STEVEN RATTAZZI (Hercule Poirot) Broadway: Indecent (Nakhman, Cort Theatre); Off-Broadway: Henry V with Liev Schrieber (Chorus, Public Theater), The Black Crook (Charles M. Barras, Abrons Arts); Galileo with F. Murray Abraham (Mr. Priuli, CSC), The Tempest with Mandy Patinkin (Stephano, CSC), Stunning (Jojo, Lincoln Center), Dinner Party (Aristophanes, Target Margin Theater), Painted Snake on a Painted Chair (OBIE Award, Talking Band), McGurk (Elevator Repair Service), Richard Foremanís Samuelís Major Problems (Dr. Marino, Ontological-Hysteric Theater); Regional: Ken Ludwig's Sherwood (Sheriff, Cleveland Playhouse), Indecent (Huntington & Ahmanson Theaters), Lempicka (Marinetti, Williamstown Theater Festival), David Greenspan's The Bridge of San Luis Rey (Don Andres, Two River Theater), Seder (Hartford Stage), The School For Wives (Two River Theater), Indecent (Yale Rep/La Jolla Playhouse), Marie Antoinette (Louis, ART/Yale Rep), The Lovesong of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Edward Teller, Cincinnati Playhouse), A Christmas Carol (Fezzwig, McCarter Theater); Film: The Family (Mobster, Luc Besson). TV: The Venture Brothers (Dr. Orpheus, 7 seasons).

RUTH GOTTSCHALL (Helen Hubbard) is delighted to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Broadway: Mary Poppins (Miss Andrew), The Music Man (Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn), Laughing Room Only, A Funny Thing Happened… Forum (Domina), Cabaret, Legs Diamond, Prince of Central Park, The Goodbye Girl and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Off-Broadway/Regional: Oklahoma! (Aunt Eller, Pittsburgh CLO), The Drowsy Chaperone (Mrs. Tottendale, Goodspeed Opera House), 42nd Street (Maggie, Bucks County Playhouse), Comedy of Errors (Courtesan, Hartford Stage), Mame (Kennedy Center), Liza: Steppin’ Out (Radio City Music Hall), The Desert Song (New York City Opera), Sondheim: A Celebration (Carnegie Hall), First Lady Suite (Transport Group); Film: Easter Mysteries, Love on the Run, Annie (Mrs. Greer, Disney), Everyone Says I Love You; TV: Law and Order: CI, Showboat (PBS).

CHRISTOPHER GURR (Monsieur Bouc) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Broadway: CATS (Bustopher/Gus, Neil Simon Theatre), Tuck Everlasting (Man In The Yellow Suit, Broadhurst), Kinky Boots (George, Hirschfeld), Amazing Grace (Capt. Billingsly, Nederlander), and All The Way with Bryan Cranston (Strom Thurmond, Neil Simon Theater); First National Tours: Memphis and Monty Pythonís Spamalot; Off-Broadway: Arturo Ui (Dogsborough, Classic Stage Company), Call Me Madam (Gibson, City Center Encores!); Regional: Marie (Corbeil, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle), The Sting (J.J. Singleton, Paper Mill Playhouse), Titanic (Capt. Smith, Pittsburgh CLO), The Who’s Tommy (Uncle Ernie, Berkshire Theatre Group), The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho, Human Race Theatre); Television: Madame Secretary (FBI Director, CBS); Upcoming: Cyrano starring Peter Dinklage (Monsieur Jodelet, The New Group/Daryl Roth Theatre); Proud union member: Actors’ Equity, SAG/AFTRA, and Stage Directors & Choreographers Society.@ChristopherGurr

www.ChristopherGurr.com

KATE LOPREST (Countess Andrenyi) is very pleased to finally be making her official Ogunquit Playhouse debut after playing Betty Haynes in both of Ogunquit’s productions of White Christmas at the Music Hall in Portsmouth. Broadway: First Date (Allison, OBC), Hairspray (Amber), Xanadu, Wonderland, Drowsy Chaperone; Tour: Wicked (Glinda, Nessarose u/s, Chicago Company), Little House on the Prairie (Nellie Oleson, 1st Natl); Recent: Noises Off (Vicki/Brooke, Guthrie), Gentlemen’s Guide (Sibella, Engeman Theater), Crazy For You (Irene, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival), Chicago (Roxie Hart, Hangar Theatre), A Chorus Line (Sheila, Gateway Playhouse); Other favorites: Company (Susan, Barrington Stage), Bright Star (Lucy, Old Globe), Showboat (Ellie, Washington National Opera and Dallas Opera Theatre); TV: Boardwalk Empire (Corrine), I Love You… But I Lied, Running Wilde, All My Children; Grazie, Cassara and Brad. For my parents, who made us watch PBS. www.KateLoprest.com.

STEPHEN JAMES ANTHONY (Hector MacQueen) is thrilled to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! Broadway: Skylight, War Horse; Off-Broadway: Behind The Sheet (EST), The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center Theater); Other NY: In Fields Where They Lay (Dreamscape Theater Co.), Lancelot (360 Rep.); Regional: The Guard (City Theatre Company), Barefoot in the Park (Cape May Stage), Peter & the Starcatcher, Nicholas Nickleby (Orlando Shakespeare Theater), Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Fiddler on the Roof (Syracuse Stage); Arcadia (Theater in the Round); Television: The Loudest Voice, Blue Bloods, Billions, Gotham; Training: BFA Syracuse University; Shakespeare’s Globe, London.

www.stephenjamesanthony.com

ANDREW DITS (Colonel Arbuthnot /Samuel Ratchett) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Regional: God Looked Away (Pasadena Playhouse) with Al Pacino and Judith Light, BLOOD (The Complex) with Glenne Headley, The Eccentricities Of A Nightingale (Pacific Resident Theatre), Comedy Of Errors (A Noise Within), Fat Pig (The Hudson Theatre), Fool For Love (Theatre for the New City); Film: Oliver Stone’s Snowden; Television: Telenovela, Jon Glaser Loves Gear, The Middle, and series regular on the Bounce TV sitcom, My Crazy Roommate. M.F.A., University of Southern California. Special thanks to his team: Harden Curtis Kirsten Riley Agency and Rashad V. Chambers of Esquire Entertainment.

