l. walter stearns eugene dizon executive...

Book Music and Lyrics JOHN REEGER JULIE SHANNON and MICHAEL MAHLER

Director Musical Director WARNER CROCKER MICHAEL MAHLER

Scenic Design Lighting Design Costume Design SCOTT DAVIS, U.S.A. YAEL LUBETZKY, U.S.A. ROBERT S. KUHN

Sound Design Developmental Director Orchestrations MIKE ROSS RACHEL ROCKWELL, S.D.C. MATT DEITCHMAN and JOE COURT

Production Stage Manager KRISTI J. MARTENS, A.E.A.

L. WALTER STEARNS Executive Director

EUGENE DIZON Business Manager

2 Mercury Theater Chicago

CAST

Sherlock Holmes ...................................................................................................................NICK SANDYS*Professor Moriarty ................................................................................................................ JASON GRIMMArthur Conan Doyle ...................................................................................MICHAEL AARON LINDNER*Ivy ............................................................................................................................................. COLETTE TODDVendor .............................................................................................................................. RONALD KEATON*Londoners ...................................................................................MARY ERNSTER*, DAVID GIROLMO*,

CHRISTINA HALL, JASON GRIMMLouise Doyle ................................................................................................................. McKINLEY CARTER*George Edalji ....................................................................................................................JOHANN GEORGEA Barrister .........................................................................................................................MATTHEW KEFFERReverend Shapurji Edalji ....................................................................................... ANISH JETHMALANI*Charlotte Edalji .................................................................................................................. MARY ERNSTER*Molly Jamison ....................................................................................................................CHRISTINA HALLNorman Pierce ............................................................................................................... RONALD KEATON*Royden Sharp ..............................................................................................................RUSSELL MERNAGHColin Stillman ..................................................................................................................MATTHEW KEFFERSergeant Campbell ........................................................................................................DAVID GIROLMO*First Prison Warder ............................................................................................................... JASON GRIMMSecond Prison Warder ...............................................................................................RUSSELL MERNAGHPrison Governor .............................................................................................................MATTHEW KEFFER

MUSIC IANS

Conductor/Keys I .............................................................................................................LINDA MADONIA Violin ........................................................................................................................................ELENA SPIEGEL Cello ............................................................................................................................. KELSEE VANDERVALL Horn in F .............................................................................................................................SARAH YOUNKERPiccolo/Flute/Clarinet/Bass Clarinet ..................................................................................MILES TESAR

UNDERSTUDIES

Understudies will not perform unless an announcementis made at the time of performance.

George Edalji ...........................................................................................................................BILAL DARDAILouise Doyle ....................................................................................................................... MARY ERNSTER*Arthur Conan Doyle .......................................................................................................DAVID GIROLMO*Sergeant Campbell .............................................................................................................. JASON GRIMMSherlock Holmes ............................................................................................................MATTHEW KEFFERRoyden Sharp, Colin Stillman, Second Prison Warder ....................................................WILL LIDKENorman Pierce, Moriarty, First Prison Warder, Londoner ..............................DANIEL SMERIGLIOCharlotte Edalji, Molly Jamison .................................................................................... COLETTE TODD

3The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes

PRODUCTION STAFF

Director ............................................................................................................................WARNER CROCKER Musical Director ............................................................................................................ MICHAEL MAHLER Developmental Director ............................................................................ RACHEL ROCKWELL, S.D.C.Scenic Design.................................................................................................SCOTT ADAM DAVIS, U.S.A.Lighting Design ......................................................................................................YAEL LUBETZKY, U.S.A.Costume Design ...............................................................................................................ROBERT S. KUHNWig/Hair Design .....................................................................................................................KATIE CORDTSSound Design .......................................................................................................MIKE ROSS, JOE COURTMovement Consultant ......................................................................................................KATIE SPELMANProduction Stage Manager ..................................................................................... KRISTI J. MARTENS* Production Assistant .......................................................................................FERNANDO ALVAREZ, JR.Properties Designer ..........................................................................................................................DJ REED Dialect Coach .......................................................................................................................... NICK SANDYSViolence Director ................................................................................................................... NICK SANDYSScenic Construction .......................................................................................MEANS OF PRODUCTIONSound Board Engineer...............................................................................................CARL WAHLSTROMWardrobe/Wig Supervisor ............................................................................................ RACHEL BOYLAN Master Electrician ...............................................................................................................JASON SHIVERS Creative Consultant ..................................................................................................................BILL GELLEROrchestrator/Keyboard Programmer ....................................................................MATT DEITCHMANPromotional Photographer........................................................................................... BRETT A. BEINER Graphic Designer ...........................................................................................................NADINE HEIDIGERPublic Relations ...........................................................................................................BIG SPLASH MEDIA

PAT KREMER, CAROLYN JACOBS

MERCURY THEATER CHICAGO STAFF

Executive Director ......................................................................................................L. WALTER STEARNS Business Manager .............................................................................................................. EUGENE DIZON Marketing Coordinator ....................................................................................................ALLISON WEBER House Manager ............................................................................................................ CHRISTOPHER DEA Box Office Staff ............................................................................... KELLY GRAHAM, BRIAN MARTINEZ

Mercury Theater Chicago is a proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Chicago Area Producers Organization and the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce. *Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including heath and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org.


