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The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays rounds out our 2014season, and it has been a pleasure to spend my holidays with my theatricalfamily. They have been a joy to work with, both onstage and off, and theyare what makes the experience so great. They are some of the hardestworking and dedicated people I have ever met!

As the season draws to a close (what a year it has been!), we’re proud toreport that Avenue Q broke attendance records, moving it into the top fivemost attended productions in the theatre’s history. We continue to achievecritical acclaim for all of our productions. Many of us have been nominatedon Broadway World for categories ranging from best musical to best setdesign. Our patron base has grown and we have been named the BestCommunity Theatre in Connecticut by Connecticut Magazine. Wehave surveyed our patrons and have listened to your suggestions. We areabout to embark, in the next few months, on a major renovation initiativefor the benefit of the theatre and our guests. None of which we could haveaccomplished without you – our devoted donors, subscribers, and patrons.

As we begin our new year, we are proud to announce our 48th season.2015 brings you The Lyons: a witty, dark comedy by Nicky Silver, StephenTemperley’s poignant Souvenir starring Priscilla Squires, The timely anddramatic Time Stands Still by Donald Marguilies, Ken Ludwig’s hilariousand riotous Leading Ladies, and finally John Van Druten’s classic, Bell,Book and Candle. Of course, we will be still presenting our Page2Stagereadings and our successful children’s program.

In closing, we cannot continue to grow without you or your support. Be itfiscally, through volunteering, building, acting, chairing a committee, orspearheading a project, we are always looking for new people to join us inour effort to provide quality entertainment in your own backyard. So comealong and experience the fun and excitement of live theatre first hand.

Glenn R. CouturePresident

Our Name Says It All...

46 North Main Street * PO Box 476 * Kent, CT 06757

860-927-3882www.payrollease.com * info@payrollease.com

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presents

Directed by Glenn R. Couture

THE CAST

William GilletteMartha Gillette

Felix GeiselMadge GeiselSimon Bright

Aggie WheelerInspector Goring

Daria Chase

Charles SchoenfeldMary WilsonFrank ArcaroM.J. HartellJames HippReesa RoccaprioreJanice ConnerRobyn Maitland

Originally Produced by Cleveland Play HouseMichael Bloom, Artistic Director Kevin Moore, Managing Director.

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

SETTINGThe living room of the mansion of William Gillette

on the Connecticut River near East Haddam, Connecticut.

TIMEDecember 1936

Production StaffDirector ....................................................................Glenn R. CoutureStage Manager .........................................Kristi Petersen-SchoonoverCostume Design ................................................................ Susan AzizLighting Design ............................ Richard Pettibone, Scott WyshynskiRunning Crew ............................................................. Michele IngramSet Design ...... Richard Pettibone, Scott Wyshynski, Glenn R. CoutureBuilders ...................................... Richard Pettibone, Scott Wyshynski,......................................................Malcolm Fano, Glenn R. Couture,....................................... Frank Russo, John Bolster, Sonnie OsborneSound Design ................................Nathan Schoonover, Tom LibonateHouse Managers ................................... Mary Kimball, Kathy Bolster,.....................................................................Christine Daley, Jill PacePublicist .........................................................................Tom LibonateProduction Photography ................................. Ghostlight PhotographyWeb Site ........................................................... printplusdesignllc.comProducers ................................... Richard Pettibone, Glenn R. Couture

Special ThanksNorwalk High School, Dionne Miller Couture, Susan Pettibone,

Beth Plotkin, FM97.3 WZBG Backstage with Johnny O

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WHO’S WHO IN THE CASTJANICE CONNER (Inspector Harriet Goring)is delighted to again be involved in a productionat TheatreWorks. Previous shows for Janice herehave included Present Laughter and Season’sGreetings. Favorite roles include Dottie in NoisesOff (Warner), Julia in Lend me a Tenor (GoshenPlayers), and the role she is again playing in this

show, Inspector Goring in The Games Afoot (Thomaston LandmarkTheater). She expresses sincere appreciation to Glenn for this opportunityto once again bring “order from chaos” alive through the character of theInspector. When not learning lines for a play, Janice can be found runningthe roads of Northwest Connecticut in a quest to find her own “order fromchaos.” Love to Martin, always.

