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Murder on the Orient Express

Adapted By: Ken Ludwig

CAST

 

 

Poirot	Andre Alexander
Mary Debenham	Erika Ayers
Hector MacQueen	Jeffrey Biddle
Greta Ohlsson	Taylor Ecksein
Countess Andrenyi	Gabrielle Goodman
Samuel Ratchet	Rob Hedges
Helen Hubbard	Deborah Joves
Princess Dragomiroff	Joanie Pugh Newman
Monsieur Bouc	William Rhea
Colonel Arbuthnot	Ralph Shehayed
Michel	Adam Weaver

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director	Joe Steely
Stage Manager	Audrey Degon
Lighting Designer	Carson Duper
Sound Designer
Props Designer
Costume Designer	Audra Batter
Technical Director	Alexis Orth
Producer	Cat Imperato

CAST BIOS

Andre Alexander (Poirot) is thrilled to play Hercule Poirot in Pacifica Spindrift Players’ Murder on the Orient Express. He was most recently seen as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Woodside Musical Theatre). Previous credits include Hamlet and Urinetown (SJSU/Hammer Theatre Center), as well as Wendy & Peter Pan (Ohlone College). Outside of theater, Andre fronts the Killers tribute band, The Hired Killers. Enjoy the ride!

Erika Ayers (Mary Debenham) has no words for the pride she feels to be on stage at the Pacifica Spindrift Players. This is her first adult acting performance and she’s honored to play Mary Debenham. Erika is a theater and dance student at San Francisco State University, and while she’s still currently studying, she can’t wait to learn more from her fellow cast members and tech crew. Erika hopes her time getting in trouble with her parents for doing British accents for weeks on end will finally have a use, and she can tell her mom “I told you so!”

Jeffrey Biddle (Hector MacQueen) is thrilled to return to Pacifica Spindrift Players. Earlier this year, he appeared as Henry Condell in PSP’s production of The Book of Will. This year, Jeff also appeared as Dionysus in Masquers Playhouse’s production of The Gods of Comedy and as Jesse Kiplinger in Coastal Repertory Theatre’s production of Plaza Suite. A graduate of the American Conservatory Theatre’s (A.C.T.) Summer Training Congress, Jeff has appeared on stages throughout the Bay Area, including the New Conservatory Theatre and Theatre Rhinoceros. Jeff has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in History from Boston College and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from The George Washington University Law School. He lives in San Francisco with his beautiful wife, Anastasia, and their two pit bulls, Abby and Duke.

Taylor Ecksein (Greta Ohlsson) is delighted to be doing her first show with Pacifica Spindrift Players. Some recent credits include The Seagull as Nina Mikhailovna (San Francisco State Players Club), She Kills Monsters as Kaliope (SFSU School of Theatre & Dance), and The Addams Family as Alice Beineke (Newman Drama Department). She has also been a part of feature films such as Lovefool, directed by Joe Steely, Ephemeral, directed by Jimmy Luong, and the short film Spy in the Red Dress directed by Jesse Leonardo. She is pursuing a BA in Theatre Arts at San Francisco State University. She has also trained at Baron Brown Studios in Los Angeles, along with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

Gabrielle Goodman (Countess Andrenyi) is excited to be performing in her first show at Pacifica! She was most recently seen as Hope Cladwell in Urinetown at Ray of Light Theatre and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at Sunnyvale Community Theatre. Gabrielle would like to thank the cast and creative team for their support and amazing work!

 

Rob Hedges (Samuel Ratchet) has appeared in more than 50 productions on the Coast, and was last seen with PSP in God of Carnage.  Other credits include Inherit the Wind,Harvey, and Twelve Angry Jurors (PSP); Bus Stop, Sense and Sensibility, and Dancing at Lughnasa (Coastal Rep); and The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest (Half Moon Bay Shakespeare).  Always up for a train story!  Love to Sara, as ever.

Deborah Joves (Helen Hubbard)  is delighted to be back at PSP, where she last appeared as Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret. Favorite roles with PSP include Sue Mengers in the one woman show I’ll Eat You Last, Helga Ten Dorp (Deathtrap), Queen Aggravain (Once Upon a Mattress), and Lotty (Enchanted April). Other credits span comedies, dramas, and classics with Coastal Rep, HMB Shakes, SF Fringe Festival, SF Transistor Radio Theatre, SF City Theatre Company, Crystal Springs Theatre, New Fillmore Theatre Company and the web series Exit Stage Left.

