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Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express at Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center
Dates: 11/10/2022 - 11/13/2022
📍 Theatre: Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center
Brookings Community Theatre
1601 University Blvd
Brookings, SD
Tickets: $15-$17
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Famous detective Hercule Poirot is called back from Istanbul to London on urgent business. He intends to book a first-class compartment on the Orient Express, run by his former friend and colleague, Monsieur Bouc. The train is surprisingly full, but Bouc manages to secure Poirot a spot in the first-class cabin. While aboard the Orient Express, Poirot meets a host of peculiar characters: an aging Russian princess, her Swedish companion, a Hungarian countess, a Minnesota housewife, a Scottish colonel, an English governess, a French conductor, a disagreeable American businessman, and his anxious secretary. While aboard the train, the angry businessman, Samuel Ratchett, corners Poirot and demands Poirot to investigate a series of ominous letters that have been sent to Ratchett, threatening his life. As a snowdrift halts the Orient Express in its tracks, Ratchett is found stabbed multiple times in his locked train compartment. Poirot is tasked by Monsieur Bouc to solve the murder, as the killer could still be in their midst. As Poirot investigates, conflicting clues and convoluted alibis lead him to dead ends. Over the course of 48 hours, will Poirot be able to solve the case of the Murder on the Orient Express?
Cast and Creative Team for Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express at Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center
Cast
Melissa Crow
Marie Hilley
Melissa Crow is excited to be making her debut at Theatre of Gadsden. Her last stage performance as Lucille in Dearly Departed with CAST Theatre in Anniston was her re-entry onto the stage after a many-year hiatus. Her passion for theatre isn't new, though. She minored in drama at JSU, where she performed in or directed numerous productions. She also spent about 10 years directing and choreographing children's theatre. Melissa appreciates the welcome she has received at TOG as she steps back in history with you as Audrey Marie Hilley.
Dr Billy Jenkins
John T Carter
Dr. Billy Jenkins (John T. Carter) holds degrees from GSCC, University of Montevallo, University of Alabama, Grand Canyon University, Jacksonville State University, and Holy Apostle’s College and Seminary, in Piano/Voice, Elementary Education, Psychology, Educational Administration, and Philosophy. He is currently a Professor for GSCC where he teaches Philosophy and Psychology. If you want him to psychoanalyze you, he charges a fee. He received the District VIII Teacher of the Year for the State of Alabama and top two in the State Teacher of the Year Program, and still, to this day, holds a grudge for coming in second.
Dean Williams
Sheriff
Dean Williams (Sheriff) is a semi-retired Etowah County resident and cuts hair at Unique Boutique in the Gadsden Mall. He enjoys the outdoors, fishing, golf, tennis, bowling, and sometimes writing and acting. He is excited to be making his debut at Theatre of Gadsden.
Janetta Gunter
Mrs. Partlow
Janetta Gunter (Mrs. Partlow) is an Etowah County Probate Clerk, married to Bart (Mr. Birdsong), mom of Lyndsie (Norred), Bethanie and Stephen. Jan has been seen most recently in Theatre of Gadsden’s production of The Sound of Music as Ursula, and a member of the Nun's Chorus, and previously in Dearly Departed, High School Musical, and A Christmas Story. She has also been in CharACTers Entertainment shows Annie, Oliver, Cinderella, Titanic and Mary Poppins. Theatre is an amazing art form! Everyone should have the blessing to experience being in a play and/or musical at least once in your lifetime!!
Thank you to Ann Sharpe and TOG for this opportunity to be part of this historical account of Viola and Ann Marie that I learned about in Alabama History years back! Thank you to my family for always supporting and encouraging me! (They’re thankful I don’t scream like Mrs. Partlow at home.) A special THANK YOU to every one of you sitting there reading this right now and being here to see this historical, mysteriously chilling show based on the events of each of these intriguing ladies and what they, and the people in their lives, went through!!