FRANK ARCARO (Felix Geisel) is pleased tobe back in a fantastic ensemble piece here atTheatreWorks. After an absence from the stageof many years, Frank took the plunge last yearand appeared in The Cripple of Inishmaan. AtBoston College, he appeared in A Man For AllSeasons (Cromwell) and A Midsummer Night’sDream (Bottom), among others, and he directed The Real Inspector Houndand Old Times. Hats off to all to the fans and supporters of TheatreWorks!

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WHO’S WHO IN THE CASTM. J. HARTELL (Madge Geisel) When shefirst stepped on the TheatreWorks stage in 2000,she promised to become “a regular.” She’s kepther word, never missed a show, and been wellrewarded with stellar experiences both “in thehouse” and “in front of the house.” Along theway, she’s enjoyed performing in Barefoot in the

Park, Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge, Brighton BeachMemoirs, Fuddy Meers, The Elephant Man & The Man Who Came toDinner. Now, she’s triply rewarded by being reunited with a wonderfuldirector, joined with talented individuals with whom she has never worked,and offered a chance to play a role that is not someone’s mother. Otherthan a boisterous child, a horse (yes, you read that right), an amnesiac whodisfigured her ex-husband with hot bacon grease, and a Pinhead (again,you read that right), she was often “the mother.” (Thank you, Glenn!) M.J.has also performed at The Brookfield Playhouse, Ridgefield Theater Barn,Musicals at Richter and D’Art. Presently, she is performing daily as amiddle school English teacher at Talcott Mountain Academy for gifted andtalented students. M. J. dedicates her performance to her close friend andtheater mentor, Liz Marek, killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103.

JAMES HIPP (Simon Bright) is celebrating theholiday season again at his favorite place callednot alone. His previous holiday was spent at thistheatre in Boeing Boeing as Bernard. Prior, heplayed Leslie in Seascape as well as BartleyMcCormick in The Cripple of Inishmaan.Outside TheatreWorks, some of his favorite rolesinclude George in Of Mice and Men and Dick in See Dick, a comedywritten by local playwright, William Hughes. You may recognize him fromtelevision, where he appeared as Background Man One in a deodorantcommercial ten years ago. Thanks to Glenn for the direction and the rest ofthe cast for not telling him who did it ‘til opening night…

MARY WILSON (Martha Gillette) is “thrilledto death” to be part of The Game’s Afoot, herfirst production with TheatreWorks. And shefeels there’s no place like “Holmes for theHolidays” with such a wonderful cast, crew andstaff. Some of her other appearances includeThe Musical Comedy Murders of 1940

(Clockwork Repertory), It’s A Wonderful Life (The Phoenix StageCompany), You Can’t Take It With You (The Gary-The Olivia), and Harvey(Brookfield Playhouse). Special thanks to Glenn for this fabulous opportunityto play the role of Martha. Her husband feels the somewhat vague anddithering woman she is portraying is a good fit!

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WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST

ROBYN MAITLAND (Daria Chase) is excitedto to return to the TheatreWorks Stage. ThisLAMDA trained actress was last seen on theTheatreWorks stage as Clarice Bernstein in DavidMamet’s November. She has also appeared herein Present Laughter (Liz), The Great AmericanTrailer Park Musical (Chorus) and Almost,

Maine (Hope and Glory). She has also appeared off Broadway and inseveral independent films. For many years, she served as creator andadvisor for New Fairfield High School’s Fall Productions. Her other talentsinclude set painting, interior design, and was an Odyssey of the Mind coachfor 10 years. She is currently studying acting in New York City. Thank youto the cast and crew for a great holiday adventure!

REESA ROCCAPRIORE (Aggie Wheeler)was last seen on the TheatreWorks stage inBoeing Boeing as Gabriella. In May, she playedVeronica in God of Carnage at the BrookfieldTheatre for the Arts. This past year, she has alsoappeared in the short films Bite Me, 9Realms:Scourge of Hell, and Subject to Retaliation.She has studied theatre and film acting in CT, NY, and Philadelphia. She’sso excited to be a part of this production and would like to thank herwonderful director, Glenn, for giving her this opportunity. She would alsolike to thank her husband, Christopher, and all her friends and family fortheir overwhelming support and creative influence.

