Download Program - Mercury Theater

L. WALTER STEARNS
EUGENE DIZON
Executive Director
Business Manager
Book
JOHN REEGER
Director
WARNER CROCKER
Music and Lyrics
JULIE SHANNON and
MICHAEL MAHLER
Musical Director
MICHAEL MAHLER
Scenic Design
SCOTT DAVIS, U.S.A.
Lighting Design
YAEL LUBETZKY, U.S.A.
Costume Design
ROBERT S. KUHN
Sound Design
MIKE ROSS
and JOE COURT
Developmental Director
RACHEL ROCKWELL, S.D.C.
Orchestrations
MATT DEITCHMAN
Production Stage Manager
KRISTI J. MARTENS, A.E.A.
CAST
Sherlock Holmes....................................................................................................................NICK SANDYS*
Professor Moriarty.................................................................................................................JASON GRIMM
Arthur Conan Doyle....................................................................................MICHAEL AARON LINDNER*
Ivy.............................................................................................................................................. COLETTE TODD
Vendor............................................................................................................................... RONALD KEATON*
Londoners....................................................................................MARY ERNSTER*, DAVID GIROLMO*,
CHRISTINA HALL, JASON GRIMM
Louise Doyle.................................................................................................................. McKINLEY CARTER*
George Edalji.....................................................................................................................JOHANN GEORGE
A Barrister..........................................................................................................................MATTHEW KEFFER
Reverend Shapurji Edalji........................................................................................ ANISH JETHMALANI*
Charlotte Edalji................................................................................................................... MARY ERNSTER*
Molly Jamison.....................................................................................................................CHRISTINA HALL
Norman Pierce................................................................................................................ RONALD KEATON*
Royden Sharp...............................................................................................................RUSSELL MERNAGH
Colin Stillman...................................................................................................................MATTHEW KEFFER
Sergeant Campbell.........................................................................................................DAVID GIROLMO*
First Prison Warder................................................................................................................JASON GRIMM
Second Prison Warder................................................................................................RUSSELL MERNAGH
Prison Governor..............................................................................................................MATTHEW KEFFER
MUSICIANS
Conductor/Keys I..............................................................................................................LINDA MADONIA
Violin.........................................................................................................................................ELENA SPIEGEL
Cello.............................................................................................................................. KELSEE VANDERVALL
Horn in F..............................................................................................................................SARAH YOUNKER
Piccolo/Flute/Clarinet/Bass Clarinet...................................................................................MILES TESAR
UNDERSTUDIES
Understudies will not perform unless an announcement
is made at the time of performance.
George Edalji............................................................................................................................BILAL DARDAI
Louise Doyle........................................................................................................................ MARY ERNSTER*
Arthur Conan Doyle........................................................................................................DAVID GIROLMO*
Sergeant Campbell...............................................................................................................JASON GRIMM
Sherlock Holmes.............................................................................................................MATTHEW KEFFER
Royden Sharp, Colin Stillman, Second Prison Warder.....................................................WILL LIDKE
Norman Pierce, Moriarty, First Prison Warder, Londoner...............................DANIEL SMERIGLIO
Charlotte Edalji, Molly Jamison..................................................................................... COLETTE TODD
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Mercury Theater Chicago
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F
Director.............................................................................................................................WARNER CROCKER
Musical Director............................................................................................................. MICHAEL MAHLER
Developmental Director............................................................................. RACHEL ROCKWELL, S.D.C.
Scenic Design.................................................................................................SCOTT ADAM DAVIS, U.S.A.
Lighting Design.......................................................................................................YAEL LUBETZKY, U.S.A.
Costume Design................................................................................................................ROBERT S. KUHN
Wig/Hair Design......................................................................................................................KATIE CORDTS
Sound Design........................................................................................................MIKE ROSS, JOE COURT
Movement Consultant.......................................................................................................KATIE SPELMAN
Production Stage Manager...................................................................................... KRISTI J. MARTENS*
Production Assistant........................................................................................FERNANDO ALVAREZ, JR.
Properties Designer...........................................................................................................................DJ REED
Dialect Coach........................................................................................................................... NICK SANDYS
Violence Director.................................................................................................................... NICK SANDYS
Scenic Construction........................................................................................MEANS OF PRODUCTION
Sound Board Engineer...............................................................................................CARL WAHLSTROM
Wardrobe/Wig Supervisor............................................................................................. RACHEL BOYLAN
Master Electrician................................................................................................................JASON SHIVERS
Creative Consultant...................................................................................................................BILL GELLER
Orchestrator/Keyboard Programmer.....................................................................MATT DEITCHMAN
Promotional Photographer........................................................................................... BRETT A. BEINER
Graphic Designer............................................................................................................ NADINE HEIDIGER
Public Relations............................................................................................................BIG SPLASH MEDIA
PAT KREMER, CAROLYN JACOBS
M E R C U R Y T H E AT E R C H I C AG O S TA F F
Executive Director.......................................................................................................L. WALTER STEARNS
Business Manager............................................................................................................... EUGENE DIZON
Marketing Coordinator.....................................................................................................ALLISON WEBER
House Manager............................................................................................................. CHRISTOPHER DEA
Box Office Staff................................................................................ KELLY GRAHAM, BRIAN MARTINEZ
Mercury Theater Chicago is a proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres, the
National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Chicago Area Producers Organization and the
Lakeview Chamber of Commerce.
*Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more
than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks
to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential
component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working
conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including heath and
pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with
FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity
emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org.
The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes
3
MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT ONE
The End...............................................................................................................................................Orchestra
Look What He’s Done!....................................................................................................................Company
I’ve Had Enough...........................................................................................Doyle, Ivy, Louise, Company
This Moment........................................................................................................................................... Louise
A Trip to the Country.................................................................................................................... Louise, Ivy
Right Here in Wyrley................................................................................. Molly, Pierce, Sharp, Stillman
Just Your Ears.......................................................................................................................... Holmes, Doyle
What’s Your Pleasure, Georgie?........................................................................................Prison Warders
What’s Your Pleasure, Georgie? (reprise)......................................................................................... Edalji
Case Closed........................................................................................................Campbell, Holmes, Doyle
A Three Pipe Problem.......................................................................................................... Doyle, Holmes
Right Here in Wyrley............................................................Campbell, Sharp, Stillman, Molly, Pierce
ACT TWO
How Many?......................................................................................................................................Londoners
Through a Prism......................................................................................................... Charlotte, Rev. Edalji
A Three Pipe Problem (reprise)......................................................................................... Holmes, Doyle
Get Out...................................................................................................................................................Stillman
More Than Me...................................................................................................................... a cloaked figure
This Moment (reprise)............................................................................................................................Doyle
A Trip to the Country (reprise)........................................................................... Louise, Doyle, Holmes
Look What He’s Done! (reprise).........................................................................Vendor, Ivy, Londoners
This Moment (reprise)............................................................................................................................Doyle
Finale: The Game’s Afoot..................................................................................................... Holmes, Doyle
SPECIAL THANKS
Over the years, the authors benefited greatly in developing this show from the talents of
actors, directors, musicians, writers, subject matter experts and readers. Director Rachel
Rockwell guided the creative team through the development of the script and score and
directed two Mercury Theater Chicago workshops of this show during 2015.
Our special thanks also go to: Larry Adams, Roger Anderson, Kareem Bandealy, John
Blane, Elic Bramlett, Michael Cancilla, McKinley Carter, John Clonts, Rives Collins, Devin
DeSantis, Mary Ernster, Neil Friedman, Jamie Gangi, Bill Geller, David Girolmo, Cory
Goodrich, Elizabeth Haley, Karl Hamilton, Sheldon Harnick, Angela Ingersoll, Anish
Jethmalani, George Keating, Ronald Keaton, Heidi Kettenring, Peter Kevoian, Jeff Kuhl,
Dr. Frank LaFranco, Patrick Lane, Iris Lieberman, Michael Lindner, David Lively, Cathy
Lord, Cindra Macciomei, Tammy Mader, Russel Mernagh, Leah Morrow, Abby Mueller,
Andrew Mueller, Roger Mueller, Bill Osetek, Ron Rains, Nick Sandys, Stephen Schellhardt,
Paula Scrofano, Walter Stearns, Sean Thomas, Tom Vendafreddo, Michael Weber, Scott
Weinstein, Jarrod Zimmerman
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Mercury Theater Chicago
A B O U T M E R C U R Y T H E AT E R C H I C AG O
Mercury Theater Chicago
3745 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago IL 60613
773-325-1700
www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com
Mercury Theater Chicago is an intimate jewel box of a theater in the heart of the
Southport Corridor, a sophisticated neighborhood of restaurants and boutiques steps
from Wrigley Field. A delightful theater destination, Mercury Theater Chicago takes care
of its guests from the moment they arrive with valet service and dining at its adjoining
restaurant, Deleece.
The building that houses the Mercury opened in 1912 as a silent film nickelodeon,
named The Blaine Theatre after actor and former Senator and Secretary of State James G.
Blaine. The Blaine became obsolete when talking pictures became popular nationwide
in 1928. The much larger Music Box Theatre was then built, which is still in operation
today. For most of the 20th century The Blaine served retail purposes; a carpet cleaning
facility utilized the raked seating area to lay rugs out to drain water off. Though little of
the original Blaine is left, some remnants still exist including the decorative plaster busts
flanking the House. The intimate theater now boasts warm exposed brick walls and seats
that were recovered and refurbished from a 1933 era Boston movie house.
Today Mercury Theater Chicago is led by Executive Director L. Walter Stearns, a veteran
theater director and former Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre. It re-opened
May 1, 2011 with the critically acclaimed production of A Twist of Water. The Mercury is
thrilled to be part of the city’s vibrant theatre community, boasting multiple extensions
of the critically-acclaimed production Avenue Q, a Jeff Award win for The Addams Family
and establishing a new annual holiday tradition with the heartwarming holiday musical
The Christmas Schooner.
The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes
5
C O M I N G S O O N TO M E R C U R Y T H E AT E R C H I C AG O
THE PRODUCERS
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Directed by L. Walter Stearns
Musical Directed by Eugene Dizon
April 13 to June 26, 2016
It is a truly “boffo” hit, winning a record twelve Tony
Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night.
The plot is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway
producer and his mild-mannered accountant come
up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop
in history thereby bilking their backers (all “little old
ladies”) out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes
awry: the show is a smash hit! At the core of the insanely
funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two
very different men who become friends. The Producers
skewer Broadway traditions and takes no prisoners as it
proudly proclaims itself an “equal opportunity offender!”