SPECIAL THANKS

Over the years, the authors benefited greatly in developing this show from the talents of actors, directors, musicians, writers, subject matter experts and readers. Director Rachel Rockwell guided the creative team through the development of the script and score and directed two Mercury Theater Chicago workshops of this show during 2015.

Our special thanks also go to: Larry Adams, Roger Anderson, Kareem Bandealy, John Blane, Elic Bramlett, Michael Cancilla, McKinley Carter, John Clonts, Rives Collins, Devin DeSantis, Mary Ernster, Neil Friedman, Jamie Gangi, Bill Geller, David Girolmo, Cory Goodrich, Elizabeth Haley, Karl Hamilton, Sheldon Harnick, Angela Ingersoll, Anish Jethmalani, George Keating, Ronald Keaton, Heidi Kettenring, Peter Kevoian, Jeff Kuhl, Dr. Frank LaFranco, Patrick Lane, Iris Lieberman, Michael Lindner, David Lively, Cathy Lord, Cindra Macciomei, Tammy Mader, Russel Mernagh, Leah Morrow, Abby Mueller, Andrew Mueller, Roger Mueller, Bill Osetek, Ron Rains, Nick Sandys, Stephen Schellhardt, Paula Scrofano, Walter Stearns, Sean Thomas, Tom Vendafreddo, Michael Weber, Scott Weinstein, Jarrod Zimmerman

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE The End ..............................................................................................................................................OrchestraLook What He’s Done! ...................................................................................................................CompanyI’ve Had Enough ..........................................................................................Doyle, Ivy, Louise, CompanyThis Moment .......................................................................................................................................... LouiseA Trip to the Country ................................................................................................................... Louise, IvyRight Here in Wyrley ................................................................................ Molly, Pierce, Sharp, StillmanJust Your Ears ......................................................................................................................... Holmes, DoyleWhat’s Your Pleasure, Georgie? .......................................................................................Prison WardersWhat’s Your Pleasure, Georgie? (reprise) ........................................................................................ EdaljiCase Closed .......................................................................................................Campbell, Holmes, DoyleA Three Pipe Problem ......................................................................................................... Doyle, HolmesRight Here in Wyrley ...........................................................Campbell, Sharp, Stillman, Molly, Pierce

ACT TWOHow Many? .....................................................................................................................................LondonersThrough a Prism ........................................................................................................ Charlotte, Rev. EdaljiA Three Pipe Problem (reprise) ........................................................................................ Holmes, DoyleGet Out ..................................................................................................................................................StillmanMore Than Me ..................................................................................................................... a cloaked figureThis Moment (reprise) ...........................................................................................................................DoyleA Trip to the Country (reprise) .......................................................................... Louise, Doyle, HolmesLook What He’s Done! (reprise) ........................................................................Vendor, Ivy, LondonersThis Moment (reprise) ...........................................................................................................................DoyleFinale: The Game’s Afoot .................................................................................................... Holmes, Doyle


ABOUT MERCURY THEATER CHICAGO

Mercury Theater Chicago 3745 N. Southport Ave.

Chicago IL 60613 773-325-1700

www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com

Mercury Theater Chicago is an intimate jewel box of a theater in the heart of the Southport Corridor, a sophisticated neighborhood of restaurants and boutiques steps from Wrigley Field. A delightful theater destination, Mercury Theater Chicago takes care of its guests from the moment they arrive with valet service and dining at its adjoining restaurant, Deleece.

The building that houses the Mercury opened in 1912 as a silent film nickelodeon, named The Blaine Theatre after actor and former Senator and Secretary of State James G. Blaine. The Blaine became obsolete when talking pictures became popular nationwide in 1928. The much larger Music Box Theatre was then built, which is still in operation today. For most of the 20th century The Blaine served retail purposes; a carpet cleaning facility utilized the raked seating area to lay rugs out to drain water off. Though little of the original Blaine is left, some remnants still exist including the decorative plaster busts flanking the House. The intimate theater now boasts warm exposed brick walls and seats that were recovered and refurbished from a 1933 era Boston movie house.

