Meet The Cast

Something’s Afoot

A Murder Mystery Musical

Book, Music and Lyrics by James McDonald,
David Vos and Robert Gerlach.
Additional music by Ed Linderman.

Director: Murray Mintz

Musical Director: Ken Godwin
Choreographer: Jason Fortner

March 12-22, 2009

Produced through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc

Director’s Notes:

As a long time Agatha Christie fan, I was delighted when I learned in 1976 that there was a new musical spoof of her style and her characters called Something’s Afoot.  I was further drawn to the show when I saw a production at the University of South Florida several years ago, so I was really pleased when Francis Wilson Playhouse offered me the opportunity to direct this production, a takeoff of Christie’s Ten Little Indians. 

If you are familiar with Christie and her contemporary British mystery writers, you will recognize all of these characters the moment they walk through the front door, from the “saucy maid” to the “grand dame” to the “sturdy, prying amateur sleuth.”   It’s been a joy watching this extraordinary cast breathe life into these stock characters.

 It’s been a joy, too, to have the opportunity to collaborate again with several people who have brought their considerable talents as part of the production staff to other shows I’ve directed; I am really grateful to Jason Fortner, Cathy Hunt, Mitzi Mess, Jim Demetrius and Dianna Hanger for their major contributions to this production.  And it has been a pleasure to meet and work with musical director Ken Godwin for the first time.

 I hope you have as much fun watching Something’s Afoot as we have had putting it together.

-----------Special Thanks To-----------

Eight O’Clock Theater, Sean Brennan, Doug Kolb,
Graham Jones, Friendship United Methodist Church
and Bowen Barrs

Show Synopsis & Musical Numbers

TIME

Late spring, 1935

 PLACE

Rancour’s Retreat

The country estate of Lord Dudley Rancour, located on an island in the middle of a lake, somewhere in the English lake district

SETTING

The entrance hall to Rancour’s Retreat

 MUSICAL NUMBERS

 ACT ONE

“A Marvelous Weekend”
“Something’s Afoot”
“I Don’t Know Why I Trust You (But I Do)”
“The Man With the Ginger Moustache”
“Suspicious”

 ACT TWO
“The Legal Heir”
“You Fell Out of the Sky”
”Dinghy”
“I Owe It All”
“New Day”

Meet the Directors

Murray Mintz (Director) - Murray is happy to be back at Francis Wilson Playhouse.  He directed last year’s zany Greater Tuna, the award-winning The Foreigner two years ago, and several other Playhouse productions over the past 20 years.  A retired theatre teacher, Murray is the executive director of The Florida Association for Theatre Education, and is a member of the steering committee of Pinellas County’s Arts for a Complete Education (ACE).

Ken Godwin (Music Director) - Ken, a West Virginia native, received his Bachelor and Masters degrees from West Virginia University.  He did post-graduate work in Europe and in particular three summer opera fellowships in Italy.  He worked for three years at the North Shore Music Theater in Mass. and taught in the public schools of West Virginia.  Mr. Godwin was selected as WV Teacher of the Year in 1990. He is a veteran church organist and choir director and has served at various churches in WV and Florida.  Mr. Godwin has produced and directed over 95 music theater productions.  He is delighted to be working with such a talented cast and an outstanding creative staff.

Jason Fortner (Choreographer/Flint) - Jason is excited to be back on the Playhouse stage.  Jason has played such roles here as “Herman” in Sweet Charity, “Kodaly” in She Loves Me, “The French Ambassador” in Of Thee I Sing and the title role in Barnum.  Most recently, Jason directed and staged our productions of The Full Monty and Bells Are Ringing.  Thanks to Dianna, Graham, Murray and the gang!

 The Cast:

                                 In order of appearance)
Lettie,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Jessica Bishop
Flint,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Jason Fortner
Clive,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,George Kolitsas
Hope Langdon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Krista Davis
Dr. Grayburn,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mitchell LeVine
Nigel Rancour,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Dale Badway
Lady Grace Manley-Prowe,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Shellie Deane
Col. Gillweather,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Jay Morgan
Miss Tweed,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mary Lee Ross
Geoffrey,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Jason Osorio

Meet the Cast

Dale Badway (Nigel Rancour) - An actor/producer in NYC, Dale is delighted to return to the wonderful stage of the Francis Wilson Playhouse.  Dale appeared in the very first musical production here Very Good Eddie as well as Good News and the operettas Rose Marie, Naughty Marietta and Thoroughly Modern Millie. He was last seen in The Full Monty. 

