MURDER ON THE NILE 8 May 17 through June 9, 2019 - Chattanooga Theatre Centre
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MURDER ON THE NILE
8
M a y 17 t h r o u g h J u n e 9 , 2 019
Cultivating theatre
appreciation and education
in our community
Unum is proud to support the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.
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The Chattanooga Theatre Centre
presents
Agatha Christie’s
MURDER ON THE NILE
Stage Direction
COURTENAY GILLEAN CHOLOVICH
Scenic Design Costume Design Lighting Design
ADAM MIECIELICA CHARLETTE KENT-PLUNK SEAN STEWARD
Sound Design Properties Master & Scenic Painter
TODD OLSON TARA McDOUGAL
Production Stage Manager
SANDY WHETMORE
Assistant Director
MATTHEW MULLINS
8
8
Our 2018-2019 season is dedicated to the memory of Thomas Alford.
Cover photography by Brad Cansler
THE CAST
(in order of appearance)
Steward, the head waiter ................................................. SAMUEL CHASE DAY
Helen Ffoliot-ffoulkes, a wealthy snob ............................. DEB MEEKS
Christina Grant, Helen’s niece .......................................... SALLY PEIXOTO
Kay Ridgeway-Mostyn, the richest girl in England ............KELSEIGH GARRET
Simon Mostyn, Kay’s husband ......................................... CHEN ZHANG
Louise, Kay’s maid ............................................................ HOLLI HUTSON
Dr. Bessner, a doctor from another country .................... DANA ROGERS
Canon Ambrose Pennefather, Kay’s uncle and guardian ... DOUGLAS MAY
Jacqueline de Severac,
Kay’s ex-best friend, Simon’s ex-fiancée .......................... JINNY JAGODITSCH
William Smith, a wise-cracking “kid” ............................... JACOB MOORE
SETTING
On the observation saloon of the paddle steamer Lotus
on the Nile between Shellal and Wadi Halfa
TIME
1944
ACTION
ACT 1
At Shallal, late afternoon
There will be one 15-minute intermission.
ACT 2
Scene 1: By the Temple of Abu Simbel, three days later, after dinner
Scene 2: The same, five minutes later
ACT 3
The same, the following morning
Thanks to Our Friends & Supporters
COME CLEAN ENTERTAINMENT
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Board of Directors
Susan Harris, President
Jennifer Nicely, 1st Vice President
Scott Shaw, Secretary
Angie Griffin, Treasurer
Jim Kennedy, Immediate Past President
Mitch Collins, John Echols, John Foy, Tom Griscom,
Becki Jordan, Melissa Loyd, Jennifer Major, Pam Miller,
Jordan Otis, Steve Ray, Darian Scott
Board of Stewards
Owen Allen, Jo Coke, Linda Harwell,
Paula Henderson, James K. Steakley, Sonia Young
Founded in 1923, the Chattanooga Theatre Centre is dedicated to enriching the cultural,
intellectual, and emotional development of people of all ages by providing high-quality
theatrical experiences and creating opportunities to engage in them. To join us in this mission,
call 423.267.8534 or visit us at TheatreCentre.com to find out how you can take part.
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
“To all those who lead monotonous lives
in the hope that they may experience at
second hand the delights and dangers of
adventure.”
– Author Dedication by
Agatha Christie,
“The Secret Adversary”
As a theatre educator and teaching artist, I spend my days using
guided questioning to lead my students to arrive at informed conclusions
and opinions about the performing arts. “What is theatre?” I ask them.
“Why and how did it begin?” “What purpose(s) has it served historically?”
“What does ‘live performance’ mean in the age of digital connectivity?”
and, by far not the least important, “Why do we still practice theatre today?”
Of course, there are countless responses, ranging from those based in
philosophical theory (for example, the theory of the mimetic impulse,
which suggests that we engage in theatre because of an innate desire to
learn about the world around us through performance and repetition (pardon
me while I push up my glasses) to answers rooted in slightly shallower
ground (because we want people to look at us and love us, obviously).
But perhaps theatre’s noblest function is as a transportation device for the
senses – to different times, to different places, to the company of different
people. When we watch a play, we get the opportunity to look at the human
condition in a light which often escapes us as we go about our everyday
lives – we are able to see the art that is inherent in our very humanity.
I personally do not believe in such a thing as a “monotonous” life, but I
deeply appreciate the function of theatre that reveals the virtue of the
simple act of watching each other. It’s been my honor to help craft this
voyage of intrigue on the Nile, and like Ms. Christie, I do dedicate it to you,
the audience – may you have a most dangerously delightful experience and
venture forth to see the adventure in your own journey.
– Courtenay Gillean Cholovich
THE PLAYWRIGHT Dame Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was an English writer best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around her fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world’s longest-running play, a murder mystery, The Mousetrap, and, under the pen name Mary Westmacott, six romances. In 1971 she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to literature. Christie was born into a wealthy upper middle class family in Torquay, Devon. Before marry- ing and starting a family in London, she had served in a Devon hospital during the First World War, tending to troops coming back from the trenches. She was initially an unsuccessful writer with six consecutive rejections, but this changed when The Mysterious Affair at Styles, featuring Hercule Poirot, was published in 1920. During WWII, she worked as a pharmacy assistant at University College Hospital, London, acquiring a good knowledge of poisons which feature in many of her novels. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling novelist of all time. Her novels have sold roughly 2 billion copies, and her estate claims that her works come third in the rankings of the world’s most-widely published books behind only Shakespeare’s works and the Bible. And Then There Were None is Christie’s best-selling novel, with 100 million sales to date, making it the world’s best-selling mystery ever and one of the best-selling books of all time. Christie’s stage play The Mousetrap holds the world record for longest initial run. It opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End in 1952, and as still running after more than 27,000 performances. Most of her books and short stories have been adapted for television, radio, video games and comics, and more than 30 feature films have been based on her work. History of MURDER ON THE NILE The play is based on Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel Death on the Nile which in itself started off as a play which Christie called Moon on the Nile. Once written, she decided it would do better as a book and she only resurrected the play version in 1942 when she was in the middle of writing the theatrical version of And Then There Were None and her actor friend Francis L. Sullivan was looking for a play in which Hercule Poirot might feature. Christie was tired of the character of Poirot and wanted to exclude him from the drama altogether. She managed to persuade Sullivan of this plan when she promised to write into the play the part of a church canon for him to play. Once backing had been found, rehearsals for the play began in January 1944 in which Christie enthusiastically joined in, now that she was thoroughly enamored of the theatre and its people. It premiered at the Dundee Repertory Theatre and the title of the play had also been changed to Hidden Horizon. The play, with the name Murder on the Nile, finally opened in the West End in 1946 at the Ambassadors Theatre, where six years later The Mousetrap would open.
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SAMUEL CHASE DAY (Steward) is making his CTC debut. He is a graduate of
UTC, with a bachelor’s in social work. He has been in several performances
from a theatre in his hometown and is making his return to the stage with
this show. He wants to thanks all the attendants for coming to support
local arts.
KELSEIGH GARRET (Kay Ridgeway-Mostyn) is thrilled to be back on the
CTC stage after playing Gloria in last summer’s Boeing-Boeing. Some
of her favorite roles include Doralee (9 to 5), Pearl (These Shining Lives),
Mrs. Gibbs (Our Town), and Lucinda (Into the Woods). Kelseigh is currently
working on her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a
specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy at Lesley University in Cambridge,
MA. Kelseigh would like to thank her friends and family for their love and patience though
this busy year.
HOLLI HUTSON (Louise) is thrilled to be back on stage at CTC. She was last
seen in Spamalot. Holli has also performed at the Chattanooga State Rep-
ertory Theater, Oak Street Playhouse, and the Signal Mountain Playhouse.
She holds an M.A. in Theater Education and teaches in the Professional
Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State. Holli also teaches at Chat-
tanooga Ballet, Siskin Fitness Center, and Center for Creative Arts. Holli is an alum of the
Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute and the founder/director of The Mary Holliday Dance
Ensemble.
JINNY JAGODITSCH (Jacqueline de Severac), having spent most of her teen
years participating in the Youth Theatre program, is excited to make her return
to the Theatre Centre’s stage for her first “grown up” show here. Notable
Youth Theatre productions include playing Hermia in Midsummer in 2008
and stage managing The Yellow Boat in 2009. She has spent the years interim
performing in various projects of film and stage, many in her home town of Dalton, including
the role of Karen in August: Osage County at the Dalton Little Theatre. She would like to
thank her parents for encouraging from a young age her love of classic film and television
that inspired her performance today.
DOUGLAS MAY (Canon Ambrose Pennefather) is thrilled to return to CTC,
having previously appeared in Epic Proportions and A Christmas Carol. He was
most recently seen in the premiere of Deeper Roots at the Bachmann Center.
After getting his degree in theatre at UTC, Douglas worked in San Francisco
for three seasons at 42nd Street Moon, as well as Guilty Theatre, Playground
Emerging Playwrights Festival, the premiere of the long-running Are We Almost There and a
number of independent productions. Since returning to Chattanooga, he has played leading
or featured roles in two dozen productions, directed at Oak Street Playhouse and Tennessee
Valley Theatre and appeared in twenty local commercials. Favorite roles include Cogsworth
(Beauty and the Beast), Peachum (Threepenny Opera), Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz), Kulygin
(Three Sisters), good and evil twins in As You Like It, the villainous new landlord John Earl
in Fat Shirley’s Trailer Park Opera and anything with Ballet Tennessee. He is probably best
remembered for playing The Man in Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone as guest artist at Chatta-
nooga State.DEB MEEKS (Helen Ffoliot-ffoulkes) last appeared on the CTC stage in Beauty
and the Beast. Deborah received the Miss Annie “Featured Actress in a Musical”
Award for Yenta in Fiddler on the Roof. Previous CTC credits include Sister Act and
9 to 5. Other local credits include Roald Dahl’s Willie Wonka at Signal Mountain
Playhouse and All My Sons at Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga. Deborah holds
an M.Ed. in Speech and Theatre and is an adjunct faculty member in the Theatre Department at
Chattanooga State. “I have been blessed to be able to continue to do what I love. As always, it is a
joy! I hope a bit of that joy spills over to you, the audience, as we share this time together.”
JACOB MOORE (William Smith) made his CTC debut as Whit in Of Mice and Men
and went on to appear in Harvey as Elwood P. Dowd and the Gentleman Caller in
The Glass Menagerie. He has performed with the Journey Company, the Serious
Theater Collective, Artistic New Directions, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Cincinnati
Playhouse in the Park, Improv Chattanooga, and the New York City Fringe Festival.
He’s having a blast on the Nile.
SALLY PEIXOTO (Christina Grant) is proudly returning to CTC for the third time
since The Library. Sally loves small animals and is the happy mother to two feisty
rabbits. She also loves Chen (Simon), to whom she’s engaged.
DANA ROGERS (Dr. Bessner) is Dana’s second in CTC’s series of plays by Agatha
Christie. He was John Cavandish in CTC’s sold-out production of The Mysterious
Affair at Styles last season, and hopes to come back next year for The Hollow. Dana
is a 2005 graduate of Chattanooga State’s Professional Actors Training Program.