PATRICIA NOONAN (Mary Debanhan) is thrilled to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Select New York: Death Takes a Holiday (Sophia, Roundabout), Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet, Signature), Most Happy Fella, Annie Get Your Gun, Where’s Charley, Girl Crazy, and Merrily We Roll Along (all City Center Encores), Carousel (Lincoln Center Live), Baby Case (Betty Gow, Signature), Edwin (Mollie, St. Clements); Select Regional: My Fair Lady (Eliza, Gulfshore Playhouse), Carousel (Julie Jordan, Barrington Stage), Neurosis (Abby, Finger Lakes), Pride & Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet, La Mirada), Secret Garden (Lily, TheatreWorks Palo Alto), Camelot (Nimue, TUTS), Sondheim at 80 (Principal Soloist, Kennedy Center), Little House on the Prairie (Guthrie); Film: Light of the Moon, Zero Issue; TV: Law and Order: SVU; Writer of the musicals Sweetwater (Goodspeed Festival, NAMT Spotlight), Learning How to Drown (Goodspeed Colony, the Pitch at FLMTF), and Masterpiece. Thanks to The Mine, the team at Ogunquit, and, of course, my family.

OLEV ALEKSANDER (Head Waiter/Michel, the Conductor) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. New York: Macbeth (of the Oppressed) (Malcolm, Fab Marquee Productions), Henry IV Part 1 (Blunt, Hudson Warehouse), Macbeth (Banquo, The Seeing Place Theatre); Regional: Good Television (Mackson MacAddy, Zeitgeist Stage Company), Beyond Therapy (Bruce, Little Fish Theatre), Twelfth Night (Sebastian, Shakespeare by the Sea), Mister Roberts (Lindstrom, The American Century Theatre); Film: The Fifth Horseman (nominated for Student Emmy-Best Drama, Edward), Fatherland (Jorgen); New Media: The Hunter’s Anthology (Clint), Asylum (Timothy Greenwood); Voice Over: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Various); Thank you to my friends, family, Seth, Lee, and my entire crew at The Barrow Group. Love to Meredith. www.olevaleksander.com

ANNA TEMPTE (Greta Ohlsson) is honored to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Anna Tempte is a New York based actress. Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, she moved to New York to pursue a career in acting. Anna graduated from the Lee Strasberg Film and Theatre Institute. Anna is an actress and co-founder of The Department of Fools a New York based commedia dell'Arte theater company. She is also a proud member of Primitive Grace Theatre Company. She would like to thank her family and friends for the eternal love and support.

ANITA GILLETTE (Princess Dragomiroff) is very happy to be returning to the Ogunquit Playhouse having done many plays here in the past. You may know her best as Mona the mistress in Moonstruck or Tina Fey’s mother in 30 Rock, or from the many game shows she did. She has more than fourteen Broadway shows to her credit, including Chapter Two (Tony Nomination, LA Drama Critics Award), Cabaret, Carnival, Gypsy, Guys & Dolls, Don’t Drink The Water, All American, Jimmy, They’re Playing Our Song, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Mr. President, The Gay Life, Kelly, Showboat and Encores’ Bloomer Girl and 70 Girls 70. Off Broadway and Regional credits include: A Paralleogram, A Confederacy Of Dunces, The Big Meal (Lortel Award nom) Skin Of Our Teeth, The Seagull, Love, Loss & What I Wore, She Loves Me, Shirley Valentine, Bye Bye Birdie, Juno, Rich & Famous, Travesties, The Importance Of Being Earnest, Flamingo Court, My Fair Lady, The Winslow Boy, Irene, South Pacific, Sweet Bird Of Youth, The Great Waltz (LA Civic Light Opera Recorded for Capitol), Knickerbocker Holiday, and Morning’s At Seven. She had a major roles such films as Shall We Dance, Boys On The Side, Larger Than Life, The Guru, Sheís The One, Bob Roberts, A Fitzgerald Family Christmas, The Great New Wonderful, Hiding Victoria, The Last Adam, Bum Rap, Charlie Hoboken and Undertow. Films for television include A Christmas Memory, and Summer Of Ben Tyler. She was a series regular on Quincy, Almost Grown (David Chase), The War At Home, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Me & The Chimp, Normal Ohio, The Baxters, and All That Glitters for Norman Lear. Episodic TV: Modern Family, Blue Bloods, Elementary, Chicago Med, Cold Case, Sex & The City, Women’s Murder Club, Frasier, Law & Order, Mad About You. Recurring roles: CSI, and Law & Order SVU, Shake It Up. She has appeared on every major game show including Pyramid, Password, Matchgame, To Tell The Truth, What’s My Line, etc., etc., and The Bell Telephone Hour and Ed Sullivan Show. She was a foil for Johnny Carson for at least 50 TONIGHT shows. Her one woman show After All played (and still is) Birdland, The Metropolitan Room, Crazy Coqs & St James Studio in London, and Feinsteins 54 Below and San Francisco. www.anitagillette.com

