CLUE ON STAGE Bios – Click on your favorite cast picture to order tickets

Christal Downing (Yvette) - Plant lady. Travel crazy. Sushi lover. Are just a few ways to describe Christal. And of course, lover of theatre. This is Christal’s 2nd show with ZCT, her first was playing Meg in “Little Women”. Christal loves comedy acting so being in “Clue” has been a blast! When not on stage you can find Christal interviewing missionaries for her podcast Brightest Voices, going to TJ Maxx with the girls, or crafting up a storm while watching a good movie.

Jared Gantzer (Wadsworth) - Jared is really excited to play Wadsworth in Zanesville Community Theatre’s production of “Clue: On Stage”. Jared has been lucky enough to have performed in several shows at both Community Theatres in town. Some of his favorite roles at ZCT include Jesus in “Godspell”, Charles Condomine in Blithe Spirit”, Carmen Ghia in “The Producers”, Billy Flynn in “Chicago” and Paul Singer in “Moon Over Buffalo”. Some of his favorite roles at the Renner Theatre include Juror No. 8 in “12 Angry Men”, The Gentleman Caller in “The Glass Menagerie”, The Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz”, Lord Farquaad in “Shrek the Musical” and Lawrence “Guts” Regan in “Night of January Sixteenth”. Jared lives in Zanesville with his wife Sarah and their five children and wants to thank you for supporting the arts in our community!!!

Alaine Kay (The Cook) - Alaine is absolutely thrilled to be playing The Cook in this knee-slapping show. She has been involved in Zanesville theater for several years, with some of her recent roles including Shelley “The Hundred Dresses”, The Renner, Josephine March “Little Women On the Lawn”, ZCT, and Oolie/Donna “City of Angels”, ZCT. Alaine works with instructional technology at Muskingum University and lives in Zanesville with her fiancé Philip and their two cats

Steve Hendershott (Colonel Mustard) - You may have seen Steve on this stage in various roles over the last few years ranging from the murderous “Sweeney Todd” to the mild-mannered Leo Bloom, a somewhat disturbed Juan Peron, a moody novelist, and the psychopathic title character in Shakespeare’s Scottish play. We now get to add a dimwitted military man to the list.

This show is simply a laugh riot waiting to happen, and Steve is completely delighted to be back on this stage with this exceptional cast to join in the fun and laughs. He hopes you’ll relax, enjoy, and laugh yourselves silly.

When he isn’t on stage or in rehearsal, Steve works at the David Crist State Farm agency www.ycityinsurance.com and has enjoyed his “temporary” position there for the last 16+ years.

None of this would be possible without the exceptional support of his AMAZING wife, Jolene, and his loving daughters, Jadyn, Cadence, and Alonna, who play their roles as audience participants with aplomb. Jolene has put up with Steve for over 19 years now, and he is so grateful to her for being the real reason for anything that could be called his success!

Jillian B. Von Gunten (Mrs. White) - Involved in local theater for her entire life, Jillian currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Zanesville Community Theatre. Jillian also sits on the Board of Directors for the Southeast Ohio Symphony Orchestra and the Advisory Board for the Midwest Repertory Ballet. Some of her favorite roles include: Maggie in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (twice!), Alais in “The Lion in Winter”, Nancy in “Oliver!”, Barbara Fordham in “August: Osage County”, Henrietta in “The Hollow”, Ruth Condomine in “Blithe Spirit”, the Witch in “Into the Woods”, Eva Peron in “EVITA”, Regina in “The Little Foxes”, Kate in “Taming of the Shrew”, and Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth”, all at ZCT, and Stella Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire”, Suzy in “Wait Until Dark”, Helena in “A Midsummer Night's Dream”, and Sr. Robert Anne in “Nunsense” at The Renner. Some of her favorite shows to direct were: “The Mystery of Irma Vep”, “HONK!”, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, “Rumors”, “Macbeth”, “The Producers”, and “13, the Musical”. A graduate of Rosecrans High School, Muskingum University, and Capital University Law School, she is a junior partner at Allen & Baughman, Attorneys at Law and lives in Zanesville with her wife, Sheryl, and their small menagerie. Jillian loves Clue - both the board game (of which she has no less than 6 editions) and the movie (which was a favorite to watch and quote with her late father). Mrs. White's plaintive/exasperated/psychotic "Flames...flames...on the side of my face..." has long been her favorite description for the more challenging moments of life and she couldn't be more happy to get to say those words onstage with some of her very favorite people.

Philip Sakal (Mr. Green) - Phil's love of theatre began while he was in his High School's Drama Club. Some of his favorite shows to be a part of were “Les Miserable”, “Murder on the Nile”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, and “Chicago” to name a few! Phil is very excited to be a part of the talented and funny cast of “Clue”, as Mr. Green. It is also a great joy to be on stage together with his Fiancée Alaine! When not on stage, you can find him playing guitar, on the golf course, and spending time with his Fiancée Alaine and friends or keeping tabs on the weather on WHIZ-TV as the weekday morning and noon meteorologist. Thank you for supporting the local arts and Enjoy the Show!