Recently Dana has appeared as Ellard in The Foreigner at the Rinngold Playhouse,
Vinnie in Yellow Dragon Production’s The Odd Couple, and in the ensemble of both East Brainerd
Community Theater and Christian Family Theater’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
This fall he will start the next great adventure in life with the amazing Brittany Parks at his side and
in his heart. She’s working as a volunteer backstage as you’re reading this, so after the bows, she’ll
love to show you the ring. Dana lives in East Brainerd with his two dogs, Mouse and Molly. Thanks
to Eve Hildebrandt Waffel for casting him in The Hollow back in 2013, piquing his interest in the
stories of Agatha Christie.
CHEN ZHANG (Simon Mostyn) is proudly returning to CTC for the third time after
appearing in The Library and Beauty and the Beast. Outside of theatre he likes
to ride his bicycle and debate philosophy (although rarely at the same time). He
would like to thank Sally (Christina) for nudging him to audition and Courtenay and
Matt for casting him.
MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM
COURTENAY GILLEAN CHOLOVICH (Director) returns for a second season to CTC,
making her mainstage directorial debut. She first appeared last season as Mary
Cavendish in Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Winner - Miss
Annie Award for “Outstanding Debut Actress in a Play”) followed by serving as
writer/director/host for the live radio comedy show, “The Riverbend Radio Revue.”
Most recently she wrote and directed an original one-act, May the Fourth Be With
You, for the Dalton Little Theatre One Act Festival. Other local credits include The Long Christmas
Ride Home (Woman) and Dancing at Lughnasa (Maggie) with Ensemble Theatre as well as Crimes
of the Heart (Meg) at Dalton Little Theatre. Courtenay holds a B.F.A. in Acting from the University
of Florida, an M.F.A. in Performance from Arizona State University, and is currently the TheatreArts teacher at Dalton Middle School. She has performed and directed internationally (including a
tour of her original one-woman show, IMAGINATIONMACHINE), has been featured in several short
film festivals (including a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the NYC Short Film Festival
for The Picnic), is a regular contributing writer for the internationally-acclaimed horror podcast,
“Fireside Mystery Theatre” (available on Stitcher, Audioboom, and Apple Podcasts), and may be
spotted on occasion performing as part of Chattanooga’s stand-up scene. Infinite thanks and gratitude
to Todd Olson and the CTC crew and her many chosen families near and far. For Mom, who is
always there for her, and for Dad, who will always be with her.
TARA McDOUGAL (Properties Master and Scenic Painter) is an alumni of
CTC’s Youth Theatre from back when it was the Little Theatre. She has always
loved the creativity and family in the theatre community. Tara attended the
University of Evansville, in Evansville, IN, and received her B.F.A. in Theatre
Design and Technology. She has spent most of her career working in props
or as a scenic artist, in various professional and regional theatres. Favorite
props include a magic trunk for The Fantasticks, the bean stalk for Into the
Woods, and many different props for You Can’t Take it With You. She enjoys the challenge and
creativity that come with props and painting. Tara is married and has a daughter who she hopes
learns to love the theatre as much as Mom does. Tara also enjoys hiking, painting, and spending
time with family. She is excited to return to her roots and cannot wait to see where CTC goes next!
ADAM MIECIELICA (Scenic Design) is an Assistant Professor in the Performing Arts-Division
of Theatre at UTC. He received his M.F.A. in Scenic Design and Technical Production from the
University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He has worked professionally for many theatres across the
country including The Santa Fe Opera, Northern Stage in White River Junction, Vermont, and
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Before coming to UTC, Adam was Visiting Professor of
Scenic Design at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
MATTHEW MULLINS (Assistant Director) attributes Murder on the Nile as his first
show in over 15 years. He’s very excited to be back around the stage. Thanks to
Todd and the rest of CTC for the opportunity to be involved. The cast has been
awesome to work with and it has been a privilege to learn from Courtenay during
this process.
TODD OLSON (Sound Designer/CTC Executive Director) has just finished his
second year at CTC. Recently he spent 11 years as Producing Artistic Director
at American Stage Theatre Company in St. Petersburg, FL. He was the 2013
recipient of the Florida Professional Theatre Association’s Richard G. Fallon
Award for “Excellence in Professional Theatre.” Todd has directed over 150
plays, musicals, and operas, including My Way (which he co-created) at the
Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, and I Left My Heart (also co-created) at Milwaukee
Repertory Theatre. For American Stage, Todd directed over 30 critically-acclaimed plays, including A
Moon for the Misbegotten, Anna in the Tropics, The Seafarer, Suddenly Last Summer, Three Days of
Rain, The Exonerated (with Sandy Duncan and Antonio Tarver), Dennis Lehane’s Coronado, Dinner
with Friends, This Wonderful Life, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, August: Osage County, and Around
the World in 80 Days. Original works include new adaptations of Lysistrata and Dracula. Original
works include Hurricane Class, Section 60, Casa Blue, the last moments in the life of Frida Kahlo, and
Joe Corso Re-Enters from the Wings, which won the 2012 Holland New Voices Playwright Award at
the Great Plains Theatre Conference. Todd received his M.F.A. from The University of North Carolina
and is a graduate of the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard, where he took classes
with David Mamet, Peter Sellars, Andrei Serban, Robert Scanlan, Robert Woodruff, Anna Deveare
Smith, and Robert Brustein, among others. Todd was a teaching fellow at Harvard and has taught
classes at Vanderbilt, Boston University, University of North Carolina, and the University of South
Florida. Todd and his wife, Charlotte, are the proud parents of Jonas, Corinna, and May.CHARLETTE KENT-PLUNK (Costume Design) makes her CTC debut as designer in Murder on the
Nile. A graduate in A.F.A. Theatre from Asheville, Charlette has worked as designer on productions
in the past such as Sense & Sensibility, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Night of the Living
Dead. Other credits include Death Takes a Holiday and Holy Week with Back Alley Productions,
as well as Stories from the Table and To Kill a Mockingbird in NC. She is excited to be a part of
the Chattanooga arts scene and would like to thank the patrons for keeping theatre alive. She
would also like to thank her supportive family and Jennifer Treadway who have taught her
everything she knows.