BIOGR APHIES
McKINLEY CARTER*
(Louise Doyle) is thrilled
to help bring this piece
to life with Mercury
Theater Chicago. Her
most recent credits
include The Merry
Widow and Carousel
with Lyric Opera, and a summer season
with Rocky Mountain Repertory. Other
Chicago credits include: Road Show, Julius
Caesar, and Sunday in the Park with George,
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre; Putting it
Together, Porchlight Music Theatre; The
Sound Of Music, Ragtime, Drury Lane
Theatre; John and Jen, Apple Tree Theatre;
Turn Of The Century, The Visit, Floyd Collins,
Goodman Theatre; Forbidden Broadway,
Royal George Theatre; Winesburg Ohio,
Steppenwolf Theatre; Into the Woods,
Marriott Theatre; James Joyce’s The Dead,
Cymbeline and Pericles, Court Theatre.
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Mercury Theater Chicago
BILAL DARDAI (u/s
George Edalji) is an
ensemble member and
former Artistic Director
of The Neo-Futurists,
where he has been
writing, directing, and
performing original
work since 2004. He is the author of the
Jeff Award-nominated plays The Man Who
Was Thursday (New Work - Adaptation) and
The Sovereign Statement (New Work), and
he has appeared onstage in productions
with New Leaf, Backstage, Rasaka, and
others. He lives in Evanston with his wife
and son, and thanks them for their love
and patience.
MARY ERNSTER*
(Londoner, Charlotte
Edalji, u/s Louise Doyle)
is happy to make her
Mercury Theater
Chicago debut in this
creative new work.
Having been involved
in its original incarnation with John Reeger
BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
and Julie Shannon, it is very exciting to see
it come to life with additional material from
Michael Mahler. Ms. Ernster is a familiar
figure at major theatres throughout
Chicago having garnered 12 Joseph
Jefferson Award nominations, 2 Jeff Awards
and an After Dark Award for her portrayals
of Mrs. Anna in The King and I (Marriott
Theatre, also Drury Lane Theatre), Margaret
in The Light in the Piazza (Marriott), Emily in
Wings (Apple Tree Theatre), Rosabella in
The Most Happy Fella (Drury Lane
Oakbrook), and Abigail Adams in 1776,
among others. Recently, she has appeared
as Widow Paroo in The Music Man and Mrs.
Higgins in My Fair Lady at the Paramount
Theatre in Aurora as well as Aunt Julia in
James Joyce’s The Dead at Court Theatre.
Among Ernster’s other successes have
been Titania in Another Midsummer Night
(Goodman Theatre), Alice Challice in
Darling of the Day (Light Opera Works),
Glinda in The Wizard of Oz and Mrs. Potts in
Beauty and the Beast (Chicago Shakespeare
Theatre) and appearances in The Sound of
Music and The Merry Widow at The Lyric
Opera of Chicago. Television credits
include dramas for HBO (Normal), ABC
(Love Hurts), and CBS (Early Edition).
JOHANN GEORGE
(George Edalji) is thrilled
to be making his
Mercury Theater
Chicago debut in The
Man Who Killed Sherlock
Holmes. Chicago credits
include Ensemble/
Tobias understudy in Sweeney Todd at
Porchlight Music Theatre. Other regional
credits include South Pacific at the Ivoryton
Playhouse as well as two seasons with the
Summer Theatre of New Canaan. A
Connecticut native, Johann is a senior
Theatre major at Northwestern University.
Love and thanks to my family, friends, and
teachers!
DAVID GIROLMO*
(Londoner, Sergeant
Campbell, u/s Arthur) is
a multiple Jeff nominee
and a Jeff Award
winner who has
performed in 46 of the
contiguous 48 United
States and Canada. He made his Broadway
debut in Candide, directed by Hal Prince.
Select credits include: Sweeney Todd
(Sweeney Todd - BroadwayWorld Award)
Porchlight Music Theatre; Fiddler on the
Roof (Tevye) Paramount Theatre; Talley’s
Folley (Matt - Jeff nomination) Oak Park
Festival Theatre; Phantom (Carierre - Jeff
Award) Drury Lane Evergreen Park; Kiss Me
Kate! (Fred Graham - Jeff Nomination)
Drury Lane Oakbrook; Unnecessary Farce
(Todd - World Premiere - Wilde Award
nomination) Boarshead Theatre; Then There
Were None (Blore - BroadwayWorld Award)
Fulton Theatre. Mr. Girolmo is a Councillor
and proud member of Actors’ Equity
Association and is married to Chicago actor
Heidi Kettenring, who hung the moon and
the stars.
JASON GRIMM (First
Prison Warder, Professor
Moriarty, u/s
Greenhough-Smith,
Sergeant Campbell) is
excited to return to
Mercury Theater
Chicago after
appearing in last season’s production of
The Addams Family. Other credits; A
Christmas Story (Paramount Theatre),
Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Chicago
Shakespeare Theatre), The Nutcracker (The
House Theatre of Chicago), The Wild Party
(Bailiwick Chicago) How to Succeed and
Forum (Porchlight Music Theatre) and
Improbable Frequency (Strawdog Theatre).
Thanks to Walter, Eugene and the
incredible cast, crew and creative team.
