Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig Director
Mike Shara Set & Costume Designer Brandon Kleiman Stage Manager Suzanne McArthur
Lighting Designer Mikael Kangas Assistant Stage Manager Grace Batten
The Company (in alphabetical order)
Matthew G. Brown
Bethany Jillard
Mark Crawford
Claire Jullien
Tracey Ferencz
Alexandra Krohn
Rebecca Gibian
Patrick McManus
Tyrone Savage Steven Sutcliffe Maggie Walters
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express adapted by Ken Ludwig was originally staged by McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton, NJ Emily Mann, Artistic Director, Timothy J. Shields, Managing Director. This production subsequently transferred to Hartford Stage, Hartford, CT Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, Michael Stotts, Managing Director Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited.
Murder on the orient express show sponsors Season Sponsor
Production Sponsors
Design Sponsor
Media Sponsors
2026 season support
Funding provided by Government of Ontario
Cruiser Sponsor
Wine Sponsor
Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge Naming Sponsor
Marketing Sponsor
Beer Sponsor
Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge Auditorium Naming Sponsor
Set Relocation Sponsor
Beer Sponsor
Major Sponsor
Storage Sponsor
Ice Cream Sponsor
Hearing Assist Sponsor
Rental Sponsor
the cast
(in alphabetical order)
Matthew G. Brown (Michel/Head Waiter)
Drayton Entertainment: Sister Act. Other theatre: The Christmas Market (B-Current/Studio 180/Crows); Romeo and Juliet (Dream in High Park); Is God Is (Canadian Stage, Obsidian, Necessary Angel); Controlled Damage (Neptune, NAC); The Real McCoy (Blyth Festival); Appropriate (Associate Director, Coalmine); Intimate Apparel (Belfry); Billy Elliot, Little Shop of Horrors, To Kill a Mockingbird (Stratford Festival); I Think I Can (YPT, NAC); Jersey Boys (Dancap, Dodgers). Film/TV: Mother Father Sister Brother Frank (Highball TV); Fellow Travelers (Showtime); Pretty Hard Cases (CBC); The Kennedys (History Television); Hailstorm (CFC); Instant Star (CTV). Education: Randolph College, CFC Actors Conservatory. Social Media: IG, TikTok & BlueSky @ItsMrMGB.
Mark Crawford (Hector MacQueen) Drayton Entertainment: Frank/Wayne in Liars at a Funeral, Eugene Fodor in Crazy for You. Playwright of The Birds and the Bees and The New Canadian Curling Club. Other theatre: Ship to Shore (Port Stanley Festival Theatre); Ed’s Garage (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); A Christmas Story, The Musical (Theatre Aquarius); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mirvish); The Winter’s Tale (Groundling); Bed and Breakfast (Belfry, Arts Club, Globe, GCTC, Centaur, Blyth), and many more at theatres across the country. As one of Canada’s most popular playwrights, Mark’s work has been seen from coast to coast and internationally. www.markcrawfordplays.com.
Tracey Ferencz (Princess Dragomiroff)
Drayton Entertainment: Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, An Inspector Calls, Misery. Other theatre (selected): Room (Mirvish/ Grand Theatre); Hana’s Suitcase (YPT); Seeds (Blyth Festival); Afterplay (Campbell House); Becky’s New Car (ATP/Globe Theatre); Enchanted April (Theatre Calgary); The Overcoat (Canadian Stage/International Tour). Ten seasons with The Shaw Festival. Some favourite Shaw productions include: The Petrified Forest, Cavalcade, Mrs. Warren’s Profession. Film/TV (selected): Vought Rising (Sony); The Expanse (SyFy); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC); Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure (Disney); King (Showcase).
Rebecca Gibian (Greta Ohlsson) Drayton Entertainment: Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Misery (asst. dir. 2025), Halfway There (2024 and 2025), Perfect Wedding. Other theatre: Acting (selected): Kisses Deep (Centaur Theatre); Casey and Diana (Neptune Theatre); Dear Robert (VideoCabaret); Open House (Infinitheatre); Paradise Lost (Centaur Theatre); Dracula (Shaw Festival); Madness of George III (Shaw Festival.) Directing (selected): Seeker (Centaur Theatre); The Importance of Being Earnest (Repercussion Theatre); How to Survive in the Wild (Segal/Persephone Productions); The Flick (Centaur/ Persephone Productions); Pool No Water (Persephone Productions.) Rebecca is a graduate of the National Theatre School, associate artist at Centaur Theatre, and artistic director of Persephone Productions.
Bethany Jillard (Countess Andrenyi) Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Five seasons with the Stratford Festival - roles include Desdemona in Othello, Catherine in Henry V, Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, Lady Anne in Richard III and Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Harper in Angels in America (Berkeley Rep); Emily in Disgraced (Cincinnati Playhouse); Othello (ChicagoShakes); Cake and Dirt, How It Works (Tarragon); The Seagull, Gone with the Wind, After Miss Julie (RMTC); My Name Is Rachel Corrie (TheatrePANIK). Film/TV: Divorce (HBO); I Love you…(TMN); If I Were You (Paragraph); Bloodletting…(HBO); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC). Bethany moonlights as a rockstar with the band Notes from Underground. Their new single The Teapot and EP Rock, Pith & Brevity are available on all streaming platforms!
Claire Jullien (Helen Hubbard) Drayton Entertainment: Witness for the Prosecution. Other theatre: Over 40 productions and 26 seasons combined with the Shaw and Stratford Festivals. Most recently: The Long Weekend (Port Stanley Festival Theatre); The Importance of Being Earnest (The Grand Theatre); A Niagara Christmas Carol, Screwball Comedy (The Foster Festival). Film/TV: Murdoch Mysteries (CBC); Elizabeth Rex (Rhombus Media). Upcoming: Heist (Theatre Aquarius). All my love to Tom, Liam, Anwen, Kate, Nikki & Family.
Alexandra Krohn (Daisy Armstrong) