The Lyceum Theatre Presents The Arrow Rock Premiere of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile
Fatal circumstances await a newlywed couple as they embark on their honeymoon voyage down the Nile. Simon Mostyn has recently married Kay Ridgeway, a rich woman, having left his former lover Jacqueline. The couple is on their honeymoon and is at present on a paddle steamer on the Nile, surrounded by a bevy of unforgettable characters. Among them are Canon Pennefather, Kay’s guardian, and Jacqueline, who has been dogging their footsteps all through the honeymoon. During the voyage, murder and mayhem ensue!
MICHAEL ROTHHAAR returns to the Lyceum to direct Murder on the Nile. The production features CRIS DAVENPORT as the Steward, ANNE MARIE BILLS as Miss Ffoliot-Ffoulkes, BETSY HELMER as Christina Grant, JEFFREY ZICKER as Smith, BAILEY JORDAN REEVES as Louise, WHIT REICHERT as Dr. Bessner, DAKOTA MACKEY MCGEE as Kay Mostyn, JEFFREY C. WOLF as Simon Mostyn, MICHAEL MCKENZIE as Cannon Pennefather, HANNAH JANE MCMURRAY as Jacqueline De Severac, TODD BERKICH as McNaught, JOSH FRIEDRICH as 1st Beadseller, and ROWAN VAN HORN as 2nd Beadseller.
DAKOTA MACKEY MCGEE, plays Kay Mostyn who is, reportedly, the richest girl in England. Dakota is returning after two winters of playing Belle and Anne in Arrow Rock’s A Christmas Carol. This season at the Lyceum, Dakota played Bet in the production of Oliver! and Martha Jefferson in 1776. Other Lyceum credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), Steel Magnolias (Shelby), Murder is Announced (Julia), and Hank Williams Lost Highway (Waitress). As her newlywed husband, JEFFREY C. WOLF plays Simon Mostyn. Earlier this season, Wolf played Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl, Mr. Sowerberry/Dr. Grimwig in Oliver! and John Hancock in 1776. His many Lyceum credits also include King Arthur in Camelot, C.K. Dexter Haven in The Philadelphia Story, Billy in Anything Goes and Carmen Ghia in The Producers. Making her Lyceum debut, BAILEY JORDAN REEVES plays Louise, Kay’s maid. Bailey just made her Missouri Theatre debut in Insight Theatre Company’s Company as April. Some of Bailey’s other favorite roles include Shelby in Steel Magnolias, Amneris in Aida, DeLee Lively in Smokey Joe’s Café, Mayzie in Seussical The Musical, and Bombalurina in Cats. Bailey is moving to New York in August and is incredibly excited for this next big step! Last seen as Abigail Adams in 1776, HANNAH JANE MCMURRAY plays Jacqueline de Severac, Kay’s ex-best friend and Simon’s ex-fiancée. McMurray’s credits include: Peter Pan 360 (National Tour), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Boomerang Theatre Co.), Death for Five Voices, The Hidden Sky (Prospect Theater Co.), My Way… (Smithtown PAC), The Miser (Piper Theater), and Les Misérables (Weston Playhouse). Returning to the Lyceum, MICHAEL MCKENZIE plays Cannon Pennefather. Lyceum credits include Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, And Then There Were None, Meet Me in St Louis, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Nerd. McKenzie has been seen on Broadway in Waiting in the Wings, The Man Who Came to Dinner and Eastern Standard. Film and Television credits include House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Blacklist, Law & Order, One Life to Live.