SHAUN KERRISON (Director) is thrilled to be invited back to beautiful Ogunquit where he previously directed The Hunchback of Norte Dame, The Witches of Eastwick, Mary Poppins, South Pacific, Sunset Boulevard, Les Miserables and My Fair Lady.In the UK he has recently directed: Camelot (London Palladium), Mack and Mabel (Hackney Empire), Candide (Cadogan Hall), Honeymoon in Vegas (London Palladium) and A Christmas Carol (Lyceum Theatre).Also, Imaginary a new musical (The Other Palace), Kiss Me Kate BBC Proms (Royal Albert Hall and BBC2), My Fair Lady BBC Proms (Royal Albert Hall), The Gershwins' Of Thee I Sing (Royal Festival Hall) and Super Alice Smith (Trafalgar Studios). Associate Director - West End: My Fair Lady (National Theatre, Drury Lane and UK Tour), Martin Guerre (Prince Edward), The Lion King (Lyceum), Acorn Antiques (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Peter Pan and The Pirates of Penzance (Savoy) and Les Miserables (Palace Theatre and UK Tour). Broadway - Les Miserables - Associate Director and Mary Poppins - Resident Director. US National Tour: My Fair Lady. Sweden: Sunset Boulevard (Gothenberg Opera); Crazy For You and Shrek (Karlstaad Opera). South Pacific (Dublin), The Magic of Disney (Hyde Park), Dance Power (Drury Lane), Hey Mr Producer! (Lyceum), Les MisÈrables in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, Tokyo, Chelmsford Festival, Cardiff and Windsor Castle celebrating 100 years of the Entente Cordiale for Her Majesty the Queen. Bonnie and Clyde and Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Arts). Dear World, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Catch Me If You Can and The Life (Guildford). The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Merrily We Roll Along (RWCMD) and Baby (Mountview).As an actor Shaun played the title role in Candide (Riverside Studios); Pirates of Penzance (London Palladium); Marry Me a Little (Water Rats); Chicago (Leicester Haymarket); Sweeney Todd (Oldham); Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Tokyo); and Les Miserables (PalaceTheatre London).

BEOWULF BORITT (Scenic Design) Ogunquit: Smokey Joe's Cafe; Broadway: Act One (Tony Award), The Scottsboro Boys (Tony Nomination),Therese Raquin (Tony Nomination), Come From Away, Be More Chill, The New One, Bernhardt/Hamlet, Meteor Shower, A Bronx Tale, Prince Of Broadway, Hand To God, Sondheim On Sondheim, …Spelling Bee, LoveMusik, Rock Of Ages, Chaplin, Bronx Bombers, Grace, The Two And Only; Broadway Revivals: On The Town, Sunday in the Park…; Off- Broadway: 100 shows including The Last Five Years, Fiddler On The Roof (in Yiddish), Sleepwalk With Me, and Miss Julie. He has designed for The NYC Ballet and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and around the world in England, Russia, China, Australia, and Japan. 2007 OBIE Award for sustained excellence.

NATE BERTONE (Associate Scenic Design) is a New York City based theatrical storyteller. Nate works primarily as a Director/Designer and writer. Some of his recent design work includes: Google CreativeLab, Broadway Sacramento at Music Circus: Singin’in the Rain, Disney’s Newsies, and Mamma Mia. Arizona Broadway Theatre: Titanic and The Addams Family. North Shore Music Theatre: Shrek, and Sister Act. Engeman Theatre NY: Gypsy, Once, Elf, Gentleman’s Guide. With Beowulf Boritt, he has been the Associate for Superhero (Second Stage), 20th Century Blues (Signature), Crazy for You (Lincoln Center), and assisted on Freestyle Love Supreme and A Bronx Tale on Broadway. Nate has recently directed Into The Woods (Cap21/Molloy), Entangled (Salem Theatre Company), Polkadots (Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati) and his new play with music, Letters From War, at North Shore Music Theatre. He is a proud faculty member at Manhattan School of Music and alumni of Carnegie Mellon University and Central Saint Martins of London. natebertone.com

RICHARD LATTA (Lighting Design) Playhouse 2019: Jersey Boys, 42nd Street, Cabaret. He designed last seasons' Oklahoma!, An American in Paris (IRNE Award Nomination), Grumpy Old Men the Musical and Jersey Boys. He is currently the longest serving employee of the Ogunquit Playhouse; beginning as a crew member in 1985 and as a Lighting Designer since 1987. In that time he's designed hundreds of shows and watched in amazement as the Playhouse evolved from its humble Summer Stock beginnings to a producing entity that presents musical classics, re-inventions of more recent musicals and gives life to brand new shows. For that he thanks the many Electricians, Programmers, Associates and Follow Spot Operators who participate in making the Playhouse great.

WILLIAM IVEY LONG (Costume Design) is a Tony Award winning costume designer. He is currently represented on Broadway with Tootsie: The Musical, Beetlejuice: The Musical, and Chicago, now in its 22nd year. He also recently designed The Prince of Broadway for legendary director Hal Prince, and the revised stage musical Young Frankenstein in London’s West End for Mel Brooks, having previously designed the original production on Broadway in 2009, as well as A Christmas Story, Live! for the FOX Television Network. He recently completed a 4 year elected term as Chairman of the Board for The American Theatre Wing. Mr. Long has designed costumes for over 70 Broadway productions, and has been nominated for 15 Tony Awards. He serves as Production Designer for North Carolina’s oldest running seasonal outdoor drama, The Lost Colony, which was the 2013 recipient of the Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre. He returns in 2017 for his 47th season with the production. He was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2005.

