world rich in possibilities. Sharon Leahy is in charge of movement and choreography as well as daily work in acting Viewpoints, Scott Stoney is concentrating on language, character and dramaturgy, Rick Good is focusing on the music, while Marsha Hanna ties it all together with a grand overview and an all-important outside eye.

The stellar cast of players includes actors, musicians and dancers—all of whom will be acting, singing and moving. The entire process is true collaboration at every level and the ensuing ensemble has grown stronger by the day. As you may have gathered, we highly recommend this show to anyone who appreciates good theater.

Brother Wolf opens Thursday, January 29 and runs most evenings through Sunday, February 15. Tickets are available by calling 937-226-3630 or by going online to Ticket Center Stage. The pre-sale promotional discount for our readers ends today, so don't wait! Get $10 off a Regular, Full-Priced Adult Ticket for any Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday evening performance by using the promotional code: SHOES.