Today Mercury Theater Chicago is led by Executive Director L. Walter Stearns, a veteran theater director and former Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre. It re-opened May 1, 2011 with the critically acclaimed production of A Twist of Water. The Mercury is thrilled to be part of the city’s vibrant theatre community, boasting multiple extensions of the critically-acclaimed production Avenue Q, a Jeff Award win for The Addams Family and establishing a new annual holiday tradition with the heartwarming holiday musical The Christmas Schooner.


COMING SOON TO MERCURY THEATER CHICAGO

THE PRODUCERS Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks Directed by L. Walter StearnsMusical Directed by Eugene DizonApril 13 to June 26, 2016 It is a truly “boffo” hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night. The plot is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history thereby bilking their backers (all “little old ladies”) out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends. The Producers skewer Broadway traditions and takes no prisoners as it proudly proclaims itself an “equal opportunity offender!”

B IOGR APHIES

McKINLEY CARTER* (Louise Doyle) is thrilled to help bring this piece to life with Mercury Theater Chicago. Her most recent credits include The Merry Widow and Carousel

with Lyric Opera, and a summer season with Rocky Mountain Repertory. Other Chicago credits include: Road Show, Julius Caesar, and Sunday in the Park with George, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre; Putting it Together, Porchlight Music Theatre; The Sound Of Music, Ragtime, Drury Lane Theatre; John and Jen, Apple Tree Theatre; Turn Of The Century, The Visit, Floyd Collins, Goodman Theatre; Forbidden Broadway, Royal George Theatre; Winesburg Ohio, Steppenwolf Theatre; Into the Woods, Marriott Theatre; James Joyce’s The Dead, Cymbeline and Pericles, Court Theatre.

BILAL DARDAI (u/s George Edalji) is an ensemble member and former Artistic Director of The Neo-Futurists, where he has been writing, directing, and performing original

work since 2004. He is the author of the Jeff Award-nominated plays The Man Who Was Thursday (New Work - Adaptation) and The Sovereign Statement (New Work), and he has appeared onstage in productions with New Leaf, Backstage, Rasaka, and others. He lives in Evanston with his wife and son, and thanks them for their love and patience.

MARY ERNSTER* (Londoner, Charlotte Edalji, u/s Louise Doyle) is happy to make her Mercury Theater Chicago debut in this creative new work. Having been involved

in its original incarnation with John Reeger


B IOGR APHIES c o n t.

and Julie Shannon, it is very exciting to see it come to life with additional material from Michael Mahler. Ms. Ernster is a familiar figure at major theatres throughout Chicago having garnered 12 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, 2 Jeff Awards and an After Dark Award for her portrayals of Mrs. Anna in The King and I (Marriott Theatre, also Drury Lane Theatre), Margaret in The Light in the Piazza (Marriott), Emily in Wings (Apple Tree Theatre), Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella (Drury Lane Oakbrook), and Abigail Adams in 1776, among others. Recently, she has appeared as Widow Paroo in The Music Man and Mrs. Higgins in My Fair Lady at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora as well as Aunt Julia in James Joyce’s The Dead at Court Theatre. Among Ernster’s other successes have been Titania in Another Midsummer Night (Goodman Theatre), Alice Challice in Darling of the Day (Light Opera Works), Glinda in The Wizard of Oz and Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) and appearances in The Sound of Music and The Merry Widow at The Lyric Opera of Chicago. Television credits include dramas for HBO (Normal), ABC (Love Hurts), and CBS (Early Edition).

JOHANN GEORGE (George Edalji) is thrilled to be making his Mercury Theater Chicago debut in The Man Who Killed Sherlock Holmes. Chicago credits include Ensemble/

Tobias understudy in Sweeney Todd at Porchlight Music Theatre. Other regional credits include South Pacific at the Ivoryton Playhouse as well as two seasons with the Summer Theatre of New Canaan. A Connecticut native, Johann is a senior Theatre major at Northwestern University. Love and thanks to my family, friends, and teachers!

DAVID GIROLMO* (Londoner, Sergeant Campbell, u/s Arthur) is a multiple Jeff nominee and a Jeff Award winner who has performed in 46 of the contiguous 48 United

States and Canada. He made his Broadway debut in Candide, directed by Hal Prince. Select credits include: Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd - BroadwayWorld Award) Porchlight Music Theatre; Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye) Paramount Theatre; Talley’s Folley (Matt - Jeff nomination) Oak Park Festival Theatre; Phantom (Carierre - Jeff Award) Drury Lane Evergreen Park; Kiss Me Kate! (Fred Graham - Jeff Nomination) Drury Lane Oakbrook; Unnecessary Farce (Todd - World Premiere - Wilde Award nomination) Boarshead Theatre; Then There Were None (Blore - BroadwayWorld Award) Fulton Theatre. Mr. Girolmo is a Councillor and proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and is married to Chicago actor Heidi Kettenring, who hung the moon and the stars.