Bart Gunter
Dr. Birdsong
Bart Gunter (Dr. Birdsong) is glad to be back on stage at TOG. Bart and his family have been involved with theatre in Gadsden for over 19 years, having been in numerous shows with TOG and CharACTers. Bart's lovely wife, Jan, and daughter Lyndsie are also in this production. Bart also has two other children, Bethanie and Stephen. Theatre has been a way of life for the Gunters. Thank you to everyone who supports the arts in Etowah County!
Martin Hyatt
Greg Oliver (Martin Hyatt) is a seasoned member of the TOG family. He has appeared in a number of TOG productions, including Jesus Christ Superstar, To Kill A Mockingbird, Looking For A City, and most recently The Sound of Music and Big River. He is blessed to be part of such a hardworking, dedicated, and talented cast bringing the legend of these local ladies to “life.” On his portrayal of Martin Hyatt, Greg says, “I am humbled to take on this challenging role of a simple, yet charismatic and compassionate husband, father, farmer, and unindicted co-conspirator. A sensitive soul devoted to defending and protecting the women he loved. And not least, a man with a fondness for gospel music who, by the way, in all likelihood would have embraced both TOG productions of Looking For A City.”
Viola Hyatt
Shannon Hill (Viola Hyatt) is excited to be a part of the premiere production of White Plains, Blue Mountain. She has been in several shows with TOG, including Second Samuel, The Odd Couple: Female Version and Cowgirls. A self-taught musician, she plays the drums, bass guitar and mandolin. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support, and to E, forever and always.
Beth DiRoma
Miss Jessie
Beth DiRoma (Miss Jessie) became a part of the TOG family when she appeared as part of the ensemble of Jesus Christ Superstar. Since then, she has appeared as Mrs. Dubose in To Kill A Mockingbird, Mrs. Perkins/ensemble in Annie, Mrs. Hyatt in the reading of White Plains, Blue Mountain, Black Widow, and as part of the choir in Looking for a City. She recently appeared as Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music. She assisted in set construction for those shows as well as for 1940s Radio Hour and Miracle Worker. She has worked lights for 1940s Radio Hour, and backstage for Miracle Worker. She has also done props for The Sound of Music and Big River. “I love being a part of this theatre family, and I thank my 'regular' family for all their support.”
Todd Hodge
Lee Harper
Todd Hodge (Lee Harper) was last seen on stage as Counselor Robinson in Big River. Previous roles include the Doctor in The Miracle Worker and a juror in To Kill A Mockingbird. He has been active with TOG for years in various capacities of ushering shows, set constructions, demos and workdays, operating spotlights and the occasional stage curtain. Todd is a Sergeant with the Alabama Department of Corrections, where he has been for 20 years. He is the father of five: Tiffany, Kara, Judson, McKenzie and McKenna; Papa of six: Blaine, Braxton, Bo, Ace, Ezra and Max; and husband of Nica.
Dennis Nunnelly
Emmett Harper
Dennis Nunnelly (Emmett Harper) is a retired Navy veteran of 20 years. He has performed in countless plays and musicals at Theatre of Gadsden for over 20 years, and was last seen in the musical Looking For A City. Dennis is grateful for the opportunity to work with Ann Sharpe again and would like to thank his family; wife, Teresa; daughter, Angel; and granddaughter, Mia, for their support.
Cole Cannon
Phillips
Cole Cannon (Phillips) is from Gadsden and is the son of Joe and Becki Cannon, and brother of Kendelle Stovall. Cole has been in theatre since high school and is a two-time award winner at the Walter Trumbauer festival. His most recent roles were Cogsworth in Beauty and The Beast, and one of the 12 jurors in 12 Angry Men. His first performance with TOG was Tom Sawyer in the recent production of Big River.
Lyndsie Gunter
Norred
Lyndsie Gunter (Norred) is a Revenue Clerk at the Etowah County Courthouse. She has been involved in community theatre with TOG and CharACTers since she was 9 years old. Some of her previous shows include Cinderella, Much Ado About Nothing, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Sound of Music. Most recently, she was a stage manager for Big River. She is excited to be a part of telling this local story.
