By Agatha Christie
Directed by Jeff Brown
Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.
A Note from the Executive & Producing Artistic Director, Andrew Vonderschmitt
Hello and welcome to the Playhouse. I wanted to take a moment of your time to say thank you. Thank you for your continued support of the Playhouse and thank you for supporting the arts in general. As an artist I understand the commitment and responsibility I have to you, the audience. Art is not created in a vacuum. It takes an observer to finish the formula. This particular art form, on this particular day and time, in this particular venue, is for you, and you alone. I honestly hope that you enjoy your visit with us and that you will return soon.
I am always open to comment, complaint, compliment, concern, or just plain conversation. How’s that for alliteration? Of course, I enjoy compliments over complaints, but who doesn’t learn from input of any kind? A healthy dialogue with you, the audience, is very important to me. I can be reached via email, snail-mail, phone, fax, or you can drop by the Playhouse. However you choose to contact me and tell me how I’m doing, I welcome it.
Thank you, once again, for your patronage. Enjoy the show.
Andrew Vonderschmitt
[email protected] • Office: 562-494-1014 ex 503 Cell: 714-390-2107 • Fax: 562-961-8616
5021 E. Anaheim St. LB, CA. 90804
562-494-1014 * www.lbplayhouse.org * 5021 E. Anaheim St. LB, CA. 90804
Coming soon...
Established in 1929, Long Beach Playhouse is recognized as the first performing arts organization in Long Beach with over 85 continuous years of production. Our eight-play Mainstage season is presented with the undying energy of cast, crew and house volunteers. Long Beach Playhouse is financially supported through memberships; funding and grants from foundations, corporations and government programs; along with contributions of generous patrons like you.
The Mainstageat Long Beach Playhouse
Director’s Notes
The SettingWinter. 1950. London.
Act I Scene I - Great hall at Monskwell Manor. Late afternoon.
Act I Scene II - The same. The following day after lunch.
Act II - The same. Ten minutes later.
So many of us are intrigued by murder mysteries, sometimes to the point of obsession. Whether it’s a story we are reading or something we hear about in real life, we want to know “Who did it?” and, “Why?” There is something innate in us, I guess, to want details, to know the reason. If you trace the origin of the word “mystery,” it is linked linguistically to mystical secrets and truth. “Murder” can be associated with mortal sins. So, maybe this little game we play with Agatha Christie and other mystery writers is a way to explore our own abilities of observation and deduction, to test our skill at discerning truth – and to dance on the edge with people who toy with eternity. Or, maybe it’s just because it’s fun! One of the lines spoken in the play says that “the only people who really know what other people are like are artists – and they don’t know why they know it.” We all have secrets. Not one of us reveals all of ourselves in any given moment and no one can see precisely what lies ahead for ourselves or anyone else. This unknowing can be scary. But it can also be exhilarating. It’s all a kind of game, isn’t it? In Agatha Christie’s game, in a large house with strange company where no one can be trusted and everyone is a suspect – all of us are challenged to figure out whodunit. The game has been going non-stop in London’s West End since 1952. It has been played countless times through the years in theaters and schools around the world. I’m proud to be a small part of bringing it to Long Beach Playhouse this season. Welcome to The Mousetrap.
BIG THANK YOU TO OUR KICKSTARTER
HONORARY PRODUCERS! Anthony Tan
and Jeff Brown
The DirectorJeff Brown -
Jeff has over thirty years’ experience as a director, designer, actor, and teacher. When a freshman in high school, a friend suggested they join the drama club stage crew for the fall play, The Mousetrap…he’s been caught in the theatre trap ever since. For Long Beach Playhouse, Jeff most recently directed the 2014 version of A Christmas Carol.
Behind the Scenes
Stage ManagerJeanne Marie Valleroy - Jeanne is pleased to be working with such a wonderful cast. She has been working at LBP a lot in the last few years and loves it. She would like to thank her mom for always allowing to follow her dreams. Thank you for supporting love theater and enjoy the show!
Set DesignLight DesignSound DesignCostume DesignScenic PainterProp Master/DesignerBoard OperatorPhotographyPromotional DesignCostume Shop
Greg FritscheElie SiegelLarry MuraDonna FritscheDrew OteroLarry & Phie MuraDominic MishlerMike Hardy Daisy Ramirez-GutierrezRosy Anselmo, Abertha Montgomery, Rebecca Roth, Jill Soloway, Analidia Lopez
Andrea Pincus (MOLLIE RALSTON)Andrea is thrilled to be making her debut at LBP in The Mousetrap. Favorite roles include: Lily St. Regis in Annie, Wendy in Peter Pan, and Marian in The Music Man. Andrea lives in Huntington Beach with her husband, Matt, and their kitten, Buddy. She would like to thank her family for being supportive and always encouraging her to follow her dreams.