JASON GRIMM (First Prison Warder, Professor Moriarty, u/s Greenhough-Smith, Sergeant Campbell) is excited to return to Mercury Theater Chicago after

appearing in last season’s production of The Addams Family. Other credits; A Christmas Story (Paramount Theatre), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), The Nutcracker (The House Theatre of Chicago), The Wild Party (Bailiwick Chicago) How to Succeed and Forum (Porchlight Music Theatre) and Improbable Frequency (Strawdog Theatre). Thanks to Walter, Eugene and the incredible cast, crew and creative team.



CHRISTINA HALL (Molly Jamison) is elated to be making her Mercury Theater Chicago debut! Recently, she played Carol in the world premiere of Feathers

and Teeth at the Goodman Theatre, where she previously served as an understudy for Ask Aunt Susan. Other Chicago credits include Patsy Cline in Always, Patsy Cline (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Jeff Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical); Madeline True in The Wild Party (Bailiwick Chicago, Jeff Award for Best Ensemble); Maria/Lisa/Itchy in Mr. Burns (Theater Wit); Fatale in Soon I Will Be Invincible (Lifeline Theatre); as well as work with Kokandy Productions, Strawdog Theatre Company, Interrobang Theatre Project, Porchlight Music Theatre, Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, The Inconvenience, Muse of Fire and Promethean Theatre Ensemble. She holds a BFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University. ”All my love to Diego, and gratitude to the Chicago Theatre Community who keeps me striving and thriving.”

ANISH JETHMALANI* (Reverend Edjalji) is delighted to make his Mercury debut. Some of his stage credits include Wit and ten seasons of A Christmas Carol (Goodman

Theatre); Water by the Spoonful, Titus Andronicus, Mary Stuart, The Invention of Love and Life’s a Dream (Court Theatre); Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Homeland Security (Victory Gardens Theater); Inana and Blood and Gifts (TimeLine Theatre Company); Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Around the World in 80 Days and Sita Ram (Lookingglass Theatre Company); The Caretaker and To the Green Fields Beyond (Writers’ Theatre); Citizens of the World (Steppenwolf Theatre Company);

Omnium Gatherum, Return to Haifa and The Millionairess (Next Theatre Company); Twelfth Night (First Folio Theatre); Indian Ink and The Sign of the Four (Apple Tree Theatre); Merchant of Venice (Silk Road Rising) and The Age of Cynicism or Karaoke Night at The Hog (Chicago Dramatists). Regionally, he appeared in Henry VIII and Much Ado About Nothing (Oregon Shakespeare Festival). His television credits include Boss, Leverage and Early Edition. His film credits include Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

RONALD KEATON* (Norman Pierce, Vendor) is the founding director of SoloChicago Theatre and was awarded the 2015 Jeff Award for outstanding solo performance for

Churchill, which also proudly played at Off-Broadway in New York City for nearly six months. He took up professional residence in Chicago in 1987, his first area bow in 1776 at the Marriott Theatre nearly 30 years ago. In addition to here at the Mercury, in The Christmas Schooner, Mr. Keaton has appeared on many Chicago stages – Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, First Folio Theatre, Theater At The Center, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Theatre At The Center, Porchlight Music Theatre, to name a few. Regional theatre appearances include Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Alley Theatre in Houston, and the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami. Ronald wears many hats in the theatre: Stage manager. Director. Playwright. Fundraiser. Lyricist/composer. And now Producer. He’s a singer at jazz and cabaret venues around Chicago. He has a solo musical in the works, Whispers From the Moon, with Chicago Composer/lyricist William Underwood. Through all of this, Ronald remains a proud member of and elected representative to the Central Regional Board for Actors’ Equity Association.



MATTHEW KEFFER (A Barrister, Colin Stillman, Prison Governor, u/s Sherlock Holmes) makes his Mercury debut. Recent Chicago credits include A Christmas Story (Paramount

Theatre); Sideshow, Sondheim on Sondheim (Porchlight Music Theatre); Sense and Sensibility (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); LaChiusa’s The Wild Party (Bailiwick Chicago). More information available at matthewkeffer.com.

WILL LIDKE (u/s Royden Sharp, Barker, Colin Stillman, Second Prison Warder) makes his Mercury Theater Chicago debut. Last May he graduated from the Chicago College of

Performing Arts (B.F.A, Acting). Other Chicago credits include: The Dictionary Project (Strawdog Theater); Spring Awakening, Dog Sees God (Fearless Theatre) & understudying for Ride the Cyclone (Chicago Shakespeare Theater).

