The Unexpected Guest Program Detail

COCKPIT IN COURT SUMMER THEATRE
presents

By Agatha Christie

Director | Linda Chambers

Scenic & Lighting Designer | G. Maurice “Moe” Conn, III

Costume Designer | Wil E. Crowther

Technical Director/Sound Designer | Corey Sekulow

Properties Master | Lisa L. Boeren

Stage Manager | TraceyAnn Tokar Smith

The Unexpected Guest is presented by special arrangement with
SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

‘The Unexpected Guest’
© 1958 Agatha Christie Limited
All rights reserved.
‘AGATHA CHRISTIE’ and the Agatha Christie Signature Mark are trademarks
of Agatha Christie Ltd.. All rights reserved.
The rights to this play are controlled by Agatha Christie Ltd..
For further information about this play, others by Agatha Christie and about
other stage adaptations of her stories, please visit: www.agathachristie.com

CAST

Setting: Richard Warwick’s study in South Wales near the Bristol Channel

Act 1: Scene 1 – Richard Warwick’s study, about 11:30pm in November
Act 1, Scene 2 – The following morning about 11 o’clock
Act 2 – Late afternoon the same day

There will be one fifteen-minute intermission

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

“An author’s business is simply to write.” – Agatha Christie

Novels: 74
Plays: 16
Broadcast works: 7
Collections: 28
Television series: Many
Films: Many
Agatha Christie: An Autobiography

A murder has taken place. Suspects and motives are plentiful. An Inspector arrives to sort things out.

It’s interesting to note that, in Dame Agatha Christie’s autobiography, her theatrical endeavors are summed up relatively briefly towards the end (page 536 of 550 pages, including epilogue). Within those pages she references The Unexpected Guest only once, and doesn’t devote the entire sentence to it:

“Later I was to write a play called The Unexpected Guest, and another [The Verdict] which, though not a success with the public, satisfied me completely.”

This has given Cockpit in Court the extremely rare opportunity to present an Agatha Christie mystery to which no one knows the ending. Who did it? Why did they do it? Will they answer for it? It also provides the audience the pleasure of guessing who it might be.

We ask only three things of you:

Enjoy the evening.
Tell your friends to come.
PLEASE – NO SPOILERS!!!!!

Linda Chambers
Director

ALLISON MCALLISTER (Laura Warwick) is excited to join Cockpit in Court for the first time in The Unexpected Guest. Favorite prior shows in Maryland include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Maggie), The Merchant of Venice (Portia), Henry VIII (Chamberlain), She Speaks (various), and Henry V (Henry V). Shows in North Carolina include Chamber Music (Osa Johnson), The Game’s Afoot: Holmes for the Holidays (Inspector), All in the Timing (The Universal Language) (Dawn), The Heidi Chronicles (Jill), and The Arabian Nights (Scheherezade).

MICHAEL PAPA (Michael Starkwedder) is happy to be back at Cockpit in Court. He last appeared here in the 1993 production of Macbeth. Since that time other roles have included Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glenross, Gaston in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and productions of The Iceman Cometh, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, The Weir and Enchanted April.

REGINA ROSE (Miss Bennett) is back for her ninth show with Cockpit having previously appeared on stage as Mona in Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Mrs. Chandler in The Gazebo, Marion in Don’t Drink the Water, Trudy in Social Security, Nicky in Bell, Book and Candle, and Nora in Brighton Beach Memoirs. She has also been the stage manager of Cockpit’s productions of An Evening of Murder and Forever Plaid. She has acted in, stage managed, and directed over 100 shows for various theatres throughout Maryland, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Canada. Her favorite roles include Blanche in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Lenny in Crimes of the Heart, Truvy in Steel Magnolias, and Ophelia in Hamlet. Offstage, Regina performs one woman living history shows portraying such noteworthy females as Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, Katharine Wright, Caroline Astor and First Ladies including Edith Wilson and Louisa Adams. She thanks her husband Mike, her Mom and her family for their continuing support and love.

JOSH SMITH (Jan Warwick) is excited for his Cockpit in Court debut as Jan Warwick. Offstage, Josh studies Music Education and Music Performance at Shepherd University with aspirations to one day be under the stage conducting Broadway pit orchestras. Other notable roles include Tony Kirby (You Can’t Take it With You) and Edna Turnblad (Hairspray) at Catonsville High School as well as Narrator (Oedipus Tex), Samuel (Pirates of Penzance), and Narrator (The Apple Tree) at Shepherd University.

LIZ BOYER HUNNICUTT (Mrs. Warwick) returns to Cockpit after having recently appeared on the main stage as Shirley in this season’s Disaster! Cockpit’s Cabaret Theatre goers might remember Liz from Come Back to the Five & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. (Juanita), Vanya, Sonia, Masha & Spike (Sonia), Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (Marjorie), Crimes of the Heart (Lenny), The Gazebo (Nell Nash), and The Inspector Calls (Mrs. Birling). She is directing this season’s Court Jester’s production of Aladdin, Jr. Liz is the Resident Director for The Children’s Playhouse of MD in residence here at CCBC. She is beyond thrilled to work with Linda Chambers again! Offstage, she likes to spend time with her favorite person on the planet – her husband, James.

ALBERT J. BOEREN (Henry Angell) returns to the Cockpit stage having last been seen here as Wealthy Man is this seasons Disaster!. Having first appeared on the Cockpit stage in 1979 in Bye, Bye Birdie, Albert has been in numerous productions including Sunset Blvd. (Sheldrake), Singin’ in the Rain (Dexter), Hairspray (Mr. Pinky), Curtains (Sidney), How to Succeed…. , Camelot, Love, Sex and the I.R.S. (Mr. Jansen) and The Gazebo. He has also directed Cockpit’s productions of Social Security, The Odd Couple and Don’t Drink the Water. Directing credits also include Brighton Beach Memoirs (DCT), several productions of Godspell, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Bye, Bye Birdie, Arsenic and Old Lace (4 times), Meet Me in St. Louis, and Barnum. Favorite stage roles include Harold Hill (The Music Man), Rooster (Annie), Epstein (Biloxi Blues), Albert (Bye, Bye, Birdie), and Clifton (1940’s Radio Hour). He works for ProCare Ambulance. Albert has been married for 34 years to the love of his life, Lisa, and is the proud father of two fantastic children, Andrew and Angela.

JACK TAYLOR (Sergeant Caldwallader) is ecstatic to be making his Cockpit in Court debut! Jack is a rising junior at Arcadia University in Philadelphia where he is pursuing his BFA in Acting. Previous credits include Silvius (As You Like It), Tesman (Hedda Gabler), Duke (The Great American Trailer Park Musical). As always, Jack would like to thank his biggest support system, his family, for everything they have given him, as well as his friends who inspire him to be his best. @jck_taylor

TED BURKE (Inspector Thomas) is excited to be back on the Cockpit stage here in the Cabaret Theatre!!! His last couple of shows were both in this very place. Edge of Darkness and An Inspector Calls each bring back such amazing memories with our incredible director, Linda Chambers. Ted has been involved in theatre since the age of 17, loves every aspect you can name, and hopes there isn’t an end in sight for many, many years to come. He wishes nothing but the best for this incredible gathering of talent both behind-the-scenes and under the lights, and hopes each of you enjoy your time with us. Thank you for supporting the arts!!!!

TOM PICCIN (Julian Farrar) is delighted to be making his debut performance at Cockpit in Court. Most recently, he appeared in the 10x10x10 play festival at Fells Point Corner Theatre. Other favorite roles in the Baltimore area include John Proctor in Lumina Theatre Company’s production of The Crucible, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing with Artistic Synergy of Baltimore, Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls at Laurel Mill Playhouse, Lenny Ganz in Rumors with Just Off Broadway, Claudius in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at Fells Point Corner Theatre, and Felix Geisel in The Game’s Afoot at Spotlighters Theatre.

LINDA CHAMBERS (Director) began her work in Cockpit’s Cabaret with Crimes of the Heart in 2005 and continued through last year’s Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. There are no favorites; the space itself is a favorite. A college cafeteria by day that, when night falls, can magically* transform itself into whatever location is required is always going to be a favorite. This summer, she is working with the Young Filmmakers Workshop as scriptwriter and acting consultant. She is a directing/scriptwriting consultant with the Tiramisu Theatre of Truth and the Flight School Theatre Project, both in Long Island. She teaches scriptwriting residencies at Carver Center for Arts & Technology.

TRACEYANN TOKAR-SMITH (Stage Manager) is pleased to be back with Cockpit after stage managing Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean at Cockpit last summer. Other stage management credits include Mamma Mia (Production Stage Manager), ***A Year with Frog and Toad, Side Show, There’s No Business Like Show Business, The Bridges of Madison County, A Few Good Men, Something’s Afoot,*** and Rumors for Dundalk Community Theatre. Directing credits include Three Tall Women for Cockpit and Court Summer Theatre, Shadowlands for Dundalk Community Theatre, Rimers of Eldritch for McDaniel College, Arsenic and Old Lace for Vagabonds Theatre, and Billy Would Have Been Thirty Today for the Baltimore Playwrights’ Festival. Properties credits include A Year with Frog and Toad, Side Show, Catch Me If You Can, Something’s Afoot, and My Fair Lady for Dundalk Community Theatre. Away from the stage, TraceyAnn works as a middle school Literature, Language Arts, and Social Studies teacher at Sisters Academy of Baltimore in Lansdowne, MD.