KEVIN HEARD (Sound Design) is delighted to return for his sixth season and 19th production at this great American theatre. OP favorites, as Sound Designer: Ragtime (IRNE Award Winner for Best Sound Design), Cabaret, Jersey Boys, An American in Paris, From Here to Eternity, Mamma Mia!, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Anything Goes, White Christmas, Million Dollar Quartet, Nice Work If You Can Get It; Broadway: All The Way, The Cherry Orchard, The Country House, Sylvia; Off-Broadway: Smokey Joe’s Cafe, In & Of Itself, The View Upstairs, The Total Bent, Clinton The Musical, For The Last Time, Long Story Short, The Underclassman; Along with dozens of productions at regional theatres across the US, Kevin designed the sound for the International Premieres of Fun Home (starring Lea Salonga), Kinky Boots, and Matilda in Manila, Philippines. Kevin is the Associate Producer for BenDeLaCreme Presents and founded the sound design & consulting firm Heard Audio, LLC. www.HeardAudio.com

EMILIA MARTIN (Wig/Hair & Make-Up Design) is a NYC based designer and stylist working in Film/TV and Broadway. She is thrilled to return to Ogunquit, after last season’s An American in Paris & Oklahoma!. OP previous designs include, White Christmas, Sunset Boulevard, The Music Man. Broadway: Spring Awakening (Hair & M/UP Design), Come From Away, Motown, Disaster, SpongeBob Squarepants; TV: The Marvelous Mrs Maisel -Key BG, SNL film unit, Fosse, The Duece. Film: The Joker, The Irishman, Clifford the Big Red Dog; Thank you to Brad, Brian, and OP staff that make this one of the best places to be.

JASON LEE COURSON (Projection Design) Ogunquit Playhouse: ELF The Musical (Projection Designer); Broadway: Ruben and Clay’s Christmas Show (Projection Design, Imperial); Off-Broadway: NEWSical: We Distort You Decide (Scenic Design, The 47th St. Theater), NEWSical: Full Spin Ahead (Scenic/Projection Design, The Kirk), Amerike The Golden Land (Scenic/Projection Design, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbeine); Regional: Gotta Dance (Projection Design, Broadway in Chicago), Half Time (Projection Design, Paper Mill Playhouse); Film: The Big Gay Musical (Production Design) MESS: The Series (Director/Producer). Additional: 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics (Asst. Designer), Jason pursued undergraduate studies at Valdosta State University, (GA) he holds an MFA in Scenic Design from the Design/Technology Conservatory Program, Purchase College (NY).

ANTHONY C. DANIEL (Casting Director) Casting: Ogunquit Playhouse's productions of Anything Goes, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act, Victor/Victoria, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Million Dollar Quartet, Saturday Night Fever, White Christmas, Grease, Billy Elliot, Mary Poppins, Witches of Eastwick, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and The Addams Family. He has also served as Associate Director on the Playhouse’s productions of Victor/Victoria, Mary Poppins and Witches of Eastwick. Anthony is a faculty member at The Growing Studio in NYC, where he serves as the Director of Musical Theatre Showcase. As an Associate Director, Anthony has worked alongside Matt Lenz on the National Tour of Cheers: Live On Stage! and the upcoming production of Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz.

www.anthonycdaniel.com

MICHAEL CASSARA, CSA (Additional Casting) recent credits include An American In Paris (current International tour, dir. Christopher Wheeldon), Enter Laughing (York Theatre, dir. Stuart Ross), The Mad Ones (Prospect Theater Company, dir. Stephen Brackett), Spamilton (NYC/Chicago/current tour), Gigantic (Vineyard Theatre, dir. Scott Schwartz), Forbidden Broadway (current and past two editions/cast albums), The 12 (Denver Center/world premiere). Regional credits include productions for Gulfshore Playhouse, Asolo Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Ogunquit Playhouse, Hangar Theatre, San Jose Rep, and many others. Resident Casting Director for the New York Musical Festival (NYMF) since 2007 and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) since 2013. Native Clevelander, member of the Casting Society of America. BFA, Otterbein University. MichaelCassara.net

@michaelcassara

KAREN PARLATO (Production Stage Manager) Playhouse credits include 42nd Street, the IRNE-winning An American in Paris, last season's Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, Ragtime, From Here to Eternity, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Million Dollar Quartet, and Sister Act, as well as all the Playhouse holiday shows at The Music Hall: Mary Poppins, White Christmas, Beauty and the Beast, and Elf the Musical. In New York she has stage managed numerous Off-Broadway productions including Silence! The Musical, Triassic Parq, The Fantasticks, Revolution in the Elbow..., Bingo: The Musical, Frankenstein, Charles Busch's Cleopatra, and others. Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera. She is also the stage manager for Denman Theatre & Dance Company. Twitter:

@headsetchatter.

DANIEL EVERETT (Assistant Stage Manager) saw his first production at the Ogunquit Playhouse at the age of eleven. Ogunquit Playhouse: 42nd Street, Elf, White Christmas, Ragtime, Mamma Mia!, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sister Act, Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story; Off-Broadway: Culture Project, Ma-Yi Theater Company, Manhattan Ensemble Theatre; Regional: North Carolina Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, West Virginia Public Theatre. Special thanks to his family for all their support.

GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) is returning for his 13th season as the Technical Director and Scenic Coordinator. Immediately prior to Ogunquit, he served as Technical Director for Worcester Foothills Theatre. He has done supplemental design work for several shows. He is also the Technical Supervisor for the Children's Theatre program. Geof began his technical career working backstage for both of his parents who are theatre directors and began his professional career at Sierra Repertory Theatre in California. For five years, he split his seasons between Maine and Florida, working the same technical areas for the Orlando Shakespeare, but now stays with the Playhouse year-round. His wife Cheryl (Scenic Charge Artist at the Playhouse for 12 seasons) has designed award-winning parade floats and designs many of the Children’s Theatre shows. Their daughter Ash is an aspiring writer and artist.