MICHAEL AARON LINDNER* (Arthur Conan Doyle) Chicago credits include: The Tempest, Sense and Sensibility, King Lear, Road Show, Shrek the Musical, Sunday in the

Park with George, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); A Kid Like Jake (About Face Theatre); Mary Poppins, The Music Man (Paramount Theatre); Hairspray, Oliver, Ragtime (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Brigadoon, A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); Hero, The Producers, Into the Woods, 1776 (Marriott Theatre); Bach at Leipzig (Writers Theatre); The Full Monty (Drury Lane Water Tower Place); The Secret Garden, Sweeney Todd (Jeff Award, Porchlight Music Theatre); and

Dirty Blonde (Apple Tree Theatre). National tour credits include Harry Bright in Mamma Mia! Television credits include Chicago Med, and the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol: The Concert (PBS). Mr. Lindner received his BA in musical theatre from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

RUSSELL MERNAGH (Royden Sharp, Second Prison Warder) is thrilled to be making his Mercury Theater Chicago debut in Sherlock. Recent Chicago credits include

Mischa in Ride the Cyclone at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Les Misérables at the Paramount Theatre. Look for Russell later this year in Evita at the Marriott Theater. Big thanks to Walter, Eugene, and the whole team at the Mercury.

NICK SANDYS* (Sherlock Holmes) is honored to be part of this world premiere, in a role originally written for Mr. Reeger to perform himself (indeed, they became

friends during Sherlock’s Last Case in 2005 at Drury Lane Oakbrook). Nick is the Producing Artistic Director for Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, where he has been an Artistic Associate since 2002. Previous appearances include An Inspector Calls, The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia? (Chicago Magazine Best Actor 2011), Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Old Times, The Real Thing, Tartuffe, Arcadia, The Secret Rapture, No Man’s Land, Hapgood (Remy Bumppo); Turn of the Screw, Blithe Spirit, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, and Midsummer Night’s Dream (First Folio); The 39 Steps (Cleveland Play House/Syracuse Stage); Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Pride & Prejudice (Northlight); Oedipus Complex (Goodman); Camelot, My Fair Lady (Light Opera Works);



The Misanthrope (Next Theatre); as well as shows at Marriott, Lookingglass, Chicago Shakespeare, Writers Theatre, Riverside Shakespeare, and Madison Repertory, among others. Nick is also a certified Fight Director with The Society of American Fight Directors and has been adjunct faculty at The Theatre School at DePaul since 1995, his fight choreography having been seen all over Chicagoland, notably at Lyric Opera, Goodman, and Steppenwolf, as well as on Broadway and at The Metropolitan Opera in NYC. He is the recipient of fourteen Joseph Jefferson Nominations (eight for acting, two for direction, and four for fight direction, for which he won in 2008), as well as a 2011 Achievement Award from The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier Charitable Foundation for the Arts.

DANIEL SMERIGLIO (u/s Norman Pierce, Moriarty, First Prison Warder, Londoner) is thrilled to be returning to Mercury Theater Chicago after his 2nd

voyage in The Christmas Schooner. Recently he was seen playing Nicky/Bad Idea Bear in Avenue Q on this stage. He has also worked with Steppenwolf on Lord of The Flies (d. Halena Kays); Dog & Pony Theatre Co. on the world premiere of The Whole World Is Watching (d. Devon De Mayo). While not on stage Dan can be seen and heard in many commercial and voiceover spots. Proud graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University. Honored to be represented by the hard working ladies over at Paonessa Talent. Love to his wife, family and friends for their continuous encouragement and support.

COLETTE TODD (Ivy, u/s Charlotte Edalji, Molly Jamison) is delighted to make her debut at the Mercury Theater Chicago. Recent credits include Sandra in Big Fish (Jeff

Award nomination), Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and The Beverly Hillbillies – The Musical at Theatre at the Center; Clara in Passion (Jeff Award winner, Supporting Actress) and Aspects of Love at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre; Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, Nancy in Oliver! at Light Opera Works; and The Full Monty with Kokandy Productions. Additionally, she has performed with Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. www.colettetodd.com

JOHN REEGER (Book) previously collaborated with composer/lyricist Julie Shannon on the musicals Stones, Let the Eagle Fly, and The Christmas Schooner. This is his first

collaboration with Michael Mahler. In 2008, John was awarded a fellowship in scriptworks by the Illinois Arts Council. Also an actor, John appeared last year at the Harvey Theatre (BAM) in New York City as Cecil Lewis in the Goodman Theatre’s production The Iceman Cometh, a role he had originally played at the Goodman in 2012. He has appeared in more than 150 productions at such theaters as Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, Writers, Court, Northlight, Marriott, Drury Lane, Paramount and Theatre at the Center. For their four decades as Chicago actors, John and his wife Paula Scrofano were honored in 2015 with Career Achievement Jeff Awards.