CHARLES SCHOENFELD (William Gillette)was assembled in 1886 in the workshop ofhorologist Preston Stumpmeyer from parts of oldclocks and telescopes. Charles was a gift for hiscreator’s niece, Lucretia, who was too shy to finda husband by conventional means—but sherejected him on the grounds that he tended to

whirr and clink when he chewed. So that he might learn to pass moreunimpeachably as human, he began a lifelong association with the theater.In 1959, an unfortunate encounter with saltwater taffy left his inner workingsimmobilized for 20 years, until he was sold to an antiques dealer in NewHampshire and subsequently restored. He was relieved to discover thatthe ’60s and ’70s weren’t such a bad thing to have missed. Recent rolesinclude Sherlock Holmes in The Strange Case of Alice Faulkner (TownTheater of Rocky Hill) and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (TheatreGuild of Simsbury).

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WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST

KRISTI PETERSEN SCHOONOVER (Stage Manager) is delightedto once again work behind the scenes at TheatreWorks New Milford,where most recently she stage managed the shows Seascape and TheLast Night of Ballyhoo. A short fiction writer by trade, Kristi’s darkmagic realist pieces have been featured in countless publications and an-thologies. She thanks fellow Goddard College alumnus Glenn for this amaz-ing opportunity and says: look how far we’ve come from that incrediblycreepy collection of buildings in the middle of nowhere, eh?

SUSAN BECKER AZIZ (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be back atTheatreWorks for her second show. She designed the costumes for Ear-nest, or What’s in a Name? last summer. She makes costumes, dolls andpuppets for theatre, dance and opera in her studio in Litchfield. Her workhas been seen at Hartford Stage, Goodspeed Opera House, Hartt School,Hartford Children’s Theatre, Thomaston Opera House, Warner Theatre,Nutmeg Ballet, the Opera Department of Western Connecticut State Uni-versity, and in the colossal puppet productions at St. Michael’s Church inLitchfield. Susan is a teaching artist at the Taft School in Watertown. Thanks to Glenn and the AFootians for being fabulous, and especially toPeter for never-ending love and support.

GLENN R. COUTURE (Director) is blessed to be working with such anincredible cast and crew. What a great way to spend my holidays! Glennserves as the President of the Board of Directors for TheatreWorks. Hemost recently appeared onstage as Brian in Avenue Q and as LadyBracknell in Earnest or What’s in a name. His directorial duties includethe critically acclaimed The Great American Trailer Park Musical,Season’s Greetings and Brighton Beach Memoirs. In his spare time(what little he has these days) he teaches physics at Norwalk High School.He has participated in numerous productions on and off stage. Thanks toall involved in making this show so much fun - especially an awesomeproduction team. Glenn would like to thank his wife, Dionne for hercontinued support, love and infinite understanding. He cannot wait untilthe world’s next Broadway star arrives in May!

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KEN LUDWIG is an internationally acclaimed playwright who has hadsix shows on Broadway and six in the West End. He has received twoLaurence Olivier Awards (England’s highest theatre honor), three TonyAward nominations, two Helen Hayes Awards, and his work has beencommissioned by The Royal Shakespeare Company. The Game’s Afoot;or Holmes for the Holidays won the Edgar Alan Poe Award for BestMystery of 2012. Crazy For You won the Olivier and Tony Awards asBest Musical and Lend Me A Tenor (two Tony Awards and the Oliviernomination for Comedy of the Year), was called “one of the two greatfarces by a living writer” by The New York Times. Other Broadway andWest End shows include Twentieth Century starring Alec Baldwin andAnne Heche, Moon Over Buffalo starring Carol Burnett, LynnRedgrave, Joan Collins and Frank Langella, The Adventures of TomSawyer , and Treasure Island (Theatre Royal, Haymarket; AATEDistinguished Play Award). Shakespeare in Hollywood wascommissioned by The Royal Shakespeare Company and won the HelenHayes Award as Best Play. Other plays and musicals include LeadingLadies, Be My Baby, The Beaux’ Stratagem (adaptation with ThorntonWilder at the request of the Wilder Estate), The Three Musketeers(Bristol Old Vic), An American in Paris, The Fox on the Fairway,Midsummer/ Jersey, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas andBaskerville . He was given the 2013 Distinguished Career Award by theSoutheastern Theatre Conference, the largest gathering of theatreprofessionals, faculty, and students in America. His work has appeared inThe Yale Review and he has written a book for Crown Publishingentitled “How To Teach Your Children Shakespeare.” He studied musicat Harvard with Leonard Bernstein and theatre history at CambridgeUniversity, and he is on the Board of Governors of the FolderShakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. For more information pleasevisit www.kenludwig.com.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

