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[Previous Seasons] [Home] Arsenic & Old Lace September 5 – October 6, 2003
Cast Photos Cast List Production Team Bios Show Photos Reviews Scrapbook Awards
Synopsis: At the old Brewster home in Brooklyn, a pair of elderly sisters mix up a very special elderberry wine, which they “charitably” serve to lonely gentlemen houseguests. The antics of their nephews, Teddy, who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt; Mortimer, a manic theatre critic; and Jonathan, an escaped murderer, make for hilarious mayhem. Add a liberal dose of good old-fashioned Brooklyn law and order and the stage is set for farce and fireworks. Arsenic's constant stream of screwball antics and witty dialogue assure that audiences of all ages will be taken with this enchanting, lightning-paced dark comedy. It will delight anyone who loves to laugh and is a great show for the whole family! -Suitable for all ages.
Set Photos
Pat DiMeo ................................................................Abby Brewster Paul Schaeffer ....................................................... Rev. Dr. Harper Mark McCoy .......................................................... Teddy Brewster Ben O’Fahy ............................................................. Officer Brophy Sally Stockton ...................................................... Martha Brewster Cristyn Chandler ...................................................... Elaine Harper Frank Remiatte ................................................ Mortimer Brewster John Culver ......................................................................Mr. Gibbs Charlie Riendeau ............................................ Jonathan Brewster Dave Rivas .................................................................. Dr. Einstein Brian Redfern ......................................................... Officer O’Hara Joe Nesnow..................................................... Lieutenant Rooney Paul Schaeffer .................................................... Mr. Witherspoon
Producer .......................................................................... Jill Drexler Director ........................................................................ George Flint Assistant Producer ...................................................... Tim Deaton Stage Manager ................................................................Kym Cree Assistant Stage Manager ............................................ Brad Wood Dramaturge .................................................................. Dick Emmet Set Designer ............................................................... Marty Burnett Set Construction and Painting ................................... Rick Carlson .....................Rosemary King, Joe Casali, Chuck & Lori Malmgren ........................... Jill & Roger Drexler, Tim Deaton, Dave Rethoret ............................ Valerie Broesch, Diana, Stacy & Robert Shelby ......................................... Jim Caputo, Gil Savage, Sharon Bowen Scenic Artist .............................................................Rosemary King Lighting Designer ....................................................... Ginger Harris Sound Designer .................................................... Michael Shapiro Prop Masters & Set Dressing ............................ Leslie Fitzpatrick ............................................................................. Maggie Thompson Costume Designer .................................................. Martha Phillips Stage Technicians ........................Maya Zapata & Alicia Wescott Artistic Director ............................................................... Jill Drexler Technical Director ...................................................... Raylene Wall Publicity ....................................................................... Mark Shapiro House Manager ........................................................ Cindy Bassuk Reservations ......................................................... Judy Splitgerber Photography ....................... Dave Rethoret and Tony Eisenhower Posters ............................................................. Karina Montgomery Program Graphics and Paste-up ...................................Julia Rhea
Season Support Team
Photos Producer Box Office Tickets Manager Plant Manager Production Manager Show Programs Producer
BEN O’FAHY (Brophy & Klein) Ben is happy to be returning to Scripps where he made his stage debut as Mr. Stanley in The Man Who Came To Dinner. Ben has also appeared here in Play On. Locally he has performed in The Prodigious Snob, Caine Mutiny Court Marshal, The Harry and Sam Dialogs, The Apprentice, Dial M for Murder, Antigone, Sabrina Fair and Black Comedy. Ben has also appeared in 4 short films and writes and directs as well. BRADLEY WOOD (Asst. Stage Manager) This is Bradley’s second year of involvement with theatre in San Diego. He was the ASM for last year’s Renaissance Theater’s production of Edward Albee’s American Dream and Zoo Story, and was the stage manager for a reading of W;t at UCSD earlier this year. He is a full time instructor in the humanities at Grossmont College in El Cajon. BRIAN REDFERN (O’Hara) Brian is proud to be making his debut at Scripps Ranch Theatre. He currently teaches Drama, English and Stagecraft at Scripps Ranch High School. Past credits include Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Charlie in The Foreigner and