Arsenic and Old Lace
by Joseph Kesselring
Directed by Don Taylor
November 15 - December 9, 2007
The Brewster sisters love older gentlemen to visit because they like
to
offer
them a glass of Elderberry wine! Imagine nephew Mortimer’s
surprise
when
he discovers what is happening to the gentlemen in this classic
comedy!
PRODUCTION PHOTOS (Coming Soon!)
THE CAST
CHARLOTTE FRANKLIN (Abby Brewster) is a native
of St. Louis, one of five kids who was always a ‘ham’, and, in her teens, appeared on TV with the
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Fast forward to 1964
when she, husband Jim and their 3 children moved
to Oklahoma where Charlotte appeared in many
shows with Lyric. She produced and directed
Martha and Friends, a tribute to the legendary
Martha Knott, and Together Again, starring many of
the talented Jewel Box and Lyric veterans. She won a Gem Award
as Julia in Lend Me a Tenor and in 1993, she ventured to the Big
Apple, appearing in a summer of productions, as well as the 1998
Kenny Rogers Broadway musical, Christmas From the Heart. For
years, Charlotte has done voice-overs, television commercials,
industrial training films, print work, television productions, including
America’s Most Wanted and the film Making Arrangements. She
recently celebrated 50 years of marriage, is not ready to retire and
enjoys traveling to far parts of the world. Charlotte says it’s fun to be
back at Jewel Box with best friend Jane and veteran/friend Clyde
Martin. |
|
JANE HALL (Martha Brewster) had her first
appearance on stage at the age of 2 when she
won a dance contest at the old Victoria Movie
Theater on N. Classen and 18th. When 16 and
singing with her Classen High School band at the
Biltmore Hotel, she was billed as ‘Small Jane Hall’
and became one of the first female singers on the
new WKY-TV (black and white picture, brown
lipstick and no white clothes!) Years later, after
moving back from Texas, she had her own TV show. She
auditioned and won lead roles at Mummers Theatre, Lyric, Jewel
Box and Carpenter Square. January, 1977, in Chicago, Jane met
the love of her life, Glenn Rodkin. The family moved back to
Oklahoma in 1980 and more theatre followed. Jewel Box favs
include 70 Girls 70 (Best Actress Gem), Something’s Afoot (twice), Chicago (her personal favorite), Follies, and Someone to Love (Best Supporting Actress Gem). Jane has appeared on ‘Barney’ and co-produced/sang the music/acted in a series of children’s educational tapes that have sold very well. She and Charlotte starred in their club act ‘One Class Act’ here in 1990. |
VINCENT JOHNS (The Rev. Dr. Harper) made his Jewel Box
debut as the Police Inspector in Heaven Can Wait, and
appeared in You Can’t Take it With You and God’s Favorite at
Sunnylane UMC. He volunteers at the Omniplex Science
Museum, sending kids and brave adults into space on the
Mercury Space Capsule simulator. |
MARK HINKLE (Teddy Brewster) is making his Jewel Box
debut. He grew up in Norman and has degrees from OU
and California Institute of the Arts. Mark has recently moved
back from Los Angeles and is joined in his home state by his
wife, Jodi and basset hound, Stella. |
JOHN TAYLOR (Officer Brophy) has re-entered acting in
theatre after taking a few years off to develop his dental
practice. He was recently in The Boys Next Door at the
Poteet. John is thoroughly enjoying his return to theatre and
hopes to continue performing in future roles. |
J. AARON CHARTIER (Officer Klein) is returning to the Jewel
Box stage, having appeared in our productions of Oklahoma! and Scrooge - the Musical, where he played Young Ebenezer
and his nephew Harry. Audiences may also recognize Aaron from various roles at area theatres, including
Summerstock and the Poteet. A self-professed Halo 3 junkie,
he would like to thank his mom, Sheila, for all of her support. |
CHRISTY HOWZE (Elaine Brewster) is ecstatic to be back at
Jewel Box, having assistant stage-managed The Odd Couple.