The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes
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BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
CHRISTINA HALL
(Molly Jamison) is elated
to be making her
Mercury Theater
Chicago debut!
Recently, she played
Carol in the world
premiere of Feathers
and Teeth at the Goodman Theatre, where
she previously served as an understudy for
Ask Aunt Susan. Other Chicago credits
include Patsy Cline in Always, Patsy Cline
(Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Jeff Award
nomination for Best Actress in a Musical);
Madeline True in The Wild Party (Bailiwick
Chicago, Jeff Award for Best Ensemble);
Maria/Lisa/Itchy in Mr. Burns (Theater Wit);
Fatale in Soon I Will Be Invincible (Lifeline
Theatre); as well as work with Kokandy
Productions, Strawdog Theatre Company,
Interrobang Theatre Project, Porchlight
Music Theatre, Bohemian Theatre
Ensemble, The Inconvenience, Muse of Fire
and Promethean Theatre Ensemble. She
holds a BFA in Acting from Southern
Methodist University. ”All my love to Diego,
and gratitude to the Chicago Theatre
Community who keeps me striving and
thriving.”
ANISH JETHMALANI*
(Reverend Edjalji) is
delighted to make his
Mercury debut. Some
of his stage credits
include Wit and ten
seasons of A Christmas
Carol (Goodman
Theatre); Water by the Spoonful, Titus
Andronicus, Mary Stuart, The Invention of
Love and Life’s a Dream (Court Theatre);
Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare
Theater); Homeland Security (Victory
Gardens Theater); Inana and Blood and Gifts
(TimeLine Theatre Company); Bengal Tiger
at the Baghdad Zoo, Around the World in 80
Days and Sita Ram (Lookingglass Theatre
Company); The Caretaker and To the Green
Fields Beyond (Writers’ Theatre); Citizens of
the World (Steppenwolf Theatre Company);
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Mercury Theater Chicago
Omnium Gatherum, Return to Haifa and The
Millionairess (Next Theatre Company);
Twelfth Night (First Folio Theatre); Indian Ink
and The Sign of the Four (Apple Tree
Theatre); Merchant of Venice (Silk Road
Rising) and The Age of Cynicism or Karaoke
Night at The Hog (Chicago Dramatists).
Regionally, he appeared in Henry VIII and
Much Ado About Nothing (Oregon
Shakespeare Festival). His television credits
include Boss, Leverage and Early Edition. His
film credits include Batman vs. Superman:
Dawn of Justice.
RONALD KEATON*
(Norman Pierce, Vendor)
is the founding director
of SoloChicago Theatre
and was awarded the
2015 Jeff Award for
outstanding solo
performance for
Churchill, which also proudly played at OffBroadway in New York City for nearly six
months. He took up professional residence
in Chicago in 1987, his first area bow in
1776 at the Marriott Theatre nearly 30 years
ago. In addition to here at the Mercury, in
The Christmas Schooner, Mr. Keaton has
appeared on many Chicago stages –
Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare
Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, First
Folio Theatre, Theater At The Center, Oak
Park Festival Theatre, Theatre At The Center,
Porchlight Music Theatre, to name a few.
Regional theatre appearances include
Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Alley
Theatre in Houston, and the Coconut
Grove Playhouse in Miami. Ronald wears
many hats in the theatre: Stage manager.
Director. Playwright. Fundraiser. Lyricist/
composer. And now Producer. He’s a singer
at jazz and cabaret venues around Chicago.
He has a solo musical in the works,
Whispers From the Moon, with Chicago
Composer/lyricist William Underwood.
Through all of this, Ronald remains a proud
member of and elected representative to
the Central Regional Board for Actors’
Equity Association.
BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
MATTHEW KEFFER (A
Barrister, Colin Stillman,
Prison Governor, u/s
Sherlock Holmes) makes
his Mercury debut.
Recent Chicago credits
include A Christmas
Story (Paramount
Theatre); Sideshow, Sondheim on Sondheim
(Porchlight Music Theatre); Sense and
Sensibility (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre);
LaChiusa’s The Wild Party (Bailiwick
Chicago). More information available at
matthewkeffer.com.
WILL LIDKE (u/s Royden
Sharp, Barker, Colin
Stillman, Second Prison
Warder) makes his
Mercury Theater
Chicago debut. Last
May he graduated from
the Chicago College of
Performing Arts (B.F.A, Acting). Other
Chicago credits include: The Dictionary
Project (Strawdog Theater); Spring
Awakening, Dog Sees God (Fearless Theatre)
& understudying for Ride the Cyclone
(Chicago Shakespeare Theater).
MICHAEL AARON
LINDNER* (Arthur
Conan Doyle) Chicago
credits include: The
Tempest, Sense and
Sensibility, King Lear,
Road Show, Shrek the
Musical, Sunday in the
Park with George, A Midsummer Night’s
Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); A
Kid Like Jake (About Face Theatre); Mary
Poppins, The Music Man (Paramount
Theatre); Hairspray, Oliver, Ragtime (Drury
Lane Oakbrook); Brigadoon, A Christmas
Carol (Goodman Theatre); Hero, The
Producers, Into the Woods, 1776 (Marriott
Theatre); Bach at Leipzig (Writers Theatre);
The Full Monty (Drury Lane Water Tower
Place); The Secret Garden, Sweeney Todd
(Jeff Award, Porchlight Music Theatre); and
Dirty Blonde (Apple Tree Theatre). National
tour credits include Harry Bright in Mamma
Mia! Television credits include Chicago Med,
and the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in A
Christmas Carol: The Concert (PBS). Mr.