JULIE SHANNON (Music and Lyrics) studied musical theatre writing as a member of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop in New York. She had the time of her life collaborating with

John Reeger on four musicals and with Rives Collins on stories and songs for young people. Julie was working on The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes when she passed away in 2012, and her memory was honored beautifully when Michael Mahler and Rachel Rockwell joined John Reeger to complete this show. When Julie heard superb performers sing her songs, and saw remarkable directors, designers, musicians and producers bring her work to life, she erupted in incandescent smiles and legendary hugs. Enormous thanks to all her cherished collaborators and especially to her mentor, lyricist Sheldon Harnick.

MICHAEL MAHLER* (Musical Director, Co-Composer/Co-Lyricist) is the composer/lyricist of October Sky, Hero (Jeff Award: New Work), Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, Knute

Rockne: All-American, How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back?, The 9/11 Report, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and others. He served as English lyricist for the premiere English language concert reading of Boublil & Schonberg’s La Revolution Francaise and contributed additional lyrics to Cameron Mackintosh’s Broadway-bound smash revival of Miss Saigon. Projects in development include The Diary of a Wimpy Kid for Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company, Gravediggers’ Hamlet for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and Secret of My Success for Universal. Visit www.michaelmahler.com.

WARNER CROCKER (Director) is thrilled to be directing this world premiere of the new musical The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes. As a producer, director, and playwright his work has been seen on numerous stages in the US and Russia. He most recently directed the world premiere of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution for City Lit Theatre, Barnum for The Old Creamery Theatre and Boeing Boeing for Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse. Following a 20-year career in Chicago theatre, he served as artistic director of the Wayside Theatre in Middletown, Virginia from 1999 to 2013. In Chicago he was the founder of the Absolute Theatre Company and Plan B Productions, and served as Artistic Director for New Tuners Theatre and Pegasus Players. A short list of his directing work in Chicago and regionally includes Pentecost, The Kentucky Cycle, Passion, La Bête, Edward II, Good, Kiss Me Kate, Man of La Mancha, Cotton Patch Gospel, Southern Crossroads, Romeo and Juliet, Ballad of the Sad Cafe, Forever Plaid, Othello, Noises Off, Always a Bridesmaid, Tuesdays With Morrie, and Stonewall Jackson’s House. He is the recipient of a number of Joseph Jefferson Awards and other awards for his work as a director and designer. He is the author of Robert E. Lee and John Brown: Lighting the Fuse; the musicals Southern Crossroads and Southern Crossroads: New Orleans, a musical version of A Christmas Carol with composter Steve Przybylski, and a musical adaptation of The Three Musketeers with Gregg Opelka.

SCOTT DAVIS, U.S.A. (Scenic Design) Chicago credits include productions with: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf, Court Theater, Paramount Theatre, Victory Gardens, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Northlight Theater, American Theater Company, Griffin Theater Company, and Northwestern University. International credits include productions with: Shakespeare’s Globe, Unicorn Theater (London) The Market Theater (South Africa), The Neuss (Germany),



Gdansk Shakespeare Theater (Poland), The Cultch (Vancouver), DUCTAC Theater (Dubai), Brice Mason Center (New Zealand), and The Edinburgh Festival (Scotland). Regional credits include productions with Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Asolo Theater, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Rep Stage, and Dallas Theatre Center. Mr. Davis serves as adjunct faculty at Columbia College having received his MFA from Northwestern University. www.scottadamdavis.com

YAEL LUBETZKY, U.S.A. (Lighting Design) has designed numerous productions in New York City and regionally including the Broadway production of Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam. Chicago area designs include The Little Mermaid at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and West Side Story at Drury Lane Oakbrook. Off-Broadway designs include productions at the Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, The Theatre at St. Clement’s, The Duke, The Cherry Lane Alternative, Intar Theatre, The New Ohio Theatre, Venture Opera, National Yiddish Theatre, and Bleecker Street Theatre. Regional Theatre designs include productions at Trinity Repertory Theatre, The Children’s Theatre Company, Riverside Theatre, The Clarence Brown Theatre, and The Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Yael has worked as Associate Lighting Designer on many Broadway productions including Once, Follies, Sister Act, The Addams Family, A Chorus Line, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, and Urinetown. Yael is a Recipient of the NEA/TCG Career Development Program for Designers.

KATIE CORDTS (Wig/Hair Design) works in the Wig and Makeup Department at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and teaches Stage Makeup at Roosevelt University. She is designing wigs and makeup for this season at the Paramount Theatre. She has also worked at Marriott Theater and American Players Theatre.

ROBERT S. KUHN (Costume Design) is pleased to be working at Mercury Theater Chicago for the first time. Recent design credits include White Christmas (Drury Lane Oakbrook), A Charlie Brown Christmas (Emerald City Theater), and SS! MacBeth (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Other Chicago Credits include works with About Face Theater, Northwestern University, Concordia University Chicago, Mortar Theater Company and Theatre-Hikes. Regional design credits include Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Pennsylvania Centre Stage) and Dracula and Othello (The Arkansas Shakespeare Theater). Upcoming projects include Heathers, the Musical (Kokandy Productions) and After All The Terrible Things I Do (About Face Theater).

