ZCT - A Murder is Announced - Cast and Crew Bios

Cast & Crew Bios - A Murder Is Announced Show Pictures Director's Notes
September 18,19, 25, 26,2009 - 8pm
September 20, 27, 2009 - 2:30pm
Air Conditioned
Full: $12, Senior: $8, Student: $8, Youth: $5
Guess the murderer and win a delicious chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, a jar of honey, and a scarf knitted by Miss Marple.

	Cayli Gill (Julia Simmons) This is my first play at Zanesville Community Theatre and I'm happy to be a part of it. The high school plays I've been in include: The Nitwits, Godspell, Once Upon A Mattress, Father of the Bride (I played the Bride, Kay Banks) as well as Oklahoma! in which I played Gertie Cummings. I enjoy participating in school activities such as Drama Club and Vocal Ensemble. This is also my Senior year at Philo High School, and I plan to attend art college to study graphic design and illustration.
	Amy Underwood (Letitia Blacklock) Amy Underwood is a veteran of over 60 productions in an onstage capacity and probably that many more as a member of production staff, director, or assistant director. Some of her most favorite recent roles include Lady MacBeth in Macbeth, Eleanor of Acquitaine in The Lion in Winter, The White Witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She is also very proud of having assisted with the direction of recent productions of Working and The Laramie Project, and is looking forward to JB later this season
	Susan Barzda (Dora Bunner) I am excited to play Bunny in A Murder Is Announced because murder mysteries are such fun to do! Past roles that I have played in murder mysteries include Mrs. Boyle in The Mousetrap, Jane in Done to Death, and Mrs. Riverside in Death By Chocolate (all at Cambridge Performing Arts Centre). Other favorite roles I have played include Jessie in 'Night Mother, Gertrude in The Seahorse, Karen in Jake's Women, Karen (and earlier, Mimsey) in Plaza Suite, Janet in Wally's Cafe, Brooke/Vickie in Noises Off!, and numerous other characters in over 50 other plays and musicals through the years. Currently I serve on ZCT's board as well as the state board of Ohio Community Theatre Association. I play clarinet in many theatre pits, and local bands, and have directed several shows. My day job is at Cambridge Developmental Center where I do my best to brighten the lives of adults with developmental disabilities.
	James Hock (Patrick Simmons) This is my second play at ZCT, the first being Macbeth. The high school plays I've been involved in are The Wizard of Oz when I was a kindergartener, Honk! as a fifth grader, The Miracle Worker, Once Upon a Mattress, Father of the Bride in which I had the lead, and Oklahoma as Jud Fry. I have also been involved in the Bethlehem Walk in Chandlersville for several years, most recently as a guide. I participate in more school activities then I have room to list. This year I'll be a senior at Philo High School, and after high school I plan to attend college as a history major and eventually attend graduate school.
	Cindy Sterling (Mitzi) Active in theatre since 1979, Cindy is excited about playing the part of the explosive, temperamental, Hungarian cook, Mitzi, in A Murder Is Announced. In her time not on stage, Cindy can be found teaching English at Maysville High School. Her favorite parts include Trollarina in Sleeping Beauty, Doris in The Cemetery Club, Lillie in Mixed Doubles, Martha in Arsenic and Old Lace, and Mrs. Baker in Come Blow Your Horn. Cindy lives with her son Matthew when he's home from OSU, and her 17 year old cat. Her daughter, Kayla, lives in Vermont with her husband.
	Jan Kiikka (Miss Marple) Jan Kiikka has been a member of ZCT for over 20 years. She has served on the Board of Directors several terms and has been costume chairperson and helps with the box office. Jan has acted in or produced many shows. This is her second time playing Miss Marple. She first played the character in “A Murder at the Vicarage” in a Philo Players production. She lives in the McIntire Terrace area with her husband and 5 dogs, 1 cat, and many fish. Jan is the district librarian for Franklin Local Schools. She is the Producer at Philo High School Drama Department. She is on the Board of Directors of Muskingum Behavioral Health, a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and sews and knits for Touching Little Lives. Jan and her husband are members of PAWS, a group of volunteers at the Animal Shelter Society
	Angel Palmer (Phillipa Haymes) I have loved the theater for as long as I can remember. I am most comfortable backstage, but occasionaly I step out of my comfort zone and onto the stage. In this show, I love the ability to be transported back to the 40's and have the opportunity to work with the great Miss Marple to see how she "helps" solve mysteries. Was I involved? Did I do it? Do I die? Hmmm....guess you'll have to watch the play and find out for yourself.
	Jane Ann Perry (Mrs. Swettenham) Forty five years ago when my youngest was six months old my friend Lucy and I had the lead roles in a production of "Nuts and Bolts". She had four boys and I had an assorted total of five. We learned our parts over the phone and went into the first practice knowing the first act. The experience was one of the highlights of my young life. At 37 I enrolled in the nursing program at OUZ, graduated at age 40. That was a fabulous three years. For the next 30 years I worked in two hospitals, several nursing homes (They were my second job) and retired from the Helen Purcell Home. I threw myself a party for my 70th birthday, complete with a DJ, held at Z-Venue, we had a great evening. I can still be found there when they have a band or at The Barn or Terry's Tavern dancing with whomever is brave enough. I only drink diet Coke, and I usually can remember the evening the next day. I loved the Blues Bands at Fat Jerry's but that is now part of the past. I was very glad when the No Smoking policy went into effect, now I don't have to go home and shower before going to bed. I am very excited to be part of this production, I have been a long time Miss Marple fan in books and now on TV. I have a bio of Agatha Christie to read, that had been my mother's. After skimming the book I have decided she was a little strange, but they make the most interesting friends. Run of the mill people are just that. The cast in this production are very interesting and have made me feel right at home. I hope to continue to be part of the ZCT. I have seen and been impressed with many of the productions.
	Ryan Swingle (Edmund Swettenham) is making his first appearance on the ZCT stage since 2005. For the past three years he has attended Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH studying Biology and only recently moved back to the area. A partial list of his theatrical works include Mortimer in Death of a Doornale, Dracula in Dracula, Johnathan in Arsenic and Old Lace, and the role of Assistant Director in the production of Anything Goes. Ryan would like to thank you for supporting your local arts and hopes you enjoy the show!
	David Kerr (Rudi Scherz) This is David’s first opportunity to perform at the Zanesville Community Theater. After traveling the world over and retiring from the U.S. Air Force, he returned to his hometown of Zanesville and is currently working in the City Engineering Department. He has performed in numerous shows in the past, to include portraying the characters of Herr Zeller in The Sound of Music, Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, and Arvide Abernathy in Guys & Dolls. For the past six years, David has been a cast member of the Living Word Outdoor Drama and has played a variety of roles including Simon Peter, James, John, Herod, and Dathan. David has been married for 26 years. He and his wife Rita have four children; Amanda, who attends Muskingum University, Aaron, who attends The Ohio State University, and the remaining two, Cassandra and Nathaniel attend the East Muskingum Middle School in New Concord.
	Kevin Lucas (Inspector Craddock) My first role on stage was my senior year in high school. We did "Little Shop of Horrors". After a few years of missing being on stage, I auditioned at ZCT. Since then I have been in "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?", "Lion in Winter", "Macbeth", "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)", and many others. This show has been a lot of fun to work on. Always as a kid I played the detective solving mysteries and looking for clues, even though it was mostly in my head. Now here I am years later playing the same games I did as a child. Follow along with me and see if you can sift through the madness in Little Paddock and see if you can solve the mystery with me.
	Phil Palmer (Sergeant Mellors) I got involved in theater because it was something my wife enjoyed doing. Turns out I enjoy it too. I have been doing shows here since 2006 and have gone from the Sacred South to the battlefields in the Scottish play to chilly England and have never had to leave Zanesville to do it. I have enjoyed working with this cast and crew and hope the audience enjoys the journey as we figure out whose "Murder is Announced".

	Production Staff
	Melanie A.. Von Gunten (Director) Melanie and her husband Dan are part of the “old guard” at Zanesville Community Theatre, having been involved since 1977. Daughter Jillian grew up in the Theatre and thought for a long time that the building was the west wing of her home. Melanie has served in nearly every capacity backstage for productions, except choreography ( that’s why Jillian took dancing) and lighting (again, something to do with coordination). Occasionally, she may be found on stage. Most often, she can be found at the hair station backstage doing “hair magic”. Melanie loves a good mystery (especially Dame Agatha's) and any production set in a different time period. She is grateful to Eric for being her tag team partner on this production, as well as the cast and crew for their efforts. Enjoy this, our 47th Season opener. As A Murder is Announced, Friends, please accept this, the only intimation.
	Eric Blake (Director) Eric has been involved in theatre for many years He loves being involved either on stage or working behind the scenes. It was instilled in him at an early age that it is just as important to know set construction and other technical aspects of theatre as well as developing acting skills. Eric has been involved with ZCT for several years where he is currently the President of the Board of Directors. He feels that it is so important to give back to our community, and being involved with ZCT affords him that opportunity whether by nurturing young talent and providing them a safe place to learn and have a good time or by fund raising to help provide a much needed boost to those in need. Eric enjoys directing as well as being on stage. In addition to Co-Directing this show, Eric has also recently directed Steel Magnolias, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and The Lion In Winter at Zanesville Community Theatre. Eric is eagerly anticipating directing the show J.B. at ZCT this season. He is also proud to say that he was part of the ensemble cast of The Laramie Project. Eric would like to thank you for supporting Zanesville Community Theatre over the years! He hopes that you truly enjoy this show as much as he has enjoyed directing and working with this wonderful cast and crew!
	Janice Blake (Producer) As many of you know, Janice is the very verbal and outspoken wife of Eric. She has been involved with the theatre in many ways behind the scenes for several years. Her biggest, and probably most difficult task is keeping her husband on track and out of the theatre for at least a couple of weeks each year! This is Janice’s first endeavor at being Producer and she has enjoyed working with this cast and crew tremendously! She wishes to thank everyone who has made this show a success, especially those persons who helped her with her producer duties.
	Tony Palmer (Stage Manager) This is my first time working as a Stage Manager. I love being onstage and up in the balcony helping with lights and I just wanted to be able to experience the "world backstage". I now know just how hard the behind the scenes people have to work to make sure everyone onstage can do their best. I'm proud of this show and proud to be able to work with such a talented cast and crew. Thanks to everyone who is working backstage with me.
	Paige Natalie (Assistant Stage Manager)
	Cassandra Kerr (Stage Crew)

Head shots of cast members ©2005-2010 Dan Olson, used with permission.
Ph. 740-408-0428
Head shots of Kevin Lucas, Eric Blake ©2007 David J. Dittmar used with permission