Lindner received his BA in musical theatre
from Southern Illinois University in
Carbondale.
RUSSELL MERNAGH
(Royden Sharp, Second
Prison Warder) is thrilled
to be making his
Mercury Theater
Chicago debut in
Sherlock. Recent
Chicago credits include
Mischa in Ride the Cyclone at Chicago
Shakespeare Theater and Les Misérables at
the Paramount Theatre. Look for Russell
later this year in Evita at the Marriott
Theater. Big thanks to Walter, Eugene, and
the whole team at the Mercury.
NICK SANDYS*
(Sherlock Holmes) is
honored to be part of
this world premiere, in a
role originally written
for Mr. Reeger to
perform himself
(indeed, they became
friends during Sherlock’s Last Case in 2005
at Drury Lane Oakbrook). Nick is the
Producing Artistic Director for Remy
Bumppo Theatre Company, where he has
been an Artistic Associate since 2002.
Previous appearances include An Inspector
Calls, The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia? (Chicago
Magazine Best Actor 2011), Les Liaisons
Dangereuses, Old Times, The Real Thing,
Tartuffe, Arcadia, The Secret Rapture, No
Man’s Land, Hapgood (Remy Bumppo); Turn
of the Screw, Blithe Spirit, Twelfth Night,
Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, and
Midsummer Night’s Dream (First Folio); The
39 Steps (Cleveland Play House/Syracuse
Stage); Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Pride & Prejudice
(Northlight); Oedipus Complex (Goodman);
Camelot, My Fair Lady (Light Opera Works);
The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes
9
BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
The Misanthrope (Next Theatre); as well as
shows at Marriott, Lookingglass, Chicago
Shakespeare, Writers Theatre, Riverside
Shakespeare, and Madison Repertory,
among others. Nick is also a certified Fight
Director with The Society of American
Fight Directors and has been adjunct
faculty at The Theatre School at DePaul
since 1995, his fight choreography having
been seen all over Chicagoland, notably at
Lyric Opera, Goodman, and Steppenwolf,
as well as on Broadway and at The
Metropolitan Opera in NYC. He is the
recipient of fourteen Joseph Jefferson
Nominations (eight for acting, two for
direction, and four for fight direction, for
which he won in 2008), as well as a 2011
Achievement Award from The Helen
Coburn Meier and Tim Meier Charitable
Foundation for the Arts.
DANIEL
SMERIGLIO (u/s
Norman Pierce, Moriarty,
First Prison Warder,
Londoner) is thrilled to
be returning to
Mercury Theater
Chicago after his 2nd
voyage in The Christmas
Schooner. Recently he was seen
playing Nicky/Bad Idea Bear in Avenue Q on
this stage. He has also worked
with Steppenwolf on Lord of The Flies (d.
Halena Kays); Dog & Pony Theatre Co. on
the world premiere of The Whole World Is
Watching (d. Devon De Mayo). While not on
stage Dan can be seen and heard in many
commercial and voiceover spots. Proud
graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul
University. Honored to be represented by
the hard working ladies over at Paonessa
Talent. Love to his wife, family and friends
for their continuous encouragement and
support.
10
Mercury Theater Chicago
COLETTE TODD (Ivy,
u/s Charlotte Edalji,
Molly Jamison) is
delighted to make her
debut at the Mercury
Theater Chicago.
Recent credits include
Sandra in Big Fish (Jeff
Award nomination), Lady of the Lake in
Spamalot, Women on the Verge of a Nervous
Breakdown, and The Beverly Hillbillies – The
Musical at Theatre at the Center; Clara in
Passion (Jeff Award winner, Supporting
Actress) and Aspects of Love at Theo Ubique
Cabaret Theatre; Aldonza in Man of La
Mancha, Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your
Gun, Nancy in Oliver! at Light Opera Works;
and The Full Monty with Kokandy
Productions. Additionally, she has
performed with Drury Lane Oakbrook,
Marriott Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare
Theatre. www.colettetodd.com
JOHN REEGER (Book)
previously collaborated
with composer/lyricist
Julie Shannon on the
musicals Stones, Let the
Eagle Fly, and The
Christmas Schooner.
This is his first
collaboration with Michael Mahler. In 2008,
John was awarded a fellowship in
scriptworks by the Illinois Arts Council. Also
an actor, John appeared last year at the
Harvey Theatre (BAM) in New York City as
Cecil Lewis in the Goodman Theatre’s
production The Iceman Cometh, a role he
had originally played at the Goodman in
2012. He has appeared in more than 150
productions at such theaters as Chicago
Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, Writers, Court,
Northlight, Marriott, Drury Lane,
Paramount and Theatre at the Center. For
their four decades as Chicago actors, John
and his wife Paula Scrofano were honored
in 2015 with Career Achievement Jeff
Awards.
BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
JULIE SHANNON
(Music and Lyrics)
studied musical theatre
writing as a member of
the BMI Musical Theatre
Workshop in New York.
