Considered by many to be the most exciting theatre space in Dayton, The Loft Theatre is home to The Human Race Theatre Company. It is located on the third floor of the Metropolitan Arts Center.

In 1991, The Arts Center Foundation completed the renovation of the former Metropolitan Department Store into the Metropolitan Arts Center, a contemporary building that now houses many of Dayton’s most energetic and innovative organizations, such as Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Opera, The Human Race Theatre Company, CITYFOLK, The Muse Machine, Rhythm in Shoes and the Puerto Rican Cultural Society. In addition to providing office and rehearsal spaces for these organizations, the Metropolitan Arts Center also serves as home to Culture Works and WDPR radio.

But the Metropolitan Arts Center is much more than just offices and rehearsal space. Tucked in the back of the third floor, where Women’s Coats used to be sold, was a 1920s bowling alley just waiting to be born again as a 219-seat performance space – The Loft Theatre.

As a “three-quarter thrust” stage, The Loft Theatre’s performance area juts out into the audience, allowing the seating to wrap around the front edge and giving each patron a different view of the action onstage. The Loft truly defines the word “intimate” since the furthest seat in the house is only 20 feet away from the actors!

Located between the Victoria Theatre and Uno’s Restaurant at 126 North Main Street in downtown Dayton, The Loft is easy to find thanks to the large red awning that stands over the street level entrance to the Metropolitan Arts Center.