Joanie Pugh Newman (Princess Dragomiroff) is delighted to collaborate with the talented Joe Steely to bring this classic thriller to PSP audiences, and is especially happy to reunite with some of the talented actors with whom she performed in the last Agatha Christie mystery produced at PSP: Murder is Announced (“Miss Blacklock”). Joanie was nominated for a Theater Bay Area award for My Fair Lady (“Mrs. Higgins”) at Woodside Musical Theater, and this past Summer, she enjoyed playing the Jester in Once Upon a Mattress at Coastal Repertory Theater. However, Joanie always enjoys coming back to her home stage at PSP, where she had the privilege of performing a bucket list role of “Masha” in Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, as well as playing “Yente the Matchmaker” in the iconic musical Fiddler on the Roof. By day, Joanie practices employment law and enjoys chilling with her two large furry children (Rocko and Bailey dogs).

William Rhea (Monsieur Bouc) is excited to return to Pacifica Spindrift Players! He was last seen here as ‘Inspector Craddick’ in A Murder is Announced. Recent roles include ‘Snoopy’ in Elf: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Coastal Repertory Theater), ‘Robert Martin’ in The Drowsy Chaperone (West Valley Light Opera). He was just seen as ‘Nostradamus’ in Something Rotten! (Woodside Musical Theater). He will appear in December as ‘Young Scrooge’ in A Christmas Carol: The Musical! (CRT). @liamrheaproductions

Ralph Shehayed (Colonel Arbuthnot) is very excited to be returning to Pacifica Spindrift Players for this production. Recent credits include Hot Blades Harry in Urinetown (Ray of Light Theater) Olaf in Frozen (Palo Alto Players), Buddy in Elf (Coastal Rep Theater), Tulsa in Gypsy(Palo Alto Players), George in The Wedding Singer (Woodside Musical Theater), Freddy in My Fair Lady (The Pear Theater), and Antonio in Twelfth Night The Musical (LASC). He’s super pumped to be doing another show at PSP, where he got his start in community theater, and would like to thank his friends and family for all their endless love and support! @ralphshehayed

Adam Weaver (Michel) is excited to be performing with Pacifica Spindrift Players for the first time. He has recently performed as Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten (Woodside Musical Theatre), Annas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Woodside Musical Theatre), and Schroeder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Coastal Repertory Theatre). Adam loves staring at computers and drinking coffee. He would like to thank his friends and family for always supporting him!

 

PRODUCTION TEAM BIOS

Joe Steely (Director) is extremely excited to be making his solo theatre directing debut at a theatre which means a lot to him. He has  performed on this stage in the past in Spring Awakening, In The Next Room, Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike, and Fiddler on The Roof. Joe would like to thank his amazing team for supporting him through this process: his friend Audrey Degon, as the stage manager helping him stay on track, Audra Batter, the costumer for making these lovely folks on stage look their best, his producer Cat Imperato to fix problems, Alexis Orth, who built this beautiful set, and his girlfriend Alexis Wentz, who did the props. This has truly been a labor of love from everyone involved. This is a show that Joe fell in love with reading the book in high school, then watching every single adaptations over the years. It’s a story about anger, grief, and love brought to life by actors that Joe would like to thank for being so incredibly passionate and driven and kind. He can’t wait for you to see the hard work these folks put in. He invites you to sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the most famous Murder Mysteries ever told. Shoutout to his friends and family for always supporting him.

Audrey Degon (Stage Manager) All aboard the Orient Express! Audrey is delighted to be stage managing her first show at PSP alongside her good friend, Joe Steely. Having graduated form San Francisco State University School of Theatre and Dance, Audrey spends her time working on films, musicals, and teaching. She would like to thank her family and friends for unconditional love and support, and hopes you all enjoy the show! IG: @audreyyjenna

Carson Duper (Lighting Designer)

Alexis Wentz (Props Designer)

Alexis Orth (Technical Director) has her BA in Theatre Arts from New York’s Bard College, a prop making degree from SF’s Koinonia University, and her Master’s in Theatre from Virginia’s Regent University. She values the inclusion of the marginalized, fully embraces volunteerism that brings transformation, and continues to create a legacy for a love of theatre. PSP’s need for a TD with a dramaturgical mindset brought Alexis on board in 2022. Her experience includes scenic, props, lighting, and set dressing work with Cal Shakes, the San Francisco Dickens Christmas Fair, Brava for Women in the Performing Arts, Marin Theatre Company, and more. As a multi-disciplined artist onstage and backstage, she believes in the theatre’s amazing life-changing power and has the arc welder to prove it. Her finest accomplishments are her love for Jesus Christ and her outstanding family: Paul, Chloe, Jude, & Kelly Orth.

Utkarsh Sanghi (Sound Designer)  has been involved in theatre as an actor for as long as he can remember. From being in commercials and amateur plays in his youth, to representing his school at the Singapore Youth Festival. After taking a break in his 20s to focus on his career in finance, Utkarsh is thankful to PSP for the opportunity to come back to theatre. Utkarsh is excited to learn more about the business side of running a local theatre and to support the local arts community in Pacifica. As a board member, Utkarsh hopes to aid in the long term sustainability of PSP and to contribute more to the back office of our local theatre.

Audra Batter (Costume Designer)

Cat Imperato (Producer)