She had the time of her
life collaborating with
John Reeger on four musicals and with
Rives Collins on stories and songs for
young people. Julie was working on The
Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes when
she passed away in 2012, and her memory
was honored beautifully when Michael
Mahler and Rachel Rockwell joined John
Reeger to complete this show. When Julie
heard superb performers sing her songs,
and saw remarkable directors, designers,
musicians and producers bring her work to
life, she erupted in incandescent smiles
and legendary hugs. Enormous thanks to
all her cherished collaborators and
especially to her mentor, lyricist Sheldon
Harnick.
MICHAEL MAHLER*
(Musical Director, CoComposer/Co-Lyricist) is
the composer/lyricist of
October Sky, Hero (Jeff
Award: New Work),
Wonderland: Alice’s Rock
& Roll Adventure, Knute
Rockne: All-American, How Can You Run with
a Shell on Your Back?, The 9/11 Report, The
Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and
others. He served as English lyricist for the
premiere English language concert reading
of Boublil & Schonberg’s La Revolution
Francaise and contributed additional lyrics
to Cameron Mackintosh’s Broadway-bound
smash revival of Miss Saigon. Projects in
development include The Diary of a Wimpy
Kid for Minneapolis Children’s Theatre
Company, Gravediggers’ Hamlet for Chicago
Shakespeare Theatre, and Secret of My
Success for Universal.
Visit www.michaelmahler.com.
WARNER CROCKER (Director) is thrilled
to be directing this world premiere of
the new musical The Man Who Murdered
Sherlock Holmes. As a producer, director,
and playwright his work has been seen
on numerous stages in the US and Russia.
He most recently directed the world
premiere of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
for City Lit Theatre, Barnum for The Old
Creamery Theatre and Boeing Boeing for
Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse. Following
a 20-year career in Chicago theatre, he
served as artistic director of the Wayside
Theatre in Middletown, Virginia from 1999
to 2013. In Chicago he was the founder
of the Absolute Theatre Company and
Plan B Productions, and served as Artistic
Director for New Tuners Theatre and
Pegasus Players. A short list of his directing
work in Chicago and regionally includes
Pentecost, The Kentucky Cycle, Passion, La
Bête, Edward II, Good, Kiss Me Kate, Man of
La Mancha, Cotton Patch Gospel, Southern
Crossroads, Romeo and Juliet, Ballad of the
Sad Cafe, Forever Plaid, Othello, Noises Off,
Always a Bridesmaid, Tuesdays With Morrie,
and Stonewall Jackson’s House. He is the
recipient of a number of Joseph Jefferson
Awards and other awards for his work as
a director and designer. He is the author
of Robert E. Lee and John Brown: Lighting
the Fuse; the musicals Southern Crossroads
and Southern Crossroads: New Orleans, a
musical version of A Christmas Carol with
composter Steve Przybylski, and a musical
adaptation of The Three Musketeers with
Gregg Opelka.
SCOTT DAVIS, U.S.A. (Scenic Design)
Chicago credits include productions
with: Chicago Shakespeare Theater,
Steppenwolf, Court Theater, Paramount
Theatre, Victory Gardens, Drury Lane
Oakbrook, Northlight Theater, American
Theater Company, Griffin Theater
Company, and Northwestern University.
International credits include productions
with: Shakespeare’s Globe, Unicorn
Theater (London) The Market Theater
(South Africa), The Neuss (Germany),
The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes
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BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
Gdansk Shakespeare Theater (Poland),
The Cultch (Vancouver), DUCTAC Theater
(Dubai), Brice Mason Center (New Zealand),
and The Edinburgh Festival (Scotland).
Regional credits include productions
with Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Asolo
Theater, Clarice Smith Performing Arts
Center, Rep Stage, and Dallas Theatre
Center. Mr. Davis serves as adjunct faculty
at Columbia College having received his
MFA from Northwestern University.
www.scottadamdavis.com
YAEL LUBETZKY, U.S.A. (Lighting Design)
has designed numerous productions in
New York City and regionally including the
Broadway production of Russell Simmons
Def Poetry Jam. Chicago area designs
include The Little Mermaid at Chicago
Shakespeare Theatre and West Side Story
at Drury Lane Oakbrook. Off-Broadway
designs include productions at the Public
Theater, Playwrights Horizons, The Theatre
at St. Clement’s, The Duke, The Cherry
Lane Alternative, Intar Theatre, The New
Ohio Theatre, Venture Opera, National
Yiddish Theatre, and Bleecker Street
Theatre. Regional Theatre designs include
productions at Trinity Repertory Theatre,
The Children’s Theatre Company, Riverside
Theatre, The Clarence Brown Theatre, and
The Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Yael has
worked as Associate Lighting Designer on
many Broadway productions including
Once, Follies, Sister Act, The Addams Family,
A Chorus Line, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan,
and Urinetown. Yael is a Recipient of the
NEA/TCG Career Development Program for
Designers.
KATIE CORDTS (Wig/Hair Design) works
in the Wig and Makeup Department at
Chicago Shakespeare Theater and teaches
Stage Makeup at Roosevelt University.
She is designing wigs and makeup for
this season at the Paramount Theatre. She
has also worked at Marriott Theater and
American Players Theatre.
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Mercury Theater Chicago
ROBERT S. KUHN (Costume Design) is
pleased to be working at Mercury Theater
Chicago for the first time. Recent design
credits include White Christmas (Drury
Lane Oakbrook), A Charlie Brown Christmas
(Emerald City Theater), and SS! MacBeth
(Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Other
Chicago Credits include works with About
Face Theater, Northwestern University,
Concordia University Chicago, Mortar
Theater Company and Theatre-Hikes.