CHERYL DOLAN (Resident Scenic Charge) has returned to the Ogunquit Playhouse for her 12th season. After taking over as Resident Scenic Charge nine years ago, she has designed several Children's Theatre sets, as well as adding her artistic eye to many of the main stage productions. Since falling in love with the Ogunquit Playhouse, Cheryl, her husband Geof Dolan (the Ogunquit Playhouse Technical Director) and their daughter Ash, who is a budding writer, have made the Seacoast their home year-round. Cheryl considers the staff at OP her family and hopes that her love and passion for theater is translated through the productions to all of you.

AMANDA WOODWARD (Production Manager) is elated to be joining the Ogunquit Playhouse family after ending her touring career with FELD Entertainment. Amanda has worked over 20 years in the industry wearing many hats, but most recently spent 6 years with Norwegian Cruise Line as Entertainment Production Manager/ Project Manager overseeing new shows and installing entertainment on new ships and new shows during operations on older ships; all while she was a freelance TD for Boone High School (Orlando, FL) and lived/worked in NYC for 13 years as a PSM, LD, Programmer, Entertainer, and had her own organization business. Other Companies Amanda has worked with include The Imagination House (Double Dare Live!) American Family Theater (8 Tours), The Santa Fe Opera, The Cumberland County Playhouse, The Brick Theater, Orlando Reparatory Theater and various Off-Broadway theaters.

BRIAN J. SWASEY (Associate Producer) Originally from South Portland, ME and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. After moving to NYC in 1995 and focusing on pursuing a career as an actor, he changed focus and became the Founding Artistic Director of The Astoria Performing Arts Center, followed by the Associate Producer position at Queens Theatre in the Park in Flushing, NY. There he was involved in producing the 20th Anniversary Revival of Closer Than Ever starring Sally Mayes and Lynne Winterstellar. Prior to coming to Ogunquit, he was the Managing Director for The New York Theatre Barn. NYC developmental projects have included: the rock musical The 12 and a new holiday musical entitled Tim and Scrooge. As a Director/Choreographer, Brian has had the pleasure of directing such shows as Pump Boys and Dinettes, Hairspray, Chicago, A New Brain, and Altar Boyz. He was the Assistant Director for the NYC Revival of Die, Mommie, Die! starring Charles Busch. At the Playhouse, Brian directed the TYA productions of The Berenstain Bears and The Cat In The Hat. In addition, Brian has been involved with booking cabaret entertainment at The Triad in NYC, as well as bringing such artists as Christina Bianco and Bruce Vilanch to MaineStreet in Ogunquit, ME.

KENT BRIDGES (Managing Director) is a seasoned business leader with 30 years of experience in business administration, finance and strategic planning both in the private sector and as an independent consultant. He joined Ogunquit Playhouse in the fall of 2017. Working with the Board of Directors, the Executive Artistic Director, dedicated managers and staff, the community, and the organization’s business partners, Kent’s focus is to strengthen the theatre’s financial position, guide its long-term future, and ensure its rich and well-respected legacy is firmly secured. A native of Presque Isle, Maine, Kent returned to the state in late 2014 after a successful career in the Washington, D.C. metro area. He is excited to be back in Maine and to call Ogunquit his home

BRADFORD T. KENNEY (Executive Artistic Director) is an artistic director, producer, stage and film director, and artist. Since joining the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2005, the Playhouse has tripled its audience growing from a single season summer stock theatre into one of the America's pre-eminent regional theatres with a three-season performance schedule and year round operation. During his stewardship, the Playhouse has garnered a number of awards and honors including the Moss Hart Trophy, Regional Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement in the American Theatre from the New England Theatre Conference, multiple IRNE Awards and a number of BroadwayWorld Awards including Best Musical and others. Mr. Kenney is also noted for his work at Carnegie Hall including directing the holiday special The Christmas Rose starring Jane Seymour and producing An American Christmas Carol with Tim Janis. Mr. Kenney’s film work includes the upcoming movie musical Buttons starring Dick Van Dyke, Jane Seymour, and Charles Shaughnessy. In New England, Mr. Kenney has been proud to be associated with a number of different theatre companies. He was also formerly the Artistic Director of the Foothills Theatre and Wachusett Theatre Companies in Massachusetts. He is a fourth generation plein air landscape artist, having studied with Beth Ellis and at Rhode Island School of Design, Heartwood College of Art, and Maine College of Art.

Agatha Christie’s Masterpiece, Murder on the Orient Express Opens at Ogunquit Playhouse

Ogunquit, Maine – All aboard! The Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to announce the first non-musical production at the theatre in over 12 years, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, on stage August 14 through August 31. This suspenseful play takes audiences on a delightful journey along with a train full of suspects, and each one with an alibi! There are twists and turns aplenty in this intrigue-filled story, newly adapted for the stage from Agatha Christie’s masterpiece by two-time Tony-nominated playwright Ken Ludwig. This beloved mystery unfolds in a fresh new way that takes audiences on a thrilling ride, and is complete with a professional New York and Broadway-based cast and featuring Tony-nominee Anita Gillette as Princess Dragomiroff and Steven Rattazzi as the mustachioed sleuth, Hercule Poirot. This lavish production is directed by Shaun Kerrison and includes an original set designed by Tony Award-winner Beowulf Boritt and stunning costumes designed by Tony Award-winner William Ivey Long.

“I am very excited to produce my first play here at the Ogunquit Playhouse. I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and we have carefully chosen one of her most thrilling murder mysteries, that has been newly adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig. It will be seen in Ogunquit for one of the first times anywhere, live on our stage. We are delighted to share this new play with our audiences,” stated Bradford Kenney, Ogunquit Playhouse Executive Artistic Director.