SEAN STEWART (Lighting Design) is in his third year as the UTC Fine Arts Center Manager and
Technical Director for the Hayes Concert Hall. Sean has designed sets and lights for numerous
productions including Macbeth, The Hostage, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Dreamgirls,
Something’s Afoot, and Once upon a Mattress, to name a few. Last season he designed lights
for CTC’s The Amish Project. Prior to coming to Chattanooga, Sean was a stay-at-home dad and
raised his two children for eight years. Before that, he was the Technical Director at the Embassy
Theater in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was also the TD at IPFW University.
SANDY WHETMORE (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be calling this
show. “Working with Courtenay has been delightful, as she guided us through
the process of discovering insightful, creative, and humorous ways to interpret
Agatha Christie’s classic story for our audiences.” Sandy has enjoyed theater
in the past as an actress, director, costume designer, stage manager, and pup-
peteer. She and is married to her high school sweetheart and teaches future
teachers at Cleveland State Community College. She loves playing word games with her four
amazing children whenever they can all get together and never tires of sharing stories with her
four absolutely astonishing grandchildren.
MEET THE THEATRE CENTRE STAFF
EVAN BRACKETT (Master Carpenter) has an A.A.S. in Construction Man-
agement as well as ten years of experience in technical theatre, working
as a carpenter, grip, rigger, scenic painter, electrician, sound engineer,
and designer. He is from Rome, GA, where he worked as the Technical
Director for the Rome Shakespeare Festival and the Facilities Manager for
the Historic Desoto Theatre where he built and designed numerous pro-
ductions. He is excited to be a part of the CTC family and put his hands to
work on the shows this season.
KATIE CAMPASSI (Education Associate) graduated with her B.A. in Theatre,
Cum Laude, from Oglethorpe University. She interned at the Alliance
Theatre and has an extensive background in theatre education. She has been
teaching and directing for nine years. She also performs professionally
throughout the southeast in theatre, film, and improvisation with a focus
on children’s programming. A guitar player, makeup artist, and fitness
enthusiast, Katie loves exploring all the possibilities of the performing arts.
She made her CTC debut in Boeing-Boeing and appeared most recently in A Civil War Christmas.
NICOLE COLEMAN (Box Office Assistant) has enjoyed the local arts scene since her first acting
class at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre (then called the Little Theatre) and painting workshop
at the Hunter Museum where the 7-year-old played a “Coke Machine” and painted an abstract
stool only a mother could love. As her world became a stage, she entertained audiences in CTCYouth Theatre productions and at the Chattanooga High School Center for Creative
Arts. Appearing most recently in A Civil War Christmas, other memorable shows in-
clude The Wiz, The Wizard of Oz, Jack and the Wonderbeans, Bye-Bye Birdie, House
at Pooh Corner, Steel Magnolias, Jake’s Women, To Kill A Mockingbird, and Plant,
Grow, Pick. Nicole also serves as a panelist for the ArtsBuild Community Cultural
Connections Grant.
R. SCOTT DUNLAP (Youth Theatre Director) is an alumnus of CTC’s Youth Theatre
program, graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1996, and
was a member of their 1997 Acting Company. This season will mark his 21th sea-
son with the CTC. He was Youth Theatre Designer from 1997 until 2000. He has
been onstage in numerous CTC productions, including Miss Hannigan in Annie,
Roger DeBris in The Producers, and the Baker in Into the Woods. In 2008, he re-
ceived the “Best Actor” award for Estrogon in Waiting for Godot at the Tennessee
Theatre Association Community Theatre Competition. He would later return to receive the 2012 “Best
Director” and “Best Production” awards for The 39 Steps. His long history of directing CTC shows often
includes designing his own productions. Some of his favorites include Almost Maine, The Best Man,
Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, Camelot, Dark of the Moon, Dividing the Estate, Hair, Love/Sick,
Mr. & Mrs. M, Peter and the Starcatcher, Pig Farm, Ring Round the Moon, A Room with a View, The
Importance of Being Earnest, Xanadu, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in 2005, 2009, and 2018.
LISA GLISSON (Development Associate) is responsible for implementing our
fundraising strategies. During her career, she has been a corporate trainer for
high-tech companies such as EDS and Compaq, taught at Lone Star College
and Cleveland State Community College, and published an award-winning
memoir under her nom de plume. In recent years, she has written numerous
grant proposals and case statements for nonprofits. Since she loves live
theatre – and used to write plays for her third-grade classmates to perform
– Lisa feels that she has found her niche with CTC’s zany yet brilliant crew. A Texas native, she and
her family spent 17 years in North Carolina before moving to Tennessee, where she has embraced
the Volunteers and, at long last, country music. Lisa also roots for Texas A&M, where she earneddegrees in journalism and English. She and her husband are the parents of two young adult sons,
a teenage daughter, and a completely crazy dog.