Regional design credits include Smokey
Joe’s Cafe (Pennsylvania Centre Stage)
and Dracula and Othello (The Arkansas
Shakespeare Theater). Upcoming projects
include Heathers, the Musical (Kokandy
Productions) and After All The Terrible
Things I Do (About Face Theater).
JOE COURT (Co-Sound Design) is excited
to work with Mercury Theater Chicago
for the first time! Joe has designed more
than 100 shows since moving to Chicago
in 2006 with many different theater
companies including: Mary-Arrchie (where
he is a company member), A Red Orchid,
The Inconvenience, Theater Wit, Raven,
TUTA, Haven, Emerald City, Seanachai,
Theatre Seven, Backstage, Boho, Lifeline,
Pine Box, The Gift, University of Chicago,
59E59 (Off-Broadway, NYC), Clarence
Brown Theatre (Knoxville, TN.), Great Lakers
Theatre (Cleveland, OH), Virginia Stage
Company (Norfolk, VA), Actors Theatre of
Indiana, and the Idaho, Lake Tahoe, and
Illinois Shakespeare Festivals. From 2008
until 2012 Joe served as sound engineer for
the Chicago production of the Tony Awardwinning musical Million Dollar Quartet.
He received a Joseph Jefferson Award
nomination in 2009 for his design for The
Unseen with A Red Orchid Theatre.
MIKE ROSS (Co-Sound Design) is an owner
of Sound Production & Lighting LLC, a
full service production, rental, and sales
company. Mike / SPL has handled audio,
video, and lighting production work for
events across the country, ranging from
BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
corporate events for MillerCoors, Nike,
The Chicago Bears, United, Volkswagen,
The Chicago Consular Corps to national
music acts, to high school and educational
productions and installations. Previous
theatrical sound designs for Mercury
Theater Chicago include The Christmas
Schooner (2011 thru 2015), The Addams
Family, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Barnum,
and A Grand Night for Singing. Mike has
also served as the audio dept. heard for
the Chicago production of Million Dollar
Quartet since 2012. For more information
please visit www.spl-design.com.
KATIE SPELMAN (Movement Consultant)
is happy to be at the Mercury. Chicago
choreography: James Joyce’s The Dead,
The Secret Garden (Court Theatre);
American Idiot, Pirates of Penzance,
The Mikado, Into the Woods (The
Hypocrites); Oklahoma!, RENT, In the
Heights, Hair (Paramount Theatre); Juno
(Timeline); Bellboys, Bears and Baggage
(Redmoon); Idomeneus, Theories of the
Sun (Sideshow Theatre Company); Fanny
Brice (Asolo Repertory); Down and Derby
(The New Colony); The Fly Honey Show
(The Inconvenience); Cabaret, Spelling
Bee, The Who’s Tommy (Northwestern
University). New York: What’s It All
About? (New York Theatre Workshop,
Associate Director); Brooklynite (Vineyard
Theatre, Associate Choreographer); Once
(Broadway, 1st National Tour - Associate
Movement Director) and Pulp Verite
(NYU, Choreographer). London: What’s
It All About? (Menier Chocolate Factory,
Associate Director) and Close To You (West
End, Associate Director). She has also
assisted and performed with Goodman
Theatre, Writers Theatre, House Theatre,
Drury Lane Oakbrook and Marriott Theatre.
Graduate of Northwestern University, and
a member of SDC and AEA. Love to Mom
and Dad.
DJ REED (Properties Design) is happy to
rejoin the Mercury family after assisting on
The Addams Family last year. During the
day he works in the amazing craft shop
at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Favorite
designs include Sweet Charity, The Odd
Couple, Rocky Horror (costumes), Mr. Burns
(crafts), and Writers production of Doubt.
He is a graduate of Ball Sate University.
This show and every show is dedicated to
Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Everidge.
MATT DEITCHMAN (Orchestrator/Keyboard
Programmer) is an actor, composer, music
director, and multi-instrumentalist whose
Chicago credits include: La Révolution
Française (FWD Theater Project); Spring
Awakening, October Sky, The King and
I, Hero (Marriott Theater); Road Show,
Seussical, Shrek, Murder For Two (Chicago
Shakespeare Theater); The Who’s Tommy
(Paramount Theater); Adding Machine, Into
The Woods (The Hypocrites); Wonderland
(Chicago Children’s Theater); Spelling Bee
(Drury Lane Oakbrook); Spelling Bee (Griffin
Theater); She Kills Monsters, Ghost Bike
(Buzz22 Chicago); Parade (BoHo Theater).
He will be serving as the Music Director of
Chicago Shakespeare’s history cycle Tug Of
War, and is the composer of multiple new
musicals in development.
LINDA MADONIA (Conductor) is thrilled to
be conducting at Mercury Theater Chicago.