She now makes her on-stage debut. Christy has appeared on
stage for Cimmaron Circuit Opera, and has assistant stage-managed at the Poteet. She wishes to thank Don and Amy for
this wonderful opportunity, her parents for their love, and her
roommate, Amandanell, for being her partner in crime. |
JONATHAN PHILLIPS (Mortimer Brewster) picked up a Gem
Award for his Jewel Box debut as Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! and was a Shark in Summerstock’s West Side Story in July. A
nursing student at OU Health Sciences Center, he was
Marcelus in Poteet’s The Music Man and appeared in shows
at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. |
CLYDE MARTIN (Mr. Gibbs) has been with Jewel Box for
many of its 50 years in memorable roles. He won both the
Best Actor Gem (Tuesdays With Morrie), and the Best
Supporting Gem (Someone to Love) last season. Since 1969,
he has hosted an Opera show for KCSC 90.1 and is retired
from the Oklahoma City Library system. Clyde was Uncle Henry in Summerstock’s The Wizard of Oz last summer. |
GLEN HALLSTROM (Jonathan Brewster) made his Jewel Box
debut in an earlier production of Arsenic and Old Lace,
playing Jonathan! He was also in our productions of Heaven
Can Wait and The Odd Couple, the latter earning him a Best
Featured Actor Gem Award. A transplanted Californian, Glen
always considers Jewel Box his Oklahoma acting ‘home’,
and is thrilled to be part of the 50th season! |
JAMES A. GORDON, JR. (Dr. Einstein) is appearing in a show
he first did in high school 22 years ago. You will remember
seeing him in Deathtrap, The Sound of Music and 1776 to
name a few. A past Volunteer of the Year, he also stage
managed the Gem Award-winning Tuesdays With Morrie.
Special thanks and love to J.H. and P.F. |
JON HAQUE (Officer O’Hara) made his Jewel Box debut as
the hilarious Oscar Madison in last season’s The Odd
Couple. His talent has been on the stages of OSP, City Rep,
Poteet and Children’s Theatre in a wide range of roles. His
daytime gig is Graphic Artist and videographer at OETA. Jon
thanks Don, the cast and crew and #1 fan ~ Mom. |
MIKE PARKER (Lieutenant Rooney) was last seen in South
Pacific in 2005, but has appeared in several of our shows
(Guys and Dolls, Wartime Recipes, Crazy for You, Annie Get
Your Gun). Fine Arts Coordinator for Mid-Del Schools, he
taught drama at Carl Albert High School for 14 years and
has seven Class 5A football championship rings! |
VINOJ ZACHARIA (Mr. Witherspoon) is making his Jewel Box
debut. He has acted since the 9th grade and after spending
2 years acting in plays in India, Vinoj is glad to be back in
Oklahoma City, where he works as a web developer. He
currently splits his time between work at Element Fusion and
sleeping. |
THE CREW
DON TAYLOR (Director) is the theatre’s Chairperson for the
Board of Advisors. As a director, he has a Gem Award for
Driving Miss Daisy. On stage, you have applauded him in
Dracula, Scrooge - The Musical, Bad Seed, Oklahoma! and
Oliver! Don made a delightful Scarecrow in Summerstock’s
The Wizard of Oz last summer and for us, has made hits of
God’s Favorite, On Golden Pond and The Matchmaker. |
JEANIE COOPER SHOLER (Assistant Director) has directed
and performed in Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis and
Oklahoma City (Jewel Box, City Rep, Lyric). A member of
Actor’s Equity, Screen Actors’ Guild and American Federation
of Television and Radio Actors, she won a Gem Award as
Maria in Lend Me A Tenor. Favorite roles include Mame,
Annie Get Your Gun, Molly Brown and Sweet Charity. |
AMY ACKERMAN (Stage Manager/Assistant Director) is
always geared up for a Don Taylor show! A producer, music
director, set designer/builder, light/sound designer/operator,
costumer and actress, she congratulates Jewel Box on their
50th season and wishes 50 more! Amy truly loves the
theatre and relishes any chance to be involved, on stage or
off. |
| CHARLOTTE ROSE (Costumes) is thrilled to be back for this season of award winners. She has costumed several Jewel Box shows (Oklahoma!, Scrooge ~ The Musical, Dark of the Moon, Driving Miss Daisy, The Odd Couple) and appeared on stage for us in Harvey and in Over the River and Through the Woods and You Can’t Take it With You at the Poteet. |
| AMANDANELL BOLD (Props) is working her third show, after having played dress up with Don Taylor in Greater Tuna and run ragged cleaning Oscar’s apartment in The Odd Couple. She has also worked at Carpenter Square and The Family Theatre Warehouse. She thanks Don, Amy, Carol, Mom, Dad and Allyson, whom she hopes will continue in her footsteps. |
| LINDA RANSOM (Props) previously worked crew with The Odd Couple and Greater Tuna. She has also run crew for Compleat Works of Shakespeare (abridged) and Complete History of America and works with the Miss OCU pageant. With this play, she will try to keep all of the dead bodies out of the hallways so no one trips over them. “Thanks to Don and Amy for letting me hang out with the cool kids.” |
| DAVID HESTER -
Lighting/Sound Design RICHARD HOWELLS - Set Construction CARTER CAYWOOD - Program Cover Art Design BARRETT DAVIDSON - Program Layout JIM BECKEL - Publicity Pictures |