CASSANDRA GROSS (Business Manager) has lived in Chattanooga for the last
20 years. Not coincidentally, she has been a 20-year volunteer or employee
of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, performing in the Youth Theatre and
Mainstage musicals, assisting in the box office, teaching Summer Academy, and
chauffeuring TheatreQuest youth for their annual Atlanta theatre weekend.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from UTC in Accounting (Go Mocs!), and now
enjoys keeping a watchful eye over the financial life of her beloved arts
organization. Cassandra even met her husband, Lee, at the CTC and together they are raising three
wild, loud, lovely children: Sam, Siddalee, and Moses. In Cassandra’s spare time she cooks, makes
her husband laugh, and gardens…and knows the earth can heal you. Cassandra firmly believes in
the mission of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre and believes that sharing our stories, in person, in
our own voices, is one of the most powerful and loving things that we can do as a community.
N. ERIC KNAUSS (Technical Director) has spent most of the last 25 years
working full-time in theatre in the D.C. area. He started at The Studio
Theatre in 1992, moved to the Round House Theatre in 1999, then to the
Olney Theatre in 2009. After leaving the Olney in 2012, he spent three years
working in the theatre department at George Washington University. Eric
just recently moved to Chattanooga to be closer to family and is happy to be
able to continue working in theatre while here.
RICARDO C. MORRIS (Director) is a native of Chattanooga and attended
Calvin Donaldson Elementary School and Alton Park Junior High School. He is
a 1980 graduate of Howard High School. Ric continued his Tiger tradition
by attending Tennessee State University where he received his B.S. degree in
Speech Communication and Theater. After graduation Ric taught theater, English,
and dance for eight years at Hixson High. In 1994 he left teaching to attend
Yale University, where he earned an M.F.A. in Arts Administration. While
attending Yale, Ric founded the Dwight/Edgewood Project which worked with disadvantaged youth
through play writing. This program earned him the honor of being the first School of Drama student
to become a Yale Presidential Fellow. In addition to his current position at the Chattanooga Theatre
Centre as Group Sales & Events Manager, he is also the owner and CEO of Renaissance Consulting
and Management (renaissanceconsultingmanagement.com) and the founder of the Chattanooga
Festival of Black Arts & Ideas: Juneteenth Commemoration Day. His past positions include Executive
Director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham where he founded the Taste of 4th Avenue
Jazz Festival. He also led the Harris Arts Center in Calhoun, GA, where he created The International
String Band Festival. He later founded the Green Street Arts Center in Middletown, CT, and served as
its Executive Director for four years. Ric is also credited with founding and leading Chattanooga’s
CultureFest for three years and the Glenwood Jazz Festival for five years. As a theatre artist Ric considers
himself a dancer/actor/director and has appeared in several productions at CTC, including The Wiz,
Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Boys Next Door, Dreamgirls, and
The Names of the Dead. At CTC he has directed A Streetcar Named Desire, Blues for an Alabama Sky,
Bourbon at the Border, and August Wilson’s Fences in 1997 and 2019. He has also directed Dinah
Was… and The Amen Corner at the Carver Theatre in Birmingham, AL. His other artistic endeavors
and hobbies include photography, quilting, cooking, gardening, home improvement, and design.
KITTY MURAKAMI (Box Office Assistant) is a relative newcomer to Chattanooga, having moved here
from Ocala, Florida, in 2015. She was raised in upstate New York, graduated from the University of
Connecticut School of Pharmacy, and has lived in great places like Denver and Maui. Her first and only
experience with theatre (other than high school plays) started as a costume shop volunteer at OcalaSom !
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BlackArtsandIdeasFest.comCivic Theatre for two years. After retiring as a pharmacist and moving to
Chattanooga, she continued volunteering at CTC in the costume shop. Af-
ter finally being offered a part-time Box Office Assistant position in 2016,
she was thrilled to become a part of the CTC family. “It has been an honor
and a privilege as well as a wonderful learning experience to be involved
with this organization. CTC is blessed to have such an amazing facility,
talented dedicated staff and volunteers, and such supportive patrons.”
WAYNE SCHOCK (Patron Services Director) is celebrating his 19th
season with CTC. He returned to Chattanooga after graduating college,
saw some plays with friends, then became a subscriber. “I loved the
shows and the evenings out with dinner and brought family and friends
for a number of years.” Wayne would become the Box Office Manager;
there have been only four in the 95-year history of the Little Theatre/
Chattanooga Theatre Centre! “I feel honored to be a part of this great
community organization with such rich history. I am proud of the productions we bring
Chattanooga on a yearly basis with local talent. I love getting to know the patrons show after
show. I hope to be a part of this great institution for many years to come.”
CHUCK TUTTLE (Director of Education and Outreach) holds a Master
of Fine Arts degree in Children’s Theatre and Creative Drama from
the University of Texas at Austin and has over 30 years of experience
doing theatre with and for young people. His professional background
includes serving as Director of Education at Austin Theatre for Youth
and Children’s Theatre Workshop in Pleasanton, California. Chuck has
taught theatre classes to all ages in acting, playwriting, technical theatre,
Shakespeare, voice, movement, improvisation, and comedy, among others. As an actor, he
has taken on such roles as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Joaquin in El Californio, Simon in The
Caucasian Chalk Circle, and Billy Crocker in Anything Goes (which he performed in Hokkaido,
Japan). Directing credits include Waiting for Godot, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, The Night-
ingale, The Crucible, Once on This Island, and Go, Dog, Go! Chuck has written several stage
adaptations, most recently Plant, Grow, Pick for CTC’s Theatre for the Very Young program.
For the past three summers, he has collaborated with composer Michael Huseman to create
short musicals for CTC’s Summer Musical Performance Training Academy. As sponsor and
advisor of CTC’s teen interest group, TheatreQuest, he contributes to and directs The Alphabet
Plays, an ongoing series of plays for young children.