Creative Team
Ann Sharpe
Director
Ann has served the theatre of Gadsden in many capacities. She started her tenure back in the '80s when she drove her daughter to an audition, and she and her daughter, Casey, were both hooked. Ann serves on the Board of Directors, but mainly she enjoys her time with Denver, Lyle, Dane and James, aka the best grandchildren in the world? Having the opportunity and thrill of directing the first full public performance of a new show has been beyond words. Working with the playwrights, Bill and Donna Thornton, and this cast has been an incredible journey. Thank you, Patrons, for joining in!
Nica Hodge
Stage Manager
Nica began stage managing with MAME in 2015 and hasn't stopped since. She is the four-time recipient of the Stage Manager Toggle Award, serves on the Board of Directors and is thankful for TOG for the multitude of memories, friends made, and to be a part of this brilliant theatre family. Nica and her husband, Todd, have five children, six grandchildren and three spoiled dogs. She is humbled, honored and "theatre-nerding out" at the opportunity to be a part of this premier production and bring the local stories to life on this historical Theatre of Gadsden stage.
Jennifer Fredericks
Costumer
Jennifer is the mother of Samantha and Susannah and her unofficially adopted son, Ian. She has spent the last 20 years battling the "R" sound as a speech-language pathologist for the Etowah County School System with a Master's Degree from University of Montevallo. She designed costumes for Steel Magnolias, Ring of Fire and the Best Christmas Pageant Ever. She's ben in over 20 TOG shows over the past 8 years with her favorite roles being Sally Brown in Snoopy and Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein. she thanks her family for their help and support with extra thanks to her fiance, Erick Kent.
Amey Watts
Spotlight Operator
Amey Watts (Spotlight Operator) is happy to be back with Theatre of Gadsden. She previously worked sound for Annie, Miracle Worker, and Smoke on the Mountain, and ran a spotlight for Big River. She is a homeschooling mom of Isabel and Ella and the "best" wife of Kevin. She is glad to be considered part of the TOG family and looks forward to serving behind the scenes many times to make the magic happen.
William & Donna Thornton
Playwrights
Donna Thornton was born in Boaz and has been a reporter for more than 30 years, working with The Sand Mountain Reporter, The Gadsden Messenger, and writing several award-winning stories for The Gadsden Times.
William Thornton is from Gadsden and has won awards for stories in The Gadsden Times and The Birmingham News. He is the author of three books, including “Set Your Fields on Fire.”
The Thorntons recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, and they enjoyed writing the play together. Their best collaboration is their daughter, Sophia.
McKenzie Hodge
Hair Designer
McKenzie Hodge (Hair Designer) has been involved with TOG since 2015. Onstage, she has been in the ensembles and choruses of Mame, South Pacific, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Gypsy. Offstage, she has operated lights for The Fantasticks, Snoopy: The Musical and Second Samuel; served as production apprentice for To Kill A Mockingbird, 2019’s Looking For A City and Beehive; worked stage crew for The Miracle Worker and 2021’s Looking For A City; and was hair design/stylist for The Sound of Music and Big River. McKenzie is a 2021 graduate of Southside High and is in the cosmetology program at GSCC.
John Sharpton
Stagehand
John Sharpton (Stagehand) was born and raised in Gadsden, AL, graduating from Emma Sansom High. As a freshman, he was in JSU's production of Cyrano de Bergerac. He received his Graphic Arts degree from Art Institute of Atlanta and was soon after in Camelot with the Rome GA Little Theatre. His favorite role was in Theatre of Gadsden’s Picnic as Bomber the Newspaper Boy. John worked backstage for TOG's Ring of Fire and Big River as well as spotlight for The Sound of Music. He is a member of First Baptist Gadsden’s Sanctuary Choir.
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