JOE COURT (Co-Sound Design) is excited to work with Mercury Theater Chicago for the first time! Joe has designed more than 100 shows since moving to Chicago in 2006 with many different theater companies including: Mary-Arrchie (where he is a company member), A Red Orchid, The Inconvenience, Theater Wit, Raven, TUTA, Haven, Emerald City, Seanachai, Theatre Seven, Backstage, Boho, Lifeline, Pine Box, The Gift, University of Chicago, 59E59 (Off-Broadway, NYC), Clarence Brown Theatre (Knoxville, TN.), Great Lakers Theatre (Cleveland, OH), Virginia Stage Company (Norfolk, VA), Actors Theatre of Indiana, and the Idaho, Lake Tahoe, and Illinois Shakespeare Festivals. From 2008 until 2012 Joe served as sound engineer for the Chicago production of the Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet. He received a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination in 2009 for his design for The Unseen with A Red Orchid Theatre.

MIKE ROSS (Co-Sound Design) is an owner of Sound Production & Lighting LLC, a full service production, rental, and sales company. Mike / SPL has handled audio, video, and lighting production work for events across the country, ranging from



corporate events for MillerCoors, Nike, The Chicago Bears, United, Volkswagen, The Chicago Consular Corps to national music acts, to high school and educational productions and installations. Previous theatrical sound designs for Mercury Theater Chicago include The Christmas Schooner (2011 thru 2015), The Addams Family, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Barnum, and A Grand Night for Singing. Mike has also served as the audio dept. heard for the Chicago production of Million Dollar Quartet since 2012. For more information please visit www.spl-design.com.

KATIE SPELMAN (Movement Consultant) is happy to be at the Mercury. Chicago choreography: James Joyce’s The Dead, The Secret Garden (Court Theatre); American Idiot, Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, Into the Woods (The Hypocrites); Oklahoma!, RENT, In the Heights, Hair (Paramount Theatre); Juno (Timeline); Bellboys, Bears and Baggage (Redmoon); Idomeneus, Theories of the Sun (Sideshow Theatre Company); Fanny Brice (Asolo Repertory); Down and Derby (The New Colony); The Fly Honey Show (The Inconvenience); Cabaret, Spelling Bee, The Who’s Tommy (Northwestern University). New York: What’s It All About? (New York Theatre Workshop, Associate Director); Brooklynite (Vineyard Theatre, Associate Choreographer); Once (Broadway, 1st National Tour - Associate Movement Director) and Pulp Verite (NYU, Choreographer). London: What’s It All About? (Menier Chocolate Factory, Associate Director) and Close To You (West End, Associate Director). She has also assisted and performed with Goodman Theatre, Writers Theatre, House Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook and Marriott Theatre. Graduate of Northwestern University, and a member of SDC and AEA. Love to Mom and Dad.

DJ REED (Properties Design) is happy to rejoin the Mercury family after assisting on The Addams Family last year. During the

day he works in the amazing craft shop at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Favorite designs include Sweet Charity, The Odd Couple, Rocky Horror (costumes), Mr. Burns (crafts), and Writers production of Doubt. He is a graduate of Ball Sate University. This show and every show is dedicated to Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Everidge.

MATT DEITCHMAN (Orchestrator/Keyboard Programmer) is an actor, composer, music director, and multi-instrumentalist whose Chicago credits include: La Révolution Française (FWD Theater Project); Spring Awakening, October Sky, The King and I, Hero (Marriott Theater); Road Show, Seussical, Shrek, Murder For Two (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); The Who’s Tommy (Paramount Theater); Adding Machine, Into The Woods (The Hypocrites); Wonderland (Chicago Children’s Theater); Spelling Bee (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Spelling Bee (Griffin Theater); She Kills Monsters, Ghost Bike (Buzz22 Chicago); Parade (BoHo Theater). He will be serving as the Music Director of Chicago Shakespeare’s history cycle Tug Of War, and is the composer of multiple new musicals in development.

LINDA MADONIA (Conductor) is thrilled to be conducting at Mercury Theater Chicago. As a Music Director and Conductor in the Chicago area for the past 30 years, credits include Plaid Tidings, Suds, Beehive and Gypsy at the Williams Street Rep. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Double Trouble at Porchlight Music Theatre where she also serves as an Artistic Associate; Leo on Ice for Leo Burnett at the Chicago Theater; Hollywood’s Greatest Hits, The Fantasticks, Cabaret and Man of La Mancha for Light Opera Works; and Forbidden Broadway: SVU at the Royal George Theater. Other credits include Grand Hotel and Nunsensations at Drury Lane Water Tower Place, and A Chorus Line, She Loves Me and Me and My Girl at Theatre at the Center. For the past nine years, Linda has been the music director for Chicago’s Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards. During



the day, Linda owns American Eagle Productions, a touring theater company that takes shows and workshops directly into schools. American Eagle has been doing shows for twenty-four years and presents 250 shows a year to Chicago area schools.