JULIE VAN VALKENBURG (Marketing Director) is enjoying her second
year as a member of the Theatre Centre staff, transitioning her 25 years
of volunteer experience at the CTC into her dream job at her home away
from home. She brings 30 years of experience in marketing, media
relations, graphic design, and digital marketing to the role. As a volun-
teer, she has worked onstage and backstage, including lending a hand as
a stage manager (most recently Les Miserables and Harvey) and, over
the years, as a box office, costume shop, scene shop, and special events volunteer. A six-time
Miss Annie Award winner, Julie appeared most recently in A Room with a View. After making
her CTC debut in A Streetcar Named Desire, she went on to other favorite roles in Vanya and
Sonia and Masha and Spike, Six Degrees of Separation, Rumors, God of Carnage, Spinning
into Butter, Enchanted April, Dearly Departed, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Julie has appeared
on other stages in August: Osage County, The Laramie Project, and Hamlet. She shares her
love of theatre with her husband, Rodney, and son, Jake, both of whom have appeared on
the CTC stage.Local Mystery Writer
Our mission is to promote Becky Wooley presents:
youth involvement in the Non-Prophet Murders &
performing arts through
Murder Intelligently Designed
grants and scholarships.
Star Line Books & Amazon.com
www.palchattanooga.org
Find us on FacebookCHELSEA M. WEISS (Costume Shop Manager) hails from a small college
town outside of Philadelphia, and attended Queens College in New York
to receive a B.A. in Classics and minor in Textiles and Apparel. During her
college years, she managed the costume shop at the QC theatre and spent a
summer with Cornerstone Theatre Company in California. Post-graduation,
she did some freelance jobs with People’s Light and Theatre, Steel River
Playhouse, and various wedding alterations. She recently moved to Chatta-
nooga with her boyfriend and dog and enjoys all of the outdoor climbing this area has to offer.
THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS
Costume Shop: Khaliyah Copeny, Jody Clevenger, Tinita Coulter, Kim Davis, Lynn Dunlap, Scott
Dunlap, Sandy Franklin, Angie Griffin, Pat Longwith, Amy Meller, Kitty Murakami, Kiane Pelham,
Patti Ann Smith
Scene Shop: Mary Hughes, Carina Miller, Lisa Fox
Marketing: Brad Cansler (photography), Jeremy Campbell (graphic design), Becki Jordan, Joanna
Lewis, and Stefanie Oppenheimer (playbills)
Sound Engineer: Gary May
Front-of-House Coordinator: Becki Jordan
House Managers: Jan Belk, Rob Block, Debi Cate, Jo Coke, Dana Cole, John Echols, Stacy Helton,
Karen Henderson, Vivian Hershey, Magge Hudgins, Sara Jackson, Becki Jordan, Faith Larson,
Kathleen Monnig, Tim Newland, Howard Pires, Donna Pyers, and Sandy Smith
Ushers: The Drama Queens, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Chattanooga Alumnae Chapter Sorority, The
Links, Inc., Chattanooga Chapter, Youth Theatre Alumni, the Echols Family, TN Paralegals, Debbi
Ahlden, Cathy Andrews, Caleeta Beagles, Jan Belk; Jewel Berg, Alexis Boddy & Eli Courey; David,
Christopher, & Benjamin Brown; Coylee Bryan, Ellen & Gene Cain, Stacy Casteel, Jill Cavan & Billy
Campbell, Rena & Hannah Card, Anne, Kelly, Andrew & Preston Choyce, Dana Cole, Anne Curtis;
Kathy Daniels & Louis Ware, Katie Darraj, Barbara and Anna Derthick, Lorrie Tipton DeWitt,
E’tienne Easley, Mike & Karen Flores, Aleyce Fontenot, Judy Gallagher, Malinda & Greg Guider,
Denise Hardee, Marty Hershey, Maria Hurt, Michael, Diane, Zachary & Noah Huseman, Mary,
Don & Holli Hutson, Vanda Ingham, Kim Jackson; Becki Jordan, Linda Knoop, Faith, Erik, Aleah &
Nathaniel Larson, Gail Lindsey; Jennifer, Adam & Annabelle Major, Amy & Nancy Martin, Christy &
Joey Mathew, Doug May, Kelly Mayer & Beverly Brand, June McBride, Cindy & Samantha McCoy,
Ruth McMillan, Tracy Medford & Uzziah Hall, Amy Meller, Kathleen Monnig, Yolanda Morton,
Beverly Moye, Paula Owens, Linda Park, Linda Parker, Treva Parker; Marlene Payne, Tekoa Penrose,
Diana Peterson, Jean Phillips, Martha Pigman, Donna Pyers, April Rector, Kitty & Carolina Reel,
Katelyn Reeves, Kathleen & Mike Reinshagen, Jim Samples; Sara Scott, Patti Ann Smith; Sandy
Smith, Stephanie Smith, Dick & June Stewart, Kaihan Strain, Jan Suhrbier, Sandy Vice, Stan & Roz
Vogel, Teralyn Wade & Nathaniel Garth, Barbara Walker, Bird & Amariah White, Marte Williams,
LaShunda Williams, Rebecca Williams
Box Office: Chairperson: Donna Pyers, Ginny Atkins, Barbara Bye, Nancy Collum, Kathy Daniels,
Janice Groseclose, Vivian and Martin Hershey, Eunice Hodges, Susan LaGraff, Rhonda Langford,
Faith Larson, June McBride, Linda Morris, Norman Oien, Vivian Pettigrew, Pat Randell, Glenda
Rucks, Susan RussellFRIENDS OF THE THEATRE CENTRE
The Chattanooga Theatre Centre would like to Jim & Marsha Olson
acknowledge our donors since December 1, 2017. John & Carolyn Phillips
(Note: * denotes a member of the Centennial Dr. & Mrs. B. Winfred Ruffner, Jr.