Playing the part of Helen Ffoliot-Ffoulkes, a wealthy snob, is ANNE MARIE BILLS. Anne’s favorite performances at the Lyceum included roles in last summer’s Spider’s Web and Rumors, along with And Then There Were None, The Man Who Came to Dinner, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, and Hairspray. Though Anne has performed in theatres across Missouri, Georgia, Michigan, Iowa, and Tennessee her favorite job is teaching middle school students at Gentry Middle School in Columbia all about the wonderful world of Theatre. Making her Lyceum debut, BETSY HELMER plays Christina Grant, Miss Ffoliot-Ffoulkes’ niece. She most recently played Rosalind in As You Like It at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Other Theatre Credits Include: King Lear, Alice in Wonderland, A Christmas Carol, Broken Spokes, The “T” Party, and Sweeney Todd. TV Credits: Shadow of Doubt and American Supernatural. JEFFREY ZICKER plays the wise-cracking Smith. Previous Lyceum credits include Les Misérables and South Pacific. National Tours: Shrek The Musical (Shrek)/(Shrek U/S, Lord Farquaad U/S, Papa Ogre, Straw Pig). Regional: West Side Story (Tony), Hairspray (Link Larkin), The Witches of Eastwick (Ogunquit Playhouse Production – Homer Perley), Assassins (Balladeer), Anything Goes (Billy Crocker).
WHIT REICHERT returns to the Lyceum as Dr. Bessner. Whit was last seen in 1776 as Ben Franklin. Other Lyceum credits include J. B. Biggley in How To Succeed…, George Macmillan in Big, The Musical, Osgood Feilding in Sugar, Max in Sound Of Music, Grandpa in Meet Me In St. Louis and Al Lewis in The Sunshine Boys. Returning to the Lyceum after appearing in the 2012 production of To Kill A Mockingbird, CRIS DAVENPORT plays the Steward of the paddle steamer. McNaught, the Lotus’s captain is portrayed by TODD BERKICH. Todd is returning to the Lyceum and was recently seen in 1776 (Robert Livingston) and in Lend Me A Tenor (The Bellhop) in 2014. National Tours: Ragtime (JP Morgan) and Guys And Dolls (Nicely Nicely Johnson).
MICHAEL ROTHHAAR, a Lyceum regular, directs the production. Previously at the Lyceum, Mr. Rothhaar directed South Pacific in 2015 as well as Witness For The Prosecution, A Murder Is Announced, and My Fair Lady. Michael served as the Artistic Director of Pennsylvania’s Allenberry Playhouse from 1987 to 1992 where he directed 40 productions. For Pacific Resident Theatre, he directed the LA premiere of Becky’s New Car, Saint Joan Of The Slaughterhouses, and many more. Other credits include the West Coast Premiere of Holy Ghost at Theatre of NOTE, The Last Flapper at the Ensemble Theatre of Santa Barbara, Mrs. Warren’s Profession and The Millionairess at the Washington Stage Guild. As an actor, he has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in various feature films, as well as in numerous television series.
Scenic design is by Lyceum Theatre Resident Scenic Designer RYAN J. ZIRNGIBL. Mr. Zirngibl has designed many productions at the Lyceum including Les Miserables, A Christmas Carol, Around the World in 80 Days, The King and I, and Fiddler on the Roof. Lighting Designer JEREMY MAYO is currently a student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, pursuing his undergraduate degree in Theatre Design and Production. Costume Designer MOLLY AKIN-MCKINLEY is an alum of Mizzou, and currently attends The University of Alabama where she is pursuing her MFA in Theatre: Design and Production. Resident Sound Designer RYAN MATTHEW HALL returns for his eighth season where he has designed Les Miserables, The King and I, Spamalot, The Producers, To Kill A Mockingbird, Fiddler on the Roof, and many more. TONY DEARING returns for his 24th year as Production Stage Manager and IVAN DARIO CANO serves as Assistant Stage Manager.
Single Tickets for Murder on the Nile are priced at $36.00 for adults. Senior, military, public safety, student and children discounts are available. Special Group Rates are available as well. Performances are July 23 – July 30, 2016, Evening performances are at 8pm and matinees are at 2pm. For tickets: www.lyceumtheatre.org, (660) 837-3311 x1, or in person at the Lyceum’s box office at 114 High Street, Arrow Rock, MO 65320.
The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)(3), professional theatre located in the unique village of Arrow Rock, Missouri, a 19th century National Historic Landmark. The Lyceum has been entertaining audiences in the heart of Missouri for 55 years producing a variety of musicals, dramas and comedies. Each year, this 408 seat theatre attracts professional talent from across the country to produce an eight show season (June-December). Performers, designers, directors, and technicians take residence in Arrow Rock for five months to bring its patrons Broadway caliber productions throughout the summer.
The Lyceum Theatre is affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union for Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
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