KRISTI J. MARTENS* (Production Stage Manager) is happy to be back at the Mercury Theater Chicago with The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes after having the honor of being the Production Stage Manager for The Addams Family (Joseph Jefferson Award Winner, Musical – Midsize Theater), Avenue Q and The Color Purple. Some other theaters that she has worked at: Drury Lane Theater (Oakbrook Terrace), Northlight Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Goodman Theatre, The Royal George Theater, Drury Lane Evergreen Park, Drury Lane Water Tower, Fox Valley Repertory, Oak Park Festival Theater, Fulton Opera House (Lancaster, PA), Maine State Music Theater (Brunswick, ME), Theater At the Center (Munster, IN), Carousel Dinner Playhouse (Akron, OH), Dallas Theater Center (Dallas, TX). A proud Equity member for over 25 years, Kristi started stage managing with children’s theater. Enjoy!

FERNANDO ALVAREZ, JR. (Production Assistant) is thrilled to be working with the Mercury Theater Chicago. He graduated with his Bachelors in Theatre Education from the University of Texas at El Paso. He spent the last two years on the road stage managing one of Second City’s touring companies. In Chicago, he completed a stage management internship at the Goodman Theatre for their production of Chinglish, stage managed Family Devotions (Halcyon), Assisted Living (Profiles), L-Vis Live! (Victory Gardens), The Diary of Anne Frank (Metropolis Performing Arts Center), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Haven) and assistant stage managed Be A Good Little Widow (Collaboraction), Reefer Madness

and Pippin: A Bollywood Spectacular (Circle). Forever grateful for Maldonado, Gunnels and Mom.

L. WALTER STEARNS (Executive Director) As Executive Director of Mercury TheaterChicago, Walter is a champion for Chicago artists and productions and has overseen the physical and cultural revival of a beautiful theatre. He has directed over 30 musicals including his Jeff Award winning productions of The Addams Family and Ragtime as well as the Jeff Award nominated productions of Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Barnum-The Circus Musical, The Christmas Schooner, Nine the Musical, Ragtime, Gypsy, The Secret Garden, Sweeney Todd, Company, A New Brain, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along and Falsettos. Walter has received the Jeff Award, BroadwayWorld Award, After Dark Awards, the Larry Sloan Advocate Award (for his support of Season of Concern), the first Guy Adkins award for his contributions to the art of musical theatre and the Franny Award as a distinguished alumnus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

EUGENE DIZON (Business Manager) has worked in human resources and accounting at a number of Chicago firms including HFR, Navteq, Jenner and Block, and Hunter Douglas. In theater, Eugene has been musical directing for over two decades garnering 6 Jeff Awards (Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, Amadeus, Company, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along), as well as Jeff nominations for A Grand Night for Singing, Candide, Nine the Musical, Closer Than Ever, A Little Night Music, Passion, Colette Collage, and Falsettos; 4 After Dark Awards (Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, A New Brain, Merrily We Roll Along), a BroadwayWorld Award for Mercury’s Avenue Q and a BroadwayWorld nomination for The Color Purple. Eugene is honored to have been inducted into the Chicago Filipino Hall of Fame. Eugene has co-produced 3 “Season of Carols” CD’s (with Cory Goodrich) which



featured some of the brightest talent in Chicago theater today, for which Season of Concern awarded him the Larry Sloan Advocate Award (2013). Next for Eugene, musical directing Mercury’s The Producers.

BIG SPLASH PUBLIC RELATIONS (Press Representative) is an award winning, full service agency. Principals Pat Kremer and Carolyn Jacobs have worked together for the past twenty years developing successful public relations campaigns that have generated national and international media coverage. In addition to creating

a worldwide PR coup for the Unveiling of a Dinosaur Named Sue and breaking attendance records for King Tut at Chicago’s Field Museum, they developed the first exhibition on the Chicago Bears at the request of the team. Clients have included the Chicago Public Library Foundation, Adler Planetarium, Theatre at the Center, Mercury Theater Chicago, Chicago Philharmonic, Salute to Vienna Concerts in Chicago and New York and Midsummer’s Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin.

The Midwest region theatre community’s fundraising effort in the fight against

AIDS.

For more information or to make a donation

please call 312.332.0518

l. walter stearns eugene dizon executive...

Documents