Horatio in Hamlet. CHARLIE RIENDEAU (Jonathan Brewster) Charlie is delighted to make his debut at Scripps. He has just completed A Midsummer Night’s Dream with New Village Arts and before that Buried Child with NCRT and again with NVA, as Serebryakov in Uncle Vanya. Last year he was in London with the International Reader’s Theatre Institute. He has done 4 Shakespeare seasons at the Globe as well as numerous winter season shows. He has worked frequently with the Fritz theatre and is now on their Board of Directors. CRISTYN CHANDLER (Elaine) After attending off-Broadway shows each summer, Cristyn knew at an early age she wanted to be in theatre. You may have seen her recently in the OnStage production of More Fun Than Bowling or as the hung-over hooker in Coronado Playhouse’s California Suite. Besides theatre, Cristyn also models for print ads such as those for M. Rose Sportswear. She would like to thank both cast and crew for making this such a wonderful experience, but as always: This one’s for you, mom DAVE RIVAS (Dr. Einstein) Dave is delighted to be performing for the second time on the SRT stage. In SRT’s How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying he played four roles and won an ACT Aubrey award. After that he was Tito Morelli in the Coronado Playhouse production of Lend me A Tenor and Martini in Powpac’s One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest; both roles earned him Aubrey nominations. He has lent his voice to numerous TV & radio commercials, video games, cartoons, messages on hold and on-line comic books and has won two Onmi Media awards for his voice work. FRANK REMIATTE (Mortimer Brewster) Frank is thrilled to be back again at SRT. He most recently was seen as J. Pierpont Finch in the musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying for which he won an ACT Aubrey award. Other favorite roles include the bellhop in Lend Me A Tenor, also at SRT and the Tin Man in The Wizard Of Oz at Starlight. As always, Frank would like to thank his ‘One and Only’ for all the love and support. GEORGE FLINT (Director) George is the founder and Producing/Artistic Director of the highly acclaimed Renaissance Theatre Company. He recently was the recipient of a Patte Award for his directing of Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story. As an actor he has played numerous roles with Lamb’s Players, North Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego Repertory, Shakespeare/L.A., New Village Arts, Fritz Theatre, Blackfriars and others. He is the past president of Actors Alliance of San Diego. GINGER HARRIS (Lighting Designer) Ms. Harris is delighted to be working again with SRT where she previously designed lighting for Sleuth and The Gingerbread Lady. She has also done lighting for the Fritz, North Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego Comic Opera, San Diego Junior Theatre, PaceTheatrical, Tower Theatre Project in Houston, San Diego Starlight Theatre and the Houston Grand Opera. JILL DREXLER (Producer) Jill joined the SRT board shortly after her first production as an actress at the theatre in Cemetery Club. She later appeared as the lead in The Gingerbread Lady and in last season’s production of Rumors. As a producer she has masterminded The Last Of The Red Hot Lovers and last season’s Perfect Wedding. Jill became SRT’s artistic director in 2002. She is proud to be associated with such a talented group of people and such a fine theatre. JOE NESNOW (Lt. Rooney) Joe is please to be making his SRT debut in this, his 106th production. A retired Navy man, Joe was last seen in Julius Caesar at the Old Globe and in Detective Story at Lamb’s Players Theatre. He dedicates this performance to his long-suffering family who graciously (and sometimes not so graciously) allow him to follow his “star”. JOHN CULVER (Mr. Gibbs) This is John’s first show at SRT. Following a 25 year absence from the stage, John returned in 2000 to perform Duke Fredrick in the Julian Junior Theatre production of As You Like It. After that he performed at the Pine Hills Lodge and Dinner Theatre in Julian portraying Thomas Edison in Camping With Henry & Tom, Willie The Shill in Coconuts and more recently Malvolio in Twelfth Night. KYM CREE (Stage Manager) Kym is becoming a fixture at SRT, this being her sixth production in which she has either produced or stage-managed. Kym has over 15 years of stage experience, from direction and performing to set design. LESLIE FITZPATRICK (Property Master) Leslie is an associate artist at both Diversionary and North Coast Repertory Theatres. A member of Actors Alliance, she recently did props and set dressing for Gross Indecency and Falsettos at Diversionary, Bobby Gould In Hell at The Fritz, Oleanna at the Asian American Rep and The Mysterious Mr. Love at 6th @ Penn. 4C MAGGIE THOMPSON (Co-Property Master) Previous designs include five years as resident prop designer for NCRT, and additional work with Gaslamp Quarter Theatre, Renaissance Theatre Company, 6th @ Penn, and the Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival. Maggie is the production manager at North Coast Repertory Theatre and resident prop master for the Theatre School at NCRT MARK McCOY (Teddy Brewster) Mark was last seen on SRT’s stage playing Mortimer in The Fantasticks and as the mute Pierre in The Deadly Game. Other theatre credits include Mr. Asano in A Majority Of One for Vanguard Theatre, Buddy in Come Blow Your Horn, the Mikado in The Mikado and George in Cops. Mark currently works as a very ‘gruntled’ U. S. Postal Service employee and has been married to his wonderful wife, Celine, for ten years. MARTHA PHILLIPS (Costumer) Martha is excited to be working for the first time with SRT. Martha’s love for costuming came as a young girl, attending the Old Globe combined with her love for designing and sewing. Some of her work has been seen in Wig Master/Make-up for Angel Arms, Man For All Seasons, Charlie’s Aunt, Detective Story, and Private Lives. Martha came to know our director, George Flint, during the production of Detective Story. MAYA ZAPATA and ALICIA WESTCOTT (Light & Sound Technicians) Both Maya and Alicia have been active now for six consecutive shows at SRT switching both light and sound functions between them. They are both juniors at Scripps Ranch High School. Maya enjoys singing, film, fashion and literature and aspires to the stage while Alicia enjoys horseback riding and photography. MICHAEL SHAPIRO (Sound Designer) There would be no room in this program for the over 500 shows for which Michael has designed sound effects and/or incidental music, a hobby he began in college. Not only has he provided these talents to SRT, but also to Poway Performing Arts Company, Moonlight Stage Productions, Lamplighters Community Theatre, Actors Alliance Play Festival, Diversionary Theatre, Coronado Playhouse, OnStage Playhouse and many others. In 1995 he received the Associated Community Theatres (ACT) Laura Smith award for his continuing service to San Diego area community theatres and in 2003 he also received the ACT Hall of Fame award for outstanding service to ACT. PAT DiMEO (Abby Brewster) Pat may be familiar to audiences for her work as a Resident Artist at North Coast Repertory Theatre and an Associate Artist at Lambs Players Theatre and for performances at many other local theatres. She is a charter member of Actors Alliance of San Diego PAUL B. SCHAEFFER (Harper, Rev. Witherspoon) Paul is grateful for his first role at SRT. Most recently, he has acted in three consecutive shows at OnStage Playhouse. Paul’s love of traveling has had him working two years in the Peace Corp as a Registered Nurse and 25 years in the Naval Reserve. He has had the opportunity to do both stage and film work in three countries. ROSEMARY KING (Scenic Artist) Rosemary has also provided her talents to many community theatres including Coronado Playhouse, Onstage Playhouse, PowPac, Patio Playhouse, Lamplighters Community Theatre, 6th @ Penn, and Stone Soup theatre, among others. This talented lady is a retired San Diego County correctional officer! (Don’t mess with Rosemary!) SALLY STOCKTON (Martha Brewster) Sally is delighted to be playing again at Scripps Ranch Theatre where she was previously seen (wearing a cast on her arm) in Enter Laughing. She has performed locally at the Fritz, Diversionary, Lamb’s Players, Starlight and Gaslamp/ Hahn theatres, among others. Some favorite San Diego appearances include The Lion In Winter, Quilters, Lettice & Lovage, The Music Man, Fifth Of July and W;t TIM DEATON (Assistant Producer) Tim has been active at SRT for four seasons and in nearly every show during that time. He has been an Assistant Director, Producer, Stage Manager, set builder and painter. He is also a member-at-large on the SRT board.
GRITTY BIDDIES Grandmas can be murder. In Joseph Kesselring's 1941 comic classic, "Arsenic and Old Lace," the two sweet old Brewster sisters are just doing a service to the community -- and to a dozen or so lonely old men. They barely hide their prey, buried in the basement; it's all so… innocent. Meanwhile, their nephew thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt; his brother is a psycho/killer on the lam. And the third brother is even a worse demon: he's a theater critic. There's a wily German doctor named Einstein, a couple of Irish cops, and plenty of dead bodies to go around. Of corpse, of corpse…. It's Brooklyn circa 1940 and it's still great fun. Scripps Ranch theatre has brought in Renaissance Theatre founder/producing artistic director George Flint to shepherd the madness and mayhem; he's gathered together a terrific cast and directed them extremely well. Everything is pitch-perfect; if only they could all remember their lines!! Other than that, the production is a total treat. Marty Burnett's set is a detailed delight (oil portraits, flocked wallpaper, antimacassars and all). The lighting (Ginger Harris) and costumes (Martha Phillips) are just right. And Pat DiMeo and Sally Stockton (left) make wonderfully dotty sibs… mixing up their deadly cocktail of elderberry wine. Mark McCoy is very humorous on his Bully!-pulpit as the trumpeting Roosevelt, Ben O'Fahy and Brian Redfern get those Irish accents just right, and Charlie Riendeau is deliciously terrifying as the nutcase killer who's been made to look like Boris Karloff. Cristyn Chandler is cute as the clueless fiancée of Mortimer, the theater critic who hates theater. As Mort, rubber-faced Frank Remiatte does double-takes nonpareil -- and , ironically, his malleable mug looks more than a tad like Nathan Lane's. As the good (NOT!) doctor, Dave Rivas looks a little like Michael J. Pollard -- but sounds more like Mengele. He's hilarious, a singular standout. Great fun from all, for all. Who said old things (or people) have to get musty??
Opening Night Party
2003 - 2004 Aubrey Awards: Actress, Lead Role In A Comedy - Sally Stockton
Set Design & Dressing In A Comedy or Drama - Marty Burnett
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06/29/2008 02:00 PM |
