One plucky community theatre is about to produce a show called Murder Most Foul, a new “murder mystery play” with the same title as an Agatha Christie novel but with no relation whatsoever. The director/theatre manager, Gerry, thought producing the play was a good idea since the inexperienced playwright has agreed to let the company perform the show for no charge. Gerry, however, had no idea what disasters awaited her: the show is hilariously amateur, the “murder mystery” plot doesn’t really have a murder, and to top it off the playwright keeps changing the story and script only two days from its premiere! It doesn’t help that the cast is disgruntled, and the playwright accidentally deletes the entire sound effect board. All of the disasters come to fruition in Act III when the company performs the actual show with hilarious mishaps as every turn. Play On! is a hilarious love letter to community theatre.
Cast and Creative team for Play On! at The Ritz Theater
Cast
Lisa Davidson Hines
Gerry Dunbar
Lisa is thrilled to be making her debut on the Ritz stage! A strict method actor, Lisa has spent the past 30+ years preparing for the role of Gerry by posing as a theatre teacher and director in Texas and Florida schools and community theatre companies. When she isn’t onstage, backstage, or writing for the stage, you will find her bird-watching, studying oenology, or training feral squirrels in preparation for the coming apocalypse. She would like to thank the cast, crew, and directors for making this a killer experience! She would also like to thank her family for encouraging her in all of her crazy pursuits.
Sally Green
Phyllis Montague
Sally is excited to return to the Ritz Theater after her debut performance last season as Veta Simmons in Harvey. You can catch her next in her playwriting debut in “Striking a New Note” at this summer’s Breakthrough Theater’s playfest August 9 & 10. Don’t worry, all revisions have been made! She would like to thank the audience for coming out to support local theater & its artists! We couldn’t do it without you!
Tianna Stevens
Aggie Manville
Tianna is excited to join the cast of Play On! She was last seen in Breakthrough Theatre’s Best of Broadway. Her performance credits also include White Christmas (Martha), Prom (ensemble), 9 to 5 (Roz), Snow White (Magic Mirror/Dwarf Mack), Best of Broadway (Self), Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells Batman Smells (May), Junie B Jones The Musical (May), I Am Woman (Self), Retrospective Part 2 (Self), Into the Woods (Narrator), Violet (Young Vi). She would like to thank the wonderful production team for this wonderful opportunity!
Max Wadley
Louie Peary
Amy Parnell
Polly Benish
Amy is pleased to return to the Ritz after a 3-year sabbatical to portray the role of serial thespian and prima donna Polly Benish. Amy has years of experience on and off stage, including director and musical director roles, but her passion is in the art of performance. Her favorite performance credits include Cabaret (Sally Bowles), The King and I (Anna), Carousel (Julie Jordan), A Streetcar Named Desire (Blanche Dubois), Mamma Mia (Donna), and most recently Noises Off (Belinda); she has been awarded Ritz Theater Best Actress honors six times. Amy thanks you for supporting the arts and hopes you laugh as much watching as she did rehearsing!
Adam Cornett
Henry Benish
Adam always enjoys performing on this stage, especially with several old long-time friends in the cast. This is his 15th show here, dating back to Same Time, Next Year in 2007. Love to his family and friends, especially his two kids, who have spent many evenings watching rehearsals over the years.
Conor Moore
Billy Carewe
Conor is exuberant to be making his Ritz Theater debut as a part of the production of Play On! Conor’s credits include Breakthrough Theatre and various regional productions in Ohio. He’d like to thank his wonderful girlfriend, Jillian, for always being there to help with lines, and of course his family for always being supportive. Shout out to the phenomenal cast and crew, in fact, go read THEIR bios, spread the love, then come back…welcome back! And enjoy the show! Hopefully, nothing goes wrong!
Cayman Stranahan
Violet Imbry
Cayman is proud to join the cast of Play On! She is currently a Senior at Seminole High School, but will be attending NYU Tisch School of the Arts in the fall! She’s been performing since she was about 9 years old, and can’t wait to pursue Theatre in the future! Some of her recent credits include Sophie in Mamma Mia!, Ann in All My Sons, and Serafima in The Night Witches (Competition version). She’d like to dedicate her performance to the Central Florida Theatre Community, in thanks for uplifting the art she’s come to love.
Joshua Hernandez
Saul Watson
Joshua is happy to return to the Ritz stage for Play On! His last appearance here was as Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey, a role for which he was awarded Ritz Theater Best Actor. Some other favorite roles include It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (George Bailey), The Great Gatsby (Nick Carraway), and The Boys Next Door (Jack Palmer). Joshua would like to thank his wife Abigail for all her love and support!
Emma Wadley
Smitty Smith
Risa Katz
Ensemble: u/s Phyllis
Risa is making her acting debut! Growing up in New York, Risa has known many a “Phyllis” and hopes her portrayal gives justice to the character. She aims to deliver a memorable and authentic portrayal of a character whose personality is near and dear to her heart. She is grateful for the opportunity and wishes to thank her husband, David, and her children, Ryan, Daphne, Justin, Spencer and Ashley for their love and support.
Taliyah Meyers
Ensemble; u/s Violet
Taliyah is ecstatic to be making her debut at the Ritz Theater! 'Play On!' marks her long-awaited return to the stage since her childhood days of singing and acting, including a standout performance as 'Jasmine' in Aladdin. Behind the scenes, Taliyah is a passionate humanitarian who recently served as a health volunteer in Madagascar with the Peace Corps. She extends her heartfelt gratitude to her family and friends for their unwavering support in all her endeavors. Taliyah dedicates her performance to her late Auntie Gale, a theater enthusiast, whose favorite color was Violet.
Andy Otwell
Ensemble
Andy Otwell is working backstage and thinks it’s super rad that you’ve come to see the show. Enjoy the thing.
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