A Note From The Director of DialMForMurder
Welcome to our production ofDialMforMurder,a timeless masterpiece by Frederick Knott and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher that masterfully combines suspense, intrigue, and deception. As the director, it has been a thrilling experience to bring this iconic thriller to life for a modern audience while still respecting its classic roots.
The beauty of this play lies in its intricate plotting and its focus on human nature, the choices we make, the lies we tell, and the dark places our desires can lead. Each character is a puzzle piece, and as we peel back the layers of their motivations, we are confronted with questions of morality, love, betrayal, and trust. The characters’ choices are not black and white there are no heroes or villains in this story, only people navigating their own desires and limitations. Ultimately,Dial MforMurderreminds us of the lengths to which people will go to protect their desires, and how fragile trust can be. I invite you to watch closely, because in this story, nothing is ever exactly what it seems.
Thank you for joining us on this thrilling ride, and I hope you enjoy the twists and turns of DialMforMurderas much as we’ve enjoyed unpeeling the layers and bringing it to life on the stage.
-Mary Caligiure, Director
Dial M For Murder
By Frederick Knott
SETTING
The living room of theWendice flat in London, 1952.
DIAL M FOR MURDER
By Frederick Knott
Cornerstone Sponsor
CAST
Understudies
CREATIVE TEAM
CAST
DAN CARNEY
was most recently seen in WhiteChristmas , MyFairLady,TheMousetrap, EstellaScrooge,YoungFrankenstein,and KinkyBoots . He also performed in other Clear Space productions including DamnYankees,Elf,OtherDesert Cities,9To5,Victor/Victoria,TheSoundofMusic,GuysandDolls,Cabaret, AStreetcarNamedDesire,AChristmasStory,HelloDolly!,IntotheWoods, TheMusicMan,TheGraduate,AChristmasCarol,Heathers,Footloose , and Wit . His credits stretch from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, having performed in the musicals ManofLaMancha,TheMusicMan,Carnival , and AnnieGet YourGun .
MEG KELLY
is delighted to return to Clear Space after appearing as Sharon in The Roommate,Polly in OtherDesertCities , the Stage Manager in OurTown , and A in ThreeTallWomen . She is especially happy to be working with Mary again after doing TheCuriousIncidentOfTheDogInTheNighttimeand The Women with her. Meg spent 11 years as an Adjunct Professor at Towson University and also performed 2 one-woman shows based on historic characters. Although Meg has recently retired from the Actors’ Equity Association after 40 years, thanks to Clear Space she has not retired from acting! Originally from Wilmington, she now lives in Ocean View.
RICK NAZZARO
Past Clear Space credits include Gypsy(Tulsa), TheRockyHorrorShow (Narrator), TheMusicMan(Marcellus), MammaMia!(Bill), AChristmas Story(The Old Man), Clue(Colonel Mustard), KissMeKate(Gangster), La CageAuxFolles(Francis), SpellingBee,AStreetcarNamedDesire (Mitch), Elf (Walter), Misery,YoungFrankenstein(Igor), EstellaScrooge,The Mousetrap(Det. Trotter), and RockofAges(Dennis). He is honored to be a part of another fantastic season.
CAST
SARAH ROSE
is delighted to be returning to Clear Space! Favorite shows include The SpitfireGrill(Shelby), IntotheWoods(Cinderella) and Godspell(John the Baptist) at Possum Point Players; AndThenThereWereNone(Vera) at Second Street Players; SweeneyTodd(Beggar Woman), andVictor/Victoria (Norma) at Clear Space. A graduate of Penn State University and Westminster Choir College, she is the choral director at Sussex Tech H.S. as well as the Co-Director and Accompanist of the Southern Delaware Chorale. She lives in Lewes with her husband and children, Benjamin and Hattie.
TARA WISELY lives in Lewes with her family and many pets, and works as a Financial Controller in Rehoboth Beach. She has been performing in the Southern Delaware region for the last ten years. She has been seen at Clear Space most recently in YoungFrankenstein, 9To5(Violet), Clue(Mrs. Peacock), TheGraduate,TheWomen,and MeetMeInSt.Louis(Mrs. Smith). Other favorite roles include MuchAdoAboutNothing(Beatrice), CaliforniaSuite (Hannah Warren) and Vanya,Sonia,MashaAndSpike(Sonia). Tara is thankful for the support and appreciation for the arts here in our corner of the world!
DIAL M FOR MURDER
is produced through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by Concord Theatricals 250 W. 57th Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10107-0102
Wishing the best to Clear Space for another successful season! Rick Tedrick, Shawn Wright, and Hunter
CREATIVE TEAM
MARY CALIGIURE (Director)
is beyond thrilled to return to Clear Space Theatre Company to direct this amazing production. Past directing credits at Clear Space include TheWomen,CuriousIncidentof theDogintheNighttime,TermsofEndearment,and AStreetcarNamedDesire.Each of these productions holds a special place in her heart, and she’s so grateful for the incredible talent and collaboration she’s been able to experience on this stage. Mary is also a Vocal Music Teacher at the Southern Delaware School of the Arts. Teaching music and inspiring young artists is a passion that fuels her creativity and continues to influence her work both in the classroom and on the stage. She looks forward to sharing this latest journey with you!