Birthday Club) Louise Spector
Bob & Linda Thompson
$15,000 and above Imre & Jean Volgyi
Alice P. Lupton estate
Unum $250 - $749
Anonymous
$10,000 - $14,999 Anonymous
ArtsForward Alec & Kristine Badger Family
Barnett & Company Dr. Sam & Dana Banks
Come Clean Entertainment Robert & Victoria Berghel
Food City Charitable Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Thilo Best
John Foy* Marcia Biggs
Hamico Foundation Claire S. Binder
Martha Butterfield
$5,000 - $9,999 D. Gaither Cate
Mitch & Jackie Collins* Nancy Collum
First Tennessee Foundation Roy & Donna Cooper*
See Rock City Daniel Dejan & Anne Swedberg
John & Roberta Echols*
$1,500 - $4,999 Johann & Angelik Ecker
Owen Allen* Ed & Deborah English
Gary & Sally Chazen Kitty & Walter Forbes
Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. Rick & Lisa Glisson*
Jo Coke Juan & Amada Gonzalez
EPB James B. & Lynn Hall
Ted & Cora Feintuch Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Nancy R. Jolley Bob & Carol Hansen
Dr. Dan Kennedy* Jaye & Susan Harris
Tom & Kristina Montague Hap & Linda Harwell*
The Nicely Family Karen & Lawton Haygood
Performing Arts League Rita Heckrotte & Jim Roxlo
Dr. & Mrs. B. Winfred Ruffner, Jr. Carl & Paula Henderson*
Scott & Alison Shaw Tomas Hernandez & Keith Reas
Alice & Alfred Smith Bill & Bennie Johnson
SunTrust Foundation Becki Jordan*
Andrew & Carolyn Kamada
$750 - $1,499 James & Barbara Kennedy
Anonymous Allan A. Ledford
Wade & Brenda Brickhouse* The Lowery Family
Mr. & Mrs. K. Harrison Brown Robert & Linda McAllester
Martha S. & William C. Carriger Tresa & Franklin McCallie*
Chattanooga Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association Gary & Diane McCluskey
Steve & Joni Darmody Donna McConnico
Donald D. DesRosiers* Reba McEntire Fund
Buddy & Sally Faulkner* Dr. Sally McKellar
Dr. Stefan & Shirley Fromm Dr. Judith & Robert McNew
Angela Griffin Dr. Frank & Pam Miller*
Tom & Marion Griscom Kathleen Monnig
Dan & Linda Keeney Cannon & Rick Montague
Sallie & Dale Lawrence Linda D. Morris
Charles & Betty Lebovitz Louisa Nicholson
Martha Mackey Ruth & Fred Obear
Dennis McGuire John & Carolyn PhillipsDr. Melissa Phillips Roy Marie-France Hazel & Leroy McDermott
Daniel & Pat Poteralski* John Maynard & Rhea Thurman Scott & Susan McKenzie
Cheryl Powell Norm Oien Dave & Robin McMahon
Hugh & Verbie Prevost Katherine H. Prior Barbara Meindl
Margaret Reisman Juliana Ratliff Ron & Sandy Morris
Dr. Richard & Patricia Rice Stephen Ray Beverly Moye
Bob & Anne Roza David & Patricia Seay Leonard Murray
Sankofa Chuck & Angela Tuttle John & Laurel Niemeyer
Scenic City Signs Phillip & Wende Westhoff Carla Nixon
Doug & Gerre Schwert Nancy & John Williams Brenda Nunn
Secoa Technology May E. Wood Mark & Arden Oglesby
Mary Lucile Sharp Barbara Oxenhandler
Dr. Reginald Sherrill $50-$149 Richard & Pamela Park
Fred & Carol Shumaker Cathy Andrews Connie Patterson
Pris & Robert Siskin Anonymous Dr. & Mrs. Albert Piatt
Gloria & Randy Smith Anonymous Woody & Katie Piper
Terry & Kerry Smith Anonymous Edward & Donna Pyers
Southern Star Restaurants, Inc. Marie Awad Sarah Rad
John & Mary Ann Stewart Joan Barnes Anne & Pete Rittenberry*
Kaihan Strain Mary-Helen Boehm Marilyn J. Rogers
Rodney & Lynn Strong John & Ellyn Brooks Russak Family
The Suhrbier Family Coylee Bryan Louise Russell
Therese & Michael Tuley Richard & Margaret Burns Jerry Scola
Unum Volunteer Service Grant Paul & Emily Campbell Helen Burns Sharp
Program Tom & Judy Carter Fred & Carol Shumaker
Julie & Rodney Van Valkenburg* Linda T. Collins Susan Slappey
Drew & Sterling Vanosdale Douglas Cooper Dick & Judy Smith
Sue Anne Wells Paul & Ana Cornea John & Susan Smith
Bill & Peggy White Jonnie Cox Stanley & Helen Smith
Dan & Joan Williams Ella H. Davis Mary Kay Smith
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Young Mrs. Oscar L. Davis Paula Southwood
Sonia Young* Ms. Del Pino Betsy Tanner
Ruth Hines Dickson Chuck & Angela Tuttle
$150-$249 David & Tara Diercks Valamont Women’s Club
Lee & Iris Abelson Thomas Dubose Vulcan Materials
Debbi & Mark Ahlden* Jane Franz Michelle Anderton Waterhouse
Bill & Ann Aiken Gary & Susan Galante Bill & Cissy West*
Anonymous GE Foundation Andrew Williams
Michael Biderman Jeannine & Gary Grogg Pam Williams
John & Ellyn Brooks Fred, Kim & Sarah Hencke Rebecca H. Williams
Barbara Bye Paul & Snoda Hendricks Linda Wilson
Mary R. Carlson Alan & Betty Hofses Steve & Janet Wixson
Drs. Rob & Janet Coombs Marilyn & Al Hoke William M. Wynot
Malcolm A. Cross David & Page Houseman
Gary & Susan Galante* Peggy Huffstutler $5 - $49
Denise Gammel Richard H. Hundley Anonymous
Kaye Hagadorn Susan Ingham Barry & Nancy Boettner
George & Elaine Hatch Vanda Ingham Pat & Travis Boles
Julia Holofcener Kim & Will Jackson Rebekah Bromley
Dave & Wendy Holscher Amanda Jelks Nan Brooks
Margaret Hubbuch R. Steele & Marcey Jones Amy Burton
Jeff Jackson Mabry King Jewell Cousin
Frank & Dorothy Jump Hal & Merrill Levine Janet Daniel
Mark & Sandy Koss Beth & Rob Lowe Grant & Tamara Davis
Gary & Millie Lander Shane & Melissa Loyd* Lloyd & Barbara Davis
Jane Lupton John & Roxie MacNeil Larry Duke
Bea Lyons Cherie C. Martinez Paul Fertal
Jack Marcellis Ken & Beth Maury* Peggy Justice
Maribeth June H. McBride* Treva ParkerSUBSCRIBE NOW FOR BIG SAVINGS! C ALL 267.8534 OR VISIT THEATRECENTRE.COM.