As a Music Director and Conductor in the
Chicago area for the past 30 years, credits
include Plaid Tidings, Suds, Beehive and
Gypsy at the Williams Street Rep. A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
and Double Trouble at Porchlight Music
Theatre where she also serves as an Artistic
Associate; Leo on Ice for Leo Burnett at
the Chicago Theater; Hollywood’s Greatest
Hits, The Fantasticks, Cabaret and Man of
La Mancha for Light Opera Works; and
Forbidden Broadway: SVU at the Royal
George Theater. Other credits include
Grand Hotel and Nunsensations at Drury
Lane Water Tower Place, and A Chorus Line,
She Loves Me and Me and My Girl at Theatre
at the Center. For the past nine years, Linda
has been the music director for Chicago’s
Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards. During
The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes
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BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
the day, Linda owns American Eagle
Productions, a touring theater company
that takes shows and workshops directly
into schools. American Eagle has been
doing shows for twenty-four years and
presents 250 shows a year to Chicago area
schools.
KRISTI J. MARTENS* (Production Stage
Manager) is happy to be back at the
Mercury Theater Chicago with The Man
Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes after having
the honor of being the Production Stage
Manager for The Addams Family (Joseph
Jefferson Award Winner, Musical – Midsize
Theater), Avenue Q and The Color Purple.
Some other theaters that she has worked
at: Drury Lane Theater (Oakbrook Terrace),
Northlight Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare
Theater, Goodman Theatre, The Royal
George Theater, Drury Lane Evergreen
Park, Drury Lane Water Tower, Fox Valley
Repertory, Oak Park Festival Theater, Fulton
Opera House (Lancaster, PA), Maine State
Music Theater (Brunswick, ME), Theater
At the Center (Munster, IN), Carousel
Dinner Playhouse (Akron, OH), Dallas
Theater Center (Dallas, TX). A proud Equity
member for over 25 years, Kristi started
stage managing with children’s theater.
Enjoy!
FERNANDO ALVAREZ, JR. (Production
Assistant) is thrilled to be working with the
Mercury Theater Chicago. He graduated
with his Bachelors in Theatre Education
from the University of Texas at El Paso. He
spent the last two years on the road stage
managing one of Second City’s touring
companies. In Chicago, he completed
a stage management internship at the
Goodman Theatre for their production of
Chinglish, stage managed Family Devotions
(Halcyon), Assisted Living (Profiles), L-Vis
Live! (Victory Gardens), The Diary of Anne
Frank (Metropolis Performing Arts Center),
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Haven) and
assistant stage managed Be A Good Little
Widow (Collaboraction), Reefer Madness
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Mercury Theater Chicago
and Pippin: A Bollywood Spectacular (Circle).
Forever grateful for Maldonado, Gunnels
and Mom.
L. WALTER STEARNS (Executive Director) As
Executive Director of Mercury Theater
Chicago, Walter is a champion for Chicago
artists and productions and has overseen
the physical and cultural revival of a
beautiful theatre. He has directed over
30 musicals including his Jeff Award
winning productions of The Addams Family
and Ragtime as well as the Jeff Award
nominated productions of Avenue Q, The
Color Purple, Barnum-The Circus Musical,
The Christmas Schooner, Nine the Musical,
Ragtime, Gypsy, The Secret Garden, Sweeney
Todd, Company, A New Brain, Into the
Woods, Merrily We Roll Along and Falsettos.
Walter has received the Jeff Award,
BroadwayWorld Award, After Dark Awards,
the Larry Sloan Advocate Award (for his
support of Season of Concern), the first
Guy Adkins award for his contributions to
the art of musical theatre and the Franny
Award as a distinguished alumnus of the
University of Illinois at Chicago.
EUGENE DIZON (Business Manager)
has worked in human resources and
accounting at a number of Chicago firms
including HFR, Navteq, Jenner and Block,
and Hunter Douglas. In theater, Eugene
has been musical directing for over two
decades garnering 6 Jeff Awards (Ragtime,
Sweeney Todd, Amadeus, Company, Into the
Woods, Merrily We Roll Along), as well as Jeff
nominations for A Grand Night for Singing,
Candide, Nine the Musical, Closer Than
Ever, A Little Night Music, Passion, Colette
Collage, and Falsettos; 4 After Dark Awards
(Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, A New Brain,
Merrily We Roll Along), a BroadwayWorld
Award for Mercury’s Avenue Q and a
BroadwayWorld nomination for The Color
Purple. Eugene is honored to have been
inducted into the Chicago Filipino Hall of
Fame. Eugene has co-produced 3 “Season
of Carols” CD’s (with Cory Goodrich) which
BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
featured some of the brightest talent in
Chicago theater today, for which Season
of Concern awarded him the Larry Sloan
Advocate Award (2013). Next for Eugene,
musical directing Mercury’s The Producers.
BIG SPLASH PUBLIC RELATIONS (Press
Representative) is an award winning, full
service agency. Principals Pat Kremer
and Carolyn Jacobs have worked together
for the past twenty years developing
successful public relations campaigns that
have generated national and international
media coverage. In addition to creating
a worldwide PR coup for the Unveiling
of a Dinosaur Named Sue and breaking
attendance records for King Tut at
Chicago’s Field Museum, they developed
the first exhibition on the Chicago Bears
at the request of the team. Clients have
included the Chicago Public Library
Foundation, Adler Planetarium, Theatre
at the Center, Mercury Theater Chicago,
Chicago Philharmonic, Salute to Vienna
Concerts in Chicago and New York and
Midsummer’s Music Festival in Door
County, Wisconsin. The Midwest
region theatre
community’s
fundraising
effort in the
fight against
AIDS.
For more information
or to make a donation
please call 312.332.0518
The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes
15
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Mercury Theater Chicago