Sri Chilukuri (GILES RALSTON) Sri Chilukuri is thrilled to be making his debut at the Long Beach Playhouse! He loved performing since he was a kid, but he credits his teachers at North Lake College for molding him as an actor. Favorite roles include Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps, Carthage Kilbride in By the Bog of Cats and Harold Dobbs in Proof. He wants to thank his cast and crew for all the support. And finally, he wants to dedicate this performance to his mom and dad. A shout out to his brother!!
Lee Samuel Tanng (CHRISTOPHER WREN)Lee was most most recently seen on the LBP stage as Simon in Hay Fever. Previous LBP shows include Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Murder on the Nile, Fiddler on the Roof, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Gay Dream, A Flea In Her Ear, and And Then There Were None. Lee is currently the lead nurse for the Emergency and Critical Care Department at Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Irvine.
Meet
The Cast(in order of appearance)
Kathleen Fabry (MRS. BOYLE) Kathleen is honored to make her debut at LBP and thanks her director and wonderful cast, for this opportunity. She was last seen as Felicity in The Shadow Box at Stage Door Repertory, in September of 2014. She has performed in more than 30 productions since leaving Corporate America in 1997, and studied performance with Holly Ritter, while living in San Diego. Some of her favorite performances have been classics at Golden West College, Newport Beach Theatre Center, and Stages Theatre. She thanks you for supporting this show.
Anissa Loer (MISS CASEWELL)This is Anissa’s second production at the Long Beach Playhouse. Favorite roles include Sorel Bliss in Hay Fever, Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. She is thrilled and honored to share the stage with such a talented cast and crew. She would like to give special thanks to Jeff for this amazing opportunity.
Cort Huckabone (PARAVICINI) Cort is happy to return to the Playhouse Mainstage for another Agatha Christie mystery after being seen previously as William Blore in the 2013 production of And Then There Were None. Other favorite roles include Orgon in Tartuffe, John Smith in Run For Your Wife, and Serge in ART. Mr. Huckabone trained at Circle in the Square in New York City.
Bradley Roa II (SERGEANT TROTTER)This is Bradley’s second production at Long Beach Playhouse. His recent production was Musa in Bengal Tiger At The Baghdad Zoo. He would like to thank his family for supporting him in his dream and always giving him the hope to move forward. He would also like to thank his dearest of friends. Bradley would like to dedicate this role and these performances to his grandmother who passed away from cancer and always made sure he was reminded that he was loved and taught him how to treat others the same.
Doug Seagraves (MAJOR METCALF)The Mousetrap marks Doug’s 11th performance at LBP since his role as Judge Taylor in To Kill A Mockingbird in 2011 appearing on both the Mainstage and in the Studio theaters. He is thrilled to finally be performing in the infamous The Mousetrap. Other roles you may recognize him from are Judge Wargrave in And Then There Were None, Silenus in The Cyclops, Baptistan in A Flea In Her Ear and Mr. Cuthbertson in The Philanderer. Thank you to Jeff, the cast and crew and you, the audience.
Meet
The Cast(in order of appearance)
Andrew Vonderschmitt Executive & Producing Artistic Director
Madison Mooney Business & Operations Manager
Sean Gray Technical Director &Production Manager
Donna Fritsche Costume Shop Manager & Resident Costume Designer
Larry MuraProperties Master
Anna Kate MohlerHouse Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
Kellee CullinghamBox Office Associate
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TreasurerDan Ryan
President Roxanne Patmor
A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER:
In consideration of our performers and patrons, please turn off all cellular devices during the show. Cameras and recording devices are prohibited. Late seating is at the discretion of the House Manager. Beverages and concessions are offered before performances and during intermission and you may bring drinks purchased at our bar into the theatre. Smoking is restricted to the area in front of the theatre on Anaheim Street.
Extra Funding made possible by:
Special thanks to our Set Sunday Volunteers! Ray Smith, Jerry Loeb, Flo Dartt, Marie Santora, Bob S. Turner, Tom Long, Lana Haines, Tammy Barile, Roscoe Evans, David Lovegren, Dan Halverson, Mal Groff, Emmett W. Fry, Bob Boyce, and the Cast, Crew and Design team for The Mousetrap! Many thanks.
Vice President Tony Diaz
SecretaryCheryl Avirom
Deborah Bozanich, Dominica Davis-Smith, Gaurav Datta, Bart DeLio, David Haberbush, Emily Holman, Betty Karnette,
Jane Nunn, Ray Smith, Miguel Solario
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AnonymousEvalyn M. Bauer Foundation
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of Long BeachJerry & Flora LoebRoxanne Patmor
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and The Temple Family Charitable Foundation
Andrew & Martina Vonderschmitt
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FischerPaul VanderRoest
Ensemble Cast ($50-$149)
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Big Thanks to our Kickstarter Backers!!!!!Because of them we have the new sound system
you are enjoying today. $1,000 & Up!Anonymous
Pat & Ray Smith$500-$999Jeff Brown
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Many Thanks to our Honorary Producers
Marlene Temple and The Temple Family Charitable Foundation