Arsenic And Old Lace

Oct 14

Oct 30

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2024-25 Season

Arsenic And Old Lace

Oct 14

- Oct 30, 2022

Lohrey Theatre

Outrageous and Comedic. Mortimer Brewster is a drama critic who must deal with his crazy family as he debates whether to marry the woman next door whom he loves. Two spinster aunts “lace” their wine to poison lonely old men and engage the help of one brother (who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt) and digs locks for the Panama Canal in the basement. And then there is the murderous other brother who has altered his appearance to conceal his identity. How will it all end?

By Joseph Kesselring | Director John Maness

Mortimer Brewster

Kinon Keplinger

Martha Brewster

Martha Jones

Teddy Brewster

Jimbo Lattimore

Jonathan Brewster

Kevar Maffit

Dr. Einstein

Franklin Koch

Abby Brewster

Jeanna Juleson

Elaine Harper

Lena Wallace Black

The Reverend Dr. Harper

Jeff Kirwan

Officer Brophy

Jason Durrence

Officer Klein

Burton Bridges

Offcer O'Hara

Hugh Raup

Mr. Gibbs

Ron Kwoka

Lieutenant Rooney

John Reynolds

Mr. Witherspoon

Matthew Hamner

Director

John Maness

Assistant Director

Kevar Maffitt

Executive Producer

Debbie Litch (TM Staff)

Production Manager / TD

Michael Compton (TM Staff)

Assistant Technical Director

Maggie Jackson (TM Staff)

Scenic & Properties Designer

Jack Netzel-Yates (TM Staff)

Costume Designer

Amie Eoff (TM Staff)

Costume Shop Manager

Ashley Selberg (TM Staff)

Lighting Designer

Nicole Northington (TM Staff)

Sound Designer

Jason Eschhofen (TM Staff)

Director of Stage Management and Volunteers

Ashley J. Nickas (TM Staff)

Stage Manager

Katie Ogden

Assistant Stage Managers

TBA

Arsenic And Old Lace

Oct 14

- Oct 30, 2022

Lohrey Theatre

By Joseph Kesselring | Director John Maness

More Information

WKNO Interview

Mortimer Brewster

Kinon Keplinger

Martha Brewster

Martha Jones

Teddy Brewster

Jimbo Lattimore

Jonathan Brewster

Kevar Maffit

Dr. Einstein

Franklin Koch

Abby Brewster

Jeanna Juleson

Elaine Harper

Lena Wallace Black

The Reverend Dr. Harper

Jeff Kirwan

Officer Brophy

Jason Durrence

Officer Klein

Burton Bridges

Offcer O'Hara

Hugh Raup

Mr. Gibbs

Ron Kwoka

Lieutenant Rooney

John Reynolds

Mr. Witherspoon

Matthew Hamner

Director

John Maness

Assistant Director

Kevar Maffitt

Executive Producer

Debbie Litch (TM Staff)

Production Manager / TD

Michael Compton (TM Staff)

Assistant Technical Director

Maggie Jackson (TM Staff)

Scenic & Properties Designer

Jack Netzel-Yates (TM Staff)

Costume Designer

Amie Eoff (TM Staff)

Costume Shop Manager

Ashley Selberg (TM Staff)

Lighting Designer

Nicole Northington (TM Staff)

Sound Designer

Jason Eschhofen (TM Staff)

Director of Stage Management and Volunteers

Ashley J. Nickas (TM Staff)

Stage Manager

Katie Ogden

Assistant Stage Managers

TBA

Character	Description
Mortimer Brewster	(Male 25 - 35 years old or able to Play age) Nephew of Abby and Martha, brother to both Teddy and Jonathan Brewster. A very likable, Mortimer is a drama critic who is in love with, & engaged to Elaine Harper. A good-hearted cynic who is about to have his world turned upside down.
Martha Brewster	(Female 50-70 years old or able to Play age) Very sweet, but more submissive than Abby, Martha still is a strong woman. She and her sister have lived together for many, many years. Their personalities and pecking order around each other have been firmly rooted for eons. Always wears a high collar. The Aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.
Teddy Brewster	(40-60 years old or able to Play age) Very likable, kindhearted brother to Mortimer and Jonathan, Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, Teddy is a man who believes that he is the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. Extreme dedication and energy is necessary while charging up a flight of stairs and screaming “CHARGE!” PHYSICAL ROLE.
Jonathan Brewster	(35 - 45 years old or able to Play age) Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, brother to Teddy and Mortimer. Jonathan is a psychopath who has numerous murders to his credit and no scruples whatsoever. He is creepy. Jonathan is a killer, that loves his business and he’s got an unbelievably short temper. Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan’s face three times, currently resulting in a Boris Karloff resemblance (to which he is a bit sensitive.) Some PHYSICAL work.
Dr. Einstein	(45-55 years old or able to Play age) A German plastic surgeon, with an accent to prove it. Right hand to Jonathan, Dr. Einstein is mousey and submissive to Jonathan. Einstein should be viewed as a good guy whose life has gone bad. The audience truly has to sympathize with this guy. With somewhat of a ratty appearance, his face wears the benevolent smirk of a man who lives in a pleasant haze of alcohol.
Abby Brewster	(Female 50-70 years old or able to Play age or able to Play age) A darling lady, and the very model of Victorian charm and grace, who poisons elderly gentlemen, with her sister as an act of charity. She and her sister Martha seem to be the absolute embodiment of the values and polite society of a bygone age. More dominant, and a bit older than Martha, both ladies are happy, healthy, lucid, and spry. The Aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.
Elaine Harper	(Female 20 - 35 years old or able to Play age) An Attractive girl, daughter of Rev. Dr. Harper, and Mortimer’s fiancée. She is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world for a minister’s daughter. She is a little bit wily, sassy, and absolutely sharp (Actor seeking this role will need to show genuine zest and spunk. She will also need to display a wonderful sense of versatility.) We witness Elaine progress from casual happiness, to utter bliss, to twisted confusion, to stark fear, to godsend relief, and back to casual happiness again.
The Reverend Dr. Harper	(50-70 years old or able to Play age) A doctor of divinity, and the minister to the church next door to the Brewster house. The Brewster sisters have seen many ministers come and go over the years, but they seem to be particularly fond of Dr. Harper and vice versa. The actor portraying Dr. Harper should display a sense of polish, refinement, and mild mannered sensitivity towards others. He is not in favor of Mortimer and Elaine’s relationship.
Officer Brophy	(25-45 years old or able to Play age) The first police officer we meet in the show, Brophy is a thoroughly likable sort of fellow. Is making his rounds collecting Christmas toys for the needy. Some PHYSICAL work.
Officer Klein	(25-45 years old or able to Play age) A flatfoot Brooklyn officer who makes his rounds with Officer Brophy collecting Christmas toys.
Officer O’Hara	(any age) He is the quintessential example of an Irish-American police officer: Full of life, good natured and played big. He is on very good terms with the Aunts. O’Hara is a would-be playwright, and needs to plainly display the nagging, persistent drive that’s kindled within him once he discovers that Mortimer is a famous dramatic critic. Well intentioned, O’Hara really doesn’t mean to come across as annoying as he does.
Mr. Gibbs	(55-80 years old or able to Play age) An elderly gentleman who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters; and nearly falls victim to the sisters “charity”. He is a little gruff, but he warms up fairly quickly upon being offered a treat he hasn’t had since he was a child.
Lieutenant Rooney	(50’s years old or able to Play age) The man in charge at the local police precinct. Very early in the show we gain a pretty strong understanding of the caliber of men he has to manage under his watch. As such, he has very little patience for blunder and mistakes, and needs to run a pretty tight ship. He is loud, decisive, and clearly in-charge of every situation in which he finds himself.
Mr. Witherspoon	(50-60s years old or able to Play age) The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium. Very mild mannered and kind.