G. MAURICE “MOE” CONN, III (Scenic & Lighting Designer) is in his eighth year as full-time Technical Director and Designer at CCBC Catonsville Center for the Arts Theatre. He has an MFA in Scene Design and Technical Theatre. Moe has been doing technical theatre since 1993, as a Designer, Technician, Technical Director, and Educator. Moe has also served as the Technical Director and Designer for Cockpit in Court Theatre, Maryland’s Oldest Summer theatre, for 4 summers. Moe has received multiple nominations for Best Scene Design from Broadway World.com and Received Best Scenic Design from the MD Theatre Guide’s Readers’ Choice Awards. When not backstage, Moe volunteers with “Behind the Scenes” which help theatre technicians in crisis. He also helps coordinate the Long Reach Long Riders charity motorcycle ride, (www.LRLR.org) to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity fights AIDS and Behind the Scenes, two theatre-based charities.

WIL CROWTHER (Costume Designer) Credits include, Iago’s Plot for The National Theatre of Weimar, Germany, Hammers with The Independent Eye, Born Yesterday for The Maryland Arts Festival, Sunset Boulevard for Cockpit in Court, The Well of Horniness with Iron Crow Theatre, The Wild Party for Theatro 101 and A Dickens of a Tale, The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Baltimore Shakespeare Festival. Stevenson University credits include Eurydice, The Amish Project, The Nether, Oedipus the King, Sweeney Todd, Two Room, The Yellow Wallpaper, Present Laughter and The Trojan Women to list a few. Costume Design for Film: Invisible Cities, It Goes Without Saying and Flight (Director: John Bright Mann) and The Connection (Director: Steve Yeager). Costume craftwork for Broadway: Little Women, Dracula, the Musical, Crybaby, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Born Yesterday (Designer: Catherine Zuber) Regional: Baltimore Centerstage 1996- present. Wil served as the Faculty Costume Designer at Stevenson University since 1990-2019.

NICK SMITH (Light/Sound Board Operator) is enthused to be working with Cockpit again after doing technical work for Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean last year. His recent work includes assistant stage managing the premiere of Thank You, Dad at Rapid Lemon, running crew for Hair at Guerilla Theatre Front, and running lights for My Fair Lady at Third Wall Productions.

AGATHA CHRISTIE (Author) Born in Torquay in 1890, Agatha Christie became, and remains, the best-selling novelist of all time. She is best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, as well as the world’s longest-running play – The Mousetrap. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation.

PRODUCTION STAFF

Director | Linda Chambers
Scenic & Lighting Designer | G. Maurice “Moe” Conn III
Costume Designer | Wil E. Crowther
Technical Director/Sound Designer | Corey Sekulow
Properties Master | Lisa L. Boeren
Stage Manager | TraceyAnn Tokar Smith
Light/Sound Board Operator | Nick Smith
Set Construction | Erin Johnson, Ja’min Williams
Lauren Talbott
Production Photographer | Trent Haines-Hopper, thsquaredphotos.com
Production Liaisons | Estelle Harris, Louise Higgins

COCKPIT IN COURT 2019 STAFF

COCKPIT IN COURT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James Hunnicutt | Artistic Managing Director
Lisa L. Boeren | Administrative Manager

James Shirk | President
John Chrzanowski | Vice-President
William Pheil | Recording Secretary
Louise Higgins | Corresponding Secretary

Special Thanks

Dr. Sandra L. Kurtinitis, President, CCBC
Mr. Jack McLaughlin, Interim Vice President of Instruction
Dr. William Watson, Dean of Liberal Arts
Patti Crossman, Chair, Performing Arts and Humanities
Dr. Anne Lefter, Director, Performing Arts
Michael Elspas, Assistant Director, Creative Services
Kim Bleakley, Graphic Designer
Marc Smith, CCBC Dundalk, Technical Director
The CCBC Essex Foundation for the donation of Wine
Baltimore Center Stage

Cockpit In Court would like to acknowledge the support of Towson University.
On the web at Towson.edu

This production is supported in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
On the web at msac.org

THEATRE PATRONS ASSOCIATION

Be an Angel! – Your gift to Cockpit in Court helps us keep quality theatre alive in our community. Ticket Sales cover only a portion of the cost of the season, so even a small gift can make a big difference. Become a TPA member, and help keep the magic alive!

CATEGORIES

Kings and Queens | $200 and above
Tim & Carol Evans
Lula May & John Gray
David C. Guy

Royal Family | $100 – $199
David & Chris Coarts
David & Susan Ladenheim
Tom & Sophia Montgomery
Herbert Stiff