William Gillette was a star of the American stage during the early part ofthe 20th century. He wrote the play Sherlock Holmes in collaborationwith Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and he starred in it with enormous successin both New York and London for a total of 1,300 performances spreadover thirty years. He became associated with Holmes in the public’simagination; and with his royalties from this and other plays, he built areplica of a medieval castle on the Connecticut River filled with gadgetsrepresenting the latest technology. It was here that he entertained thecasts of his latest New York hits, and he remained beloved to his fansuntil his death in his eighties. Gillette Castle is open to the public to thisday. For more information see: www.ct.gov/deep/gillettecastle

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Sincere thanks to all our supporters

Every effort has been made to ensure that all donors’ names are included and listed correctly. If you notice anyerrors or omissions, please email info@theatreworks.us and let us know so that we may have the opportunity tocorrect our error and properly recognize your contribution.

Artists $5,000+• Grant & Jacqui Smith • Tillie Page Laird • Theodore Hine

• Connecticut Office of the Arts • Harcourt FoundationPlaywrights Circle $1,500+

• The James J. McInerney and Gary R. Fafard Foundation• Connecticut Community Foundation • Allen Greenberg

• Savings Bank of Danbury • Marian & Douglas Wise • Mrs. Ishier Jacobson

Sponsors $500+• The Geraldine Stutz Trust • Maria Jacobson • Stephen Sondheim

• Michele Shackelford • Norman Adler • Anonymous • Francis Arcaro• Lucinda & David Pollack • CCA • Jude Callirgos • Rich & Suzi Pettibone• Kathy & John Bolster • Anonymous • Brian Ashfield • Stephen Anbinder

• The Jean Widmark & Richard Widmark Foundation, Inc.

Partners $250+• Deborah Begin • KC & Jonathan Ross • Ruth & Leonard Diamond

• June Baldyga • Harry Cohen • Paul Sinclaire • Glenn & Dionne Couture • Donald Karcheski

• Diane & David Lockwood • Ann M. Mckinney

Advocates $100+• David & Alice Sprintzen • Dr. Marilyn & Robert Gansel • Donald Bickford •

Bruce & Ilene Dresner • Anonymous • Penny Palmer • Elizabeth & Roger Smith •Stephen & Gloria Gorell • Anonymous • Margie Bueide • Ronald Olsen • Joe

Russo • Bodil & Warren Braren • David & Kathy Elmore • Tom & Carol Broesler• Dr. Joseph Privitera • James Scrimgeour • Emily & Mario Lucibello • Vicki &Kevin Sosbe • Bernice Wollman & Warren Rubin • John & Carole Pettibone •

Chicken Liver’s Mom & Dad • Henry Spector • Harold & Patty Jacobson • AnnM. McKinney • Annabella Abrons • Carmela Castro • Catherine Libonate • Chris &

Lisa Simo-Kinzer • Laurie Hornbecker • Nancy Hutchinson • Timothy Beard •Nancy Brittingham • Dr. William T. Winsor • Andrew Flatt • Cynthia Hudak

• Heritage Village Theatre Guild • Joseph & Angela Barna • In memory of Dr.William T. Winsor Guild • Stephen Anbinder • Robert Grossman • In memory of

Hope Meinhardt • Priscilla Squiers • Henry & Susan Tritter • Dolores Teleski• Marilyn Lieff • Jim & Lois Benfield

Associates $50+• Philip & Marion Kallinikos • Sonnie Osborne • Ronald Wozniak • Peter & LucilleCronin • Ellen Alpert • Marilyn Lieff • Ethel Anderson Krenkel • Dolores Teleski •Rebecca Devine • Maura & Frederick Pauli • Norma Hart • Margaret Mongin •Peg Molina • Janet Huntington • Jacky Saulnier & Bruce Becker • Jan King •

Grace & Tom Vetter • Virginia Smith • Vincent Romeo & Edwin Sparn • LawrenceApolzon • Deborah Gogliettino • E. Bruce Mather • Kevin Taylor • Sharon

Francis • Jill & Michael Pace • Anonymous • Nancy W. Babington • Mr. & Mrs.Charles S. Ullmann • Lawrence Greenspan • Pamela Coleman • Barbara Ajello •

Robert Grossman • George Thomas • Joseph Montebello • Anonymous• Nancy Hutchinson • Mary Bannon

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