Jessica Bishop (Lettie, the Maid) - Last seen onstage at the Playhouse as Estelle in The Full Monty, Jessica is very excited to be back and playing such a saucy role!  Previous credits include Pam in The Full Monty (M.A.D.), Caitlin in Over the River and Through the Woods (WCP), and Texas in Cabaret (EOT).  Jessica teaches preschool gymnastics when she is not acting.  Many thanks and lots of love to Mom, Dad, and Mike.

Krista Davis (Hope Langdon) - Krista is a junior in high school.  This is her first part in a play outside of high school.  She played Antonia in Man of LaMancha, Camille in Madeline’s Christmas, and Alice in an original Evangeline.  She is very excited to play the role of Hope.  Thank you to my family and friends for their wonderful support.  This one’s for you, Daddy!  Love you!

Shellie Deane (Lady Grace Manley-Prowe) - After a 30-year absence from the theatre, Shellie returns for the first time on the Francis Wilson Playhouse stage in the part of Lady Grace Manley-Prowe.  She hopes you “amour” the show as much as she “amours” playing Grace.
 

George Kolitsas (Clive, the Butler) - George was last seen as Marty/Minister in The Full Monty.  Fortunately for the audience, he did not strip, although audiences may remember his ‘toupee malfunction’ in the audition scene.  In 1991 he performed in the Playhouse’s first musical Very Good Eddie in the title role, directed by Jason Fortner.  Hailing from NJ, he arrived in Florida in 1974 and has been involved in semi-professional, mystery, dinner theater and Community Theater.  He has always enjoyed playing the “character roles.”  Thanks to Murray Mintz, Jason Fortner, Dianna Hanger, the production crew and the gifted ensemble you are about to behold.  He thanks the audience for supporting live theater.  ENJOY THE SHOW!

Dr. Mitchell Lee LeVine (Dr. Grayburn, the family doctor) (the family proctologist) - It has finally happened!  Since 1968, when he first appeared in high school and community theatre in Pinellas County, Dr. LeVine has taken pains never to stoop so low as to be doing what he will be doing in this current production, something which only his high regard for the director, the music director, the choreographer, and the stage manager would allow him to do.  He has consented to be type cast!!!  Forgive him.

Jay Morgan (Colonel Gillweather) - Last seen (more than some people wanted to see!) in our production of The Full Monty, Jay is excited to be stretching his (mutton) chops as the “older” distinguished Colonel, in Something’s Afoot.  Jay has worked in community theatre since 1990, beginning in his hometown of Albemarle, NC and in Pinellas County since 2007.  An attorney by day, Jay enjoys the challenges theatre provides him and is very thankful to Murray for giving him the opportunity to play his first death scene!

Jason Osorio (Geoffrey) - Jason has been involved in acting since his middle school years, and has continued to stay involved ever since.  From the Largo Cultural Center’s summer program to Clearwater High School’s drama club, Jason has been in a variety of shows.  He was most recently seen as Ethan Girard in our production of The Full Monty.  He would like to thank his family, friends, fellow cast members, and everyone who is involved with Something’s Afoot for this great opportunity.

Mary Lee Ross (Miss Tweed) - Credits include SPLT’s The Diary of Anne Frank – Mrs. Van Daan, Blanche in SPLT’s Broadway Bound, Ethel Merman in Red, Hot & Cole, The Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz.  Also, Mary Detweiler in How the Other Half Loves at WCP, Golde in TSPAC’s Fiddler on the Roof,  Poppy in Love, Life & Chaos  for Fresh! Live Theater, and Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, GCP.  My best to all…my fellow cohorts in “crime.”

Cathy Hunt (Stage Manager) -Cathy is happy to return to the Playhouse as Stage Manager.  She thanks Murray for giving her the opportunity to work with him once more and on such a fun show.  She has enjoyed working with this talented cast and hard working crew.  Break a leg everyone!  Thanks for all the laughs.  Can someone please remove the bodies from SR?  P.S. I think the dinghy has a leak!

Production Staff

Director........................................................................ Murray Mintz

Musical Director............................................................. Ken Godwin

Choreographer.............................................................. Jason Fortner

Stage Manager................................................................ Cathy Hunt

Costume Design.............................................................. Mitzi Mess

Stage Props............................................................... Jennifer Pippin

Producer.................................................................... Dianna Hanger

Set Design, Artistry & Construction.......................... James Demetrius

Lighting Design.......................................................... Colleen Boylan

Lighting /Sound........................................................... Dianna Hanger

Box Office................................................................ Gabrielle Snapp

Copyright laws prohibit the use of cameras or any recording devices.