Sally Goins (Mrs. Peacock) - Sally Goins is excited to be part of live theatre again!  She has been on stage in a variety of shows, including “The Hollow”, “Murder on the Nile”, “Quilters”, “9 to 5”, “The Producers”, “Into the Woods”, “Grey Gardens”, “A Little Night Music”, “The Music Man”, and others.

Sally lives in Zanesville with her husband Dave. They are parents of three, grandparents of three, and great grandparents of two beautiful children. She thanks you for coming to the show. In the words of Mrs. Peacock, “I have no idea what we’re doing here, but I’m very intrigued!” 

Enjoy the show!

Eric Blake (Professor Plum) - Eric is currently employed as the Chief Compliance Officer for Coler Health Care.  He has had a love of the theatre for many years, and he enjoys directing as well as being on stage. It was instilled in him at an early age the importance of working behind the scenes as well as acting.  Eric currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors at Zanesville Community Theatre. Eric’s directing credits include: “The Little Foxes”, “Grey Gardens”, “Three Tall Women”, “Chicago”, “Proof”, “Spring Awakening”, “August”, “Osage County”, “Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”, “RENT”, “Doubt, J.B.”, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”, and “The Lion In Winter”.  On stage, Eric has recently appeared in “Deadline”, “Death of a Salesman”, “O’Donnell’s Pub”, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, “Taming of the Shrew”, “Blithe Spirit”, “Murder On The Nile”, “Into the Woods”, “The Hollow”, “The Diary of Anne Frank”, “Sweeney Todd”, and “The Crucible”; just to name a few.

Eric wishes to take this opportunity to thank his wife Janice for her 39 years of love and support and for helping him to make the time to be involved with theatre and many other community activities.

Enjoy the show!

Sarah Gantzer (Miss Scarlet) -  Sarah is absolutely thrilled with the opportunity to play Miss Scarlett in this production! She has had the immense pleasure to enjoy many amazing roles on stage in the past, including: Nancy Lee in “The Night of January 16th”, Rapunzel in “Into the Woods”, Cookie Cusack in “Rumors”, Marian the Librarian in “The Music Man”, Gerda Christow in “The Hollow”, Elizabeth Proctor in “The Crucible”, Rosa Bud in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”, Hermia, in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Ulla in “The Producers”, Laura in “The Glass Menagerie”, Fiona in “Shrek the Musical”, and Helen in “Fun Home”. Next Up, you will be able to see Sarah as Miss Scarlet in “Clue: The Stage Show” here at ZCT, later this fall.

Sarah currently serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors for Zanesville Community Theatre, a board member for the South Eastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra, Drama Club Advisor for Zanesville High School, Elementary Robotics Coach at National Road Elementary, and is a Jazz and Ballet Instructor at Movement on Main Center for Dance. She is also a Language Arts teacher and Literacy Coach for Zanesville City Schools. She lives in Zanesville with her husband Jared, and their five children. She thanks you so much for supporting the arts in our community.

Scott Robinson (Mr. Boddy) - Scott Robison is enjoying being back in the theater after a year away.  He has recently been involved in Death of a Salesman and Westward Ho and is enjoying the role of Mr. Boddy.  While not at the theater, he spends a great deal of time with his beautiful wife Michelle enjoying everything Disney and their amazing fur babies.

He hopes you truly enjoy the show and thanks you for supporting the arts in Zanesville

David Downing (The Motorist) -  David Downing, commercially certified, multi-engine, Instrument rated pilot working for Zanesville Aviation. David is no stranger to time on the stage. Performing violin in College, SEOSO, and 3 times touring in Japan. You might recognize this dashingly handsome man from his role as John in Little Women. David also supports buying concessions from the booth before and during intermission. Tell them David sent you 😉

David Kerr (The Cop) - I haven’t been on this stage for seven years, so why come back now?  Amnesia!  I forgot how much work is involved in putting on a show.  But seriously, when I heard that ZCT had finally received the rights to perform “Clue”, I couldn’t resist.  The movie “Clue” is one of my top ten all-time favorites and with the talent of the directors and other members of this cast, I knew it was going to be something I didn’t want to miss.  I hope that all our time and effort has paid off and we have given you, the audience, an evening you won’t soon forget.

Jadyn Hendershott (The Singing Telegram Girl) - Jadyn Hendershott recently graduated from Tri-Valley High School. She has been in numerous shows before, but her favorite roles are Kelsi in High School Musical (ZCT), Kendra in 13 (ZCT), ensemble in CATS (WYART), and Rafiki in Lion King Jr. (ZTP). When not doing theater, she enjoys singing, playing with her pets, and online shopping. Enjoy the show!