LORRAINE LEAVEL (CostumeDesigner)
is thrilled to be costuming at Clear Space after designing SweeneyTodd,TheProm,MyFair Lady,9To5,Grease,JamesandTheGiantPeach,TheWeddingSinger,HelloDolly!,The AddamsFamily,TheGraduate,AChristmasCarol,Heathers,andmanyothers.She received her BFA in Music Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory. Lorraine has been a part of Clear Space for over a decade. She is very active in the local theatre community, on stage and off, including serving on various boards. Lorraine enjoys costuming (a skill she learned from her grandma) as well as managing the summer camp at Possum Point.
BRENDAN SMITH (
LightingDesigner) has worked with Clear Space as the Lighting Designer since 2014, for which he has received multiple awards. He is mostly self-taught in the craft and refined his skills designing shows for the Dance Conservatory, Kent County Theatre Guild, Dover High School, The Schwartz Center, and Clear Space. He has two adoring sons, Jackson and Harrison.
EMILY SWETT (StageManager)
is excited to be stage managing with Clear Space stage after her on stage appearances in DamnYankeesand SweenyTodd ! Favorite credits include LeonceundLena(Lena) and Seussical(Mayzie). Emily received her bachelor of music in Music Theatre from James Madison University in 2021. She would like to thank her family, her partner Josh, and her CCCA friends for all their support. @emilyswetty everywhere!
Clear Space Theatre Company
Leadership
DAVID BUTTON (Artistic Director)
is the Artistic Director of Clear Space Theatre and teaches as a member of the Arts Institute faculty, founding multiple classes including the Spotlight on Young Performers program and co-founding the Summer Acting and Musical Theatre Summer Stock Intensives. He received his B.A. in Theatre with a focus on Acting and Directing from DeSales University. David has worked regionally with the Main Street Theatre, City Theatre, the Chojinyobiko Theater Group, The Milton Theatre, and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. He directed this season’s TheMousetrap,MyFairLady,JerseyBoys , and TheProm ; and will direct SweeneyToddin the fall. Past directing credits include: Carrie,FunHome,IntoTheWoods,JesusChristSuperstar,NextToNormal,Clue, Misery,Baskerville,SteelMagnolias,TheOddCouple,Heathers,MammaMia!Priscilla,TheWeddingSinger, Cabaret,LaCageAuxFolles,Seussical,AChorusLine,TheFullMonty,LittleShopOfHorrors,SpellingBee, KinkyBoots,Ghost,SisterAct,JosephandtheAmazingTechnocolorDreamcoat,TheSpongebobMusical, Footloose,TheRockyHorrorShow,and many more.
JOE GFALLER (Managing Director)
joined Clear Space Theatre Company as Managing Director in late 2023. A seasoned performing arts professional, Joe has held leadership positions, as well as roles in marketing, development, and community engagement with such varied organizations as the Alliance Theater, the American Repertory Theater, Opera Theater of Saint Louis, 7 Stages, and Metro Theater Company. As a consultant, he has worked with the National Blues Museum, the documentary Flint:ThePoisoningofanAmericanCity , the Utah Symphony, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He has taught arts management in Webster University’s MFA arts leadership program and has taught acting at Berry College. His resume as a stage director includes over two dozen productions, including regional premieres by Caryl Churchill, David Mamet, Peter Sinn Nachtreib, and Addae Moon. He was a member of the Leadership St. Louis Class of 2013 and the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2006, and he graduated with honors from Harvard University. He is thrilled to have relocated to the Rehoboth Beach area to become part of the team at Clear Space.
STAFF
David Button
Artistic Director
Sydney Gray
Interim Company Manager
Christopher Decker
Resident Costume Designer
Lorraine Leavel
Resident Costume Designer
Brendan Smith
Resident Lighting Designer
Joe Gfaller Managing Director
Lara Bellistri
Box Office Manager
Evan Hrivnak
Digital Marketing Manager
Tony Ferlenda Development Consultant
Jadie Pilotti
Interim Development Manager & House Manager
Kirk Schneck
House Manager
Clear Space Theatre Company
Clear Space Theatre Company, a 501(c)3 cultural organization founded in 2004, is committed to teaching, producing and presenting the performing arts. The term “clear space” refers to a focus on the process, knowledge, and humanity of arts performance: the idea that we find ourselves in what appears on the stage.
Our Mission is to create memorable experiences that unite and enrich our community through live theatre and arts-based learning. Our Vision is to be a beacon for artistic endeavors of integrity and risk, inspiring joy across a diverse audience.
Board Of Directors
Megan Nehrbas, Chair
Laura Howard, Secretary
Jay Allen
Joe Sterner, Vice Chair
Alfred Willis, Treasurer
Richard J. Perry, Jr.
Jess Bain Ida Rowe
Chris Beagle
John Cullen
Mat Hastings
Mike Moreland
Brent Shoemaker
Lisa Schlosser
Mindi Moore Tunnell
The Producers Circle serves as ambassadors for Clear Space Theatre Company to deepen its engagement within the community and to steward critical existing relationships in support of the organization. If you are interested in serving, please contact co-chairs Liz Leshine or Alice Willis or Managing Director Joe Gfaller.
Producers Circle
Liz Leshine
Ida and Jeff Rowe
Peter Keeble
Peter Pizzolongo
Linda Wolf
Mary Beth McDonough
Alice and Alfred Willis
Mary Jo Tarallo
Carl Schloegel
Judy Rayner
Richard Gamble
Mary Kay Ryan, Founder