Holly Randolph IN MEMORY OF
Linda Schroeder Shirley Daniels Alderman, given by David Alderman, Owen Allen,
Judy Schwartz Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, Gwen Barker, Pat
Brenda Sheehy & Travis Boles, Rebekah Bromley, Mark & Jane Chronister, Jo Coke,
Hariett Stafford Becki Jordan, Ed Lusk, Roy Marie-France, the Reba McEntire Fund,
Bonnie Stoloff-Shaw Janet Reeve, Louise Russell, the Slappey family, Alice & Alfred Smith,
LaFrederick Thirkill Rebecca Tucker, Rodney & Julie Van Valkenburg, Attollee Viall, Dan &
Judy Turner Joan Williams
Russell Wells Thomas Alford, given by Todd & Deanna Bowden, Marti Caputi, Clif
Richard Wieczorek & Ruzha Cleaveland, Jo Coke, Carl & Paula Henderson, Kim Jackson,
Becki Jordan, Peter & Dainy Masic, June McBride, Sharon Mills, Linda
The following sponsors have Morris, Cheryll Smith, Rodney & Julie Van Valkenburg, Dan & Joan
designated their gifts for Youth Williams, Sonia Young
Theatre:
Libby Edwards, given by Becki Jordan
$10,000 Milly Fariss, given by Nancy Collum, Becki Jordan, June McBride, and
Come Clean Entertainment Rodney & Julie Van Valkenburg
Guelda Malone, given by Becki Jordan
$2,000 Del Dixon Moore, given by Jo Coke
Performing Arts League Julius Spector, given by Louise Spector
Edith & Jim Steakley, given by Michael Steakley
$1,500 Christie Ensign Wright, given by Malone Grass
Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling
IN HONOR OF
The following donors have Warren Barnett, given by Paul & Emily Campbell
designated their gifts for Youth Jackson Curran, given by Paul Fertal
Theatre: Sue & Gary Galante, given by Thomas Dubose
Linda Harwell, given by Harry & Lucy Powell
$1,000 Co-Producer Becki Jordan, given by Deborah Ahlden, Terrence Harris, Aaron Love
Mitch & Jackie Collins Allan Ledford, given by Dr. & Mrs. B. Winfred Ruffner, Jr.
Beth McClary, given by Beth Ryburn
$500 Co-Producer Todd Olson & Ric Morris, given by Playback Theatre Chattanooga
Anonymous The Purple Lady, given by Susan & Steve Rich
Owen Allen Chuck Tuttle, given by Donna McConnico
Mark & Pamela Bracher Sonia Young, given by Carl & Paula Henderson and Jane Lupton
Brandon & Mandy Culpepper
Lily & Iris Hamby To request corrections, please email us at fund@theatrecentre.com
Eunice Hodges
Sallie & Dale Lawrence
Dennis McGuire in memory of
Mary K. McGuire
$300 Co-Producer
The Champion Family
Chattanooga Handyman
Rick & Lisa Glisson
Diane & Michael Huseman
Martha Mackey
Amy & Steve Meller
Papercut Interactive
Ryan & Nicole Rogers
Dave & Jan Suhrbier
Julie & Rodney Van Valkenburg
Michelle & Brett WarrenBarnett & Company proudly supports the Chattanooga Theatre Centre
In 1983, Barnett & Company began a legacy by offering investment
advice to help manage an ever-changing market. We feel it is
beneficial to bridge the gap with an all-encompassing firm that offers
professional consultations, personalized investment management,
and comprehensive financial planning.
Barnett & Company celebrates 35 years of service and salutes the
Chattanooga Theatre Centre for 95 years of dedication to the arts.
Call 423.756.0125 or email mary@barnettandcompany.com
www.barnettandcompany.comEverett Maury
Hixson III Nicely
423-693-2206 423-648-7851
rhixson@ehhlaw.com mnicely@ehhlaw.com
David R. Evans Mark D. Hackett William R. Hannah John C. Harrison
Everett L. Hixson Jr. Timothy L. Mickel Scott M. Shaw Christopher T. Varner
Evans Harrison Hackett PLLC is a full-service law firm located in downtown Chattanooga,
and is a proud supporter of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre and the arts in Chattanooga.
ph 423.648.7890 | fx 423.648.7897 | ehhlaw.comYou can also read