This beloved mystery also features Ruth Gotschall as Helen Hubbard, Christopher Gurr as Monsieur Bouc, Kate Loprest as Countess Andrenyi, Stephen James Anthony as Hector MacQueen, Andrew Dits as Colonel Arbuthnot and Samuel Ratchett, Patricia Noonan as Mary Debenham, Olev Aleksander as Head Waiter and Michel the Conductor, and Anna Tempte as Greta Ohlsson.

Don’t miss the show BroadwayWorld called “enthralling!” Tickets are on sale now with preview performances starting at just $36, and economy seating at $51 each. To learn more about becoming a Playhouse member, subscriber, or to purchase tickets and gift cards, visit www.ogunquitplayhouse.org or call the Ogunquit Playhouse Box Office at 207-646-5511.

Steven Rattazzi leads the cast as Agatha Christie’s famous and long-running characters, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. He has performed in Indecent on Broadway, and Off-Broadway in numerous productions including Henry V with Liev Schrieber, The Black Crook, Galileo, The Tempest with Mandy Patinkin, Stunning, Dinner Party, Painted Snake on a Painted Chair, and McGurk, among others. In regional theatres his credits include Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood, Indecent, Lempicka, David Greenspan’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Seder, The School for Wives, and Marie Antoinette. He can be seen in the film The Family and has been the voice actor behind the character Dr. Orpheus on Adult Swim’s The Venture Brothers for seven seasons.

Tony-nominee Anita Gillette returns to the Playhouse to portray Princess Dragomiroff. Perhaps best known for her performance as Mona the mistress in the film Moonstruck or for her portrayal as Tina Fey’s mother in NBC’s 30 Rock, Ms. Gillette has had an illustrious career on stage and screen, with more than fourteen Broadway shows to her credit, including Chapter Two which earned her a Tony Nomination for Best Actress in a Play and a LA Drama Critics Award, as well as the Off-Broadway production of The Big Meal for which she was nominated for a Lortel Award. She has performed at the Playhouse numerous times, starting in 1976 with Sabrina Fair, followed by Chapter Two in 1980, The Inkwell in 1982, Steel Magnolias in 1990, How the Other Half Lives in 1994, and Alone Together in 1998. She has had major roles in such films as Shall We Dance, Boys on the Side, Larger Than Life, The Guru, She’s the One, The Great New Wonderful, and Undertow, among many others. Her television career began in 1963 with her appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, she was a foil for Johnny Carson for over 50 episodes of The Tonight Show, and appeared on almost every major game show including Pyramid, Password, Matchgame, To Tell The Truth, What’s My Line, and many more. Recently she has appeared on the silver screen with recurring roles in CSI and Law & Order SVU, and in guest appearances on Modern Family, Blue Bloods, Elementry, Cold Case, Sex & The City, Frasier, Law & Order, and Mad About You.

Ruth Gotschall makes her Playhouse debut as Helen Hubbard. On Broadway she has performed in Mary Poppins, The Music Man, Laughing Room Only, Cabaret, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas among others. At regional theatres she has portrayed Aunt Eller in Pittsburgh CLO’s Oklahoma!, Maggie in Bucks County Playhouse’s 42nd Street, and Mrs. Tottendale in Goodspeed Opera House’s The Drowsy Chaperone. She has starred in several films including Disney’s Annie. Joining the cast as Monsieur Bouc is Christopher Gurr. He has performed in numerous Broadway productions including CATS, Kinky Boots, Amazing Grace, Tuck Everlasting, All the Way with Bryan Cranston, and the upcoming Cyrano with Peter Dinklage, as well as in the National Tours of Memphis and Monty Python’s Spamalot. Kate Loprest makes her mainstage Playhouse debut as Countess Andrenyi after performing in both Ogunquit Playhouse productions of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH. She has performed on Broadway in First Date, Hairspray, Xanadu, Wonderland, and The Drowsy Chaperone. She portrayed Glinda in the National Tour of Wicked, and as Nellie in the First National Tour of Little House on the Prarie. Portraying Hector MacQueen is Stephen James Anthony, who has performed on Broadway in Skylight and War Horse, and Off-Broadway in Behind The Sheet and The Grand Manner. At regional theatres The Guard, Barefood in the Park, Peter & the Starcatcher, Nicholas Nickleby, Fiddler on the Roof, and Arcadia. On television he’s starred in The Loudest Voice, Blue Bloods, Billions, and Gotham.

Portraying Colonel Arbuthnot and Samuel Ratchett in Murder on the Orient Express is Andrew Dits. His theatre credits include Pasadena Playhouse’s God Looked Away starring Al Pacino, The Complex’s BLOOD starring Glenne Headley, and Pacific Resident Theatre’s The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, among many others. Mr. Dits work on the screen includes Oliver Stone’s film, Snowden, the television series Telenova, Jon Glaser Loves Gear, and The Middle, and is a series regular on the Bounce TV sitcom, My Crazy Roommate. Patricia Noonan joins the cast as Mary Debenham. Her numerous theatre roles include Elizabeth Bennet in Signature Theatre’s Pride & Prejudice, Roundabout Theatre’s Death Takes a Holiday, City Center Encores’ Annie Get Your Gun, Girl Crazy, and Merrily We Roll Along, and Lincoln Center Live’s production of Carousel. She is the writer of the musicals Sweetwater, Learning How to Drown, and Masterpiece. Olev Aleksander portrays Head Waiter/Michel the Conductor in the Playhouse production of Murder on the Orient Express. At regional theatres he has performed in Good Television, Beyond Therapy, Twelfth Night, and Mister Roberts, and in New York productions of Macbeth (of the Oppressed) and Henry IV Part 1. In film he has performed in The Fifth Horseman, which was nominated for a Student Emmy for Best Drama and Fatherland, and has done voiceover work for the video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Rounding out the cast as Greta Ohlsson is Anna Tempte in her Ogunquit Playhouse debut. She is the co-founder of The Department of Fools, a New York based commedia dell’Arte theater company, and a member of Primitive Grace Theatre Company.

Shaun Kerrison returns from England to direct Murder on the Orient Express for the Ogunquit Playhouse after last directing the epic production The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 2016. He has directed many Ogunquit productions, receiving many IRNE and BroadwayWorld nominations for Best Director. Mr. Kerrison was in Ogunquit in 2014 to direct Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical and The Witches of Eastwick and in 2012 he directed the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic South Pacific. He also directed the U.S. regional premiere of Sunset Boulevard at the Ogunquit Playhouse starring Stephanie Powers, as well as Les Miserables and My Fair Lady for the Ogunquit stage. On Broadway, Mr. Kerrison was the Resident Director of Mary Poppins and was the Associate Director for the Broadway revival of Les Miserables and he redirected the National Theatres production of My Fair Lady for its 50th Anniversary U.S. National Tour. He recently reunited with conductor John Wilson to direct Kiss Me Kate for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Scenic design for Murder on the Orient Express is by Tony Award-winner Beowulf Boritt, who last designed the set for 2017’s Smokey Joe’s Cafe. His many Broadway credits include Act One (Tony Award), The Scottsboro Boys (Tony Nomination), Therese Raquin (Tony Nomination), Come From Away, Meteor Shower, A Bronx Tale, Prince Of Broadway, Sunday in the Park with George, Hand To God, On The Town, Sondheim On Sondheim, Rock Of Ages, Chaplin, Bronx Bombers, Grace, and The Two And Only. Off-Broadway he has designed 100 shows including The Last Five Years, Sleepwalk With Me, and Miss Julie. He has also designed for The NYC Ballet, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and around the world in England, Russia, China, Australia, and Japan. In 2007 he received the OBIE Award for sustained excellence.

Costume designer for Murder on the Orient Express is by six-time Tony Award winner, William Ivey Long. Mr. Long has designed costumes for over 70 Broadway productions and has been nominated for 15 Tony Awards. He most recently designed costumes for the Broadway productions of Tootsie: The Musical and Beetlejuice: The Musical, as well as FOX’s A Christmas Story, Live!, The Prince of Broadway for legendary director Hal Prince, and the revised stage musical Young Frankenstein in London’s West End for Mel Brooks, as well as for the original Broadway production in 2009. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on FOX’s Grease: Live!, and designed the re-imagination of The Rocky Horror Picture Show starring Laverne Cox and Tim Curry.

Lighting Design for Murder on the Orient Express is by Richard Latta. Mr. Latta is the resident lighting designer for Ogunquit Playhouse and recently was nominated for an IRNE Award for Best Lighting Design for his work on the 2018 production of An American in Paris. Kevin Heard joins the creative team as Sound Designer, returning to the Playhouse for his 19th Ogunquit production. Mr. Heard won an IRNE Award for Best Sound Design for his work on the 2017 production of Ragtime. Projection Design is by Jason Lee Courson who last designed projection for the Ogunquit Playhouse production of ELF The Musical. On Broadway he designed projections for Ruben and Clay’s Christmas Show and Off-Broadway for NEWSical: We Distort You Decide. Wig/Hair & Makeup Designer for Murder on the Orient Express is Emilia Martin, who designed 2017’s An American in Paris and Oklahoma!. Casting Director for the Ogunquit Playhouse production of Murder on the Orient Express is Anthony C. Daniel, with additional casting by Michael Cassara, CSA and Ogunquit Playhouse Production Stage Manager is Karen Parlato.

The Ogunquit Playhouse’s season continues with the hilarious Menopause the Musical, featuring Cindy Williams, star of TV’s “Laverne and Shirley,” for two weeks only September 4 through September 14; and the Tony Award-winning, smash hit musical Kinky Boots on stage September 18 through October 27. The season will stretch to the holidays once again with the timeless classic, Annie in collaboration with The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, November 27 through December 22.

Agatha Christie is the world's best selling novelist. Only The Bible and the works of William Shakespeare are more widely read. She is the undisputed queen of crime, having written 66 detective novels, 14 short story collections, 30 plays, poetry anthologies and 2 autobiographies. Collectively her work has sold over 1 billion copies in the English language, and a further 1 billion in translation. Those statistics are wildly impressive, but she holds claim to another that beats them all; Currently in London’s West End, Agatha Christie has two plays running. One, Witness for the Prosecution is now in its third year, but the other is a legend. Closing in on 28,000 performances and 67 continuous years is The Mousetrap. It is the world's longest running play.

Of all of her stories, Murder on the Orient Express must surely rate as her most popular. Since its publication in 1934, it has been adapted many times for radio, television and film. It has even become a computer game, has never been out of print as a novel and is now finally a stage play. The mystery has been solved by a dizzying parade of actors. Charles Laughton, Albert Finney, Alfred Molina and David Suchet have all boarded the Orient Express and worn the famous moustache of the world's greatest detective and Christie’s most beloved creation, Hercule Poirot - who is from Belgium!

Poirot's own statistics rival those of his creator. He made his debut in Agatha Christie's very first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1919, and went on to solve crimes in 37 novels, 57 short stories, an original play, and recently 3 continuation novels written by Sophie Hannah. So popular was Monsieur Poirot that when Dame Agatha Christie announced his final novel and demise in 1975, he was given an honour never before endowed upon a fictional character - a front page obituary in The New York Times!

What of the other star of our play, the great Orient Express itself? Well, it is more than a train, it is a legend. Its carriages have crossed a changing Europe for over 130 years. Not only is it the most famous train on Earth, it is a palace on wheels. Between the great Wars was truly the golden age of the Orient Express. The great and the good all travelled in her gilded splendour. Movie stars, politicians and royalty vied for attention and the train was rarely out of the headlines. Agatha Christie herself travelled on the train many times on her trips to the Middle East and her amazing attention for detail is all the way through her novel. One incident in 1929, only weeks before one of Christie's trips, inspired a million paperbacks. 60 miles outside Istanbul, the Orient Express got stuck in a snowdrift and remained stranded for 9 days. There were no murders, but the premise of the glamorous guests all locked in together set Christie’s imagination spinning.

The Orient Express’ claim to history is not confined to crime novels. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, restaurant car 2419 was used as the location for the surrender of Germany in WW1. In 1940, Hitler used the very same carriage as the site for the surrender of France in WW2. Later when the War was turning against Germany, Hitler had the carriage destroyed, lest it become the site of another German defeat.

The Orient Express continues its journeys today. The train remains a symbol of luxury and aspiration. It has continued to cast its glamorous spell. In fact, in London I see her regularly on platform 1 of Victoria Station waiting to whisk her passengers away on the trip of a lifetime.

I am so excited for the Orient Express to pull into Ogunquit this evening. This wonderful new adaptation by Ken Ludwig, so dazzlingly dressed and designed by William Ivey Long and Beowulf Boritt is sure to cast its spell in your beautiful theatre. All the departments and artists at the Ogunquit Playhouse have worked tirelessly and with such skill and passion to make tonight’s show a memorable one for you. Prepare for mystery and thrills and get your little grey working to pick up those clues. It promises to be quite a ride. All aboard!

Shaun Kerrison, Director

Regarded as the world’s most published and counted among the best-beloved writers, Agatha (Miller) Christie was born in Torquay, Devon, South West England in 1890. Christie is best known for her work in the mystery genre, having created such iconic characters as Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, however, she also published 14 collections of short stories, and The Mousetrap, a mystery which would go on to become the longest-running play in the world. She was an avid theatre fan and claimed that “one of the highlights of my existence” was when she portrayed Colonel Fairfax in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Yeoman of the Guard.

During World War I, Christie became a nurse in her hometown of Torquay. It was here that she amassed knowledge of medicines and poisons that would provide an unprecedented authenticity to her murder novels. In the years following the war, Agatha lived just outside of London with her husband Archibold Christie who had been a colonel in the Air Ministry. The years following the war were ones of excitement and travel for the Christies. The couple spent 1922-1924 traveling across the British Empire promoting the Empire Exhibition, which was a year-long exhibition that promoted trade and colonialism among the many English colonies. This enabled them to see such exotic locations as Cairo, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii, many of which would provide the settings for some of her most famous novels. This thirst for adventure is echoed in each of her novels which were usually distinguished from other contemporary works by the far off places where they were set.

Adventure and mystery were not just the subjects for her books. They also seemed to follow Agatha throughout her life. The most famous instance of this is her peculiar disappearance. After learning of her husband’s infidelity, Agatha left her home one night in early December 1926 then disappeared for the next eleven days, sparking a massive manhunt. Her car was found damaged and abandoned a few miles away, but there was no trace of Christie. Agatha was finally found, miles away, suffering from serious amnesia (she didn’t even recognize Archie when he came to retrieve her), it turned out that she had boarded a train and checked into a hotel under the name of her husband’s mistress. Investigations were never conclusive about what really happened to the beloved mystery novelist, though there was no shortage of rumors, theories, and speculations. After that, Agatha and Archie lived separately before officially divorcing in 1928. She kept the Christie name since it was already linked to her successful writing, and took primary custody of their daughter.

It is fortunate for Christie’s fans that there was such adventure in her life because it was those experiences that fueled her prolific writing and kept readers up into the wee hours of the morning promising themselves, “just one more chapter.” Some of her most engrossing stories circulated around a Belgian expat who lived in England in the years following the First World War. Christie’s experiences during the war working with Belgian refugees inspired the illustrious and iconic character, Hercule Poirot who became the hero in many of Christie’s best-sellers. Poirot made his character debut in The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) and quickly rose to popularity, encouraging Christie to write 33 novels and 54 short stories about his crime-solving adventures.

The most familiar of these adventures take place on the iconic, Orient Express; a train known for transporting passengers in luxury on the long journey from Istanbul to Calais via Paris. The train was created in 1883 and after being suspended during World War I found its peak popularity during the 1930s. The Orient Express and multiple lines that bared the same name but had different origins and destinations boasted comfortable sleeper cars and fine cuisine. With opulent fabrics, polished wood furniture, and gold-gilded finishes, each ticket on the legendary train cost 35 Euros which, accounting for inflation and currency conversion, is about $3,400 today, without factoring for any meals onboard the train. This ensured exclusivity for wealthy patrons. The train service spanned from Calais, France to Istanbul, meaning it had successfully spanned the entire continent of Europe and could transport passengers across the continent in a week. The original train and railway closed operations in 1977, however, the train was later beautifully restored and put back into service and now runs from London to Paris and beyond, and costs a fortune to travel on.

Of the 33 Poirot novels, few have been adapted as many times as Murder on the Orient Express. This beloved story has been told through two star-studded film adaptations, multiple television and radio series, and even in a computer game. This production of Murder on the Orient Express was adapted by playwright, Ken Ludwig and debuted in 2017 at the McCarter Theatre, who collaborated with our creative team to bring this production to the Ogunquit stage. Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to be among the first theatres ever to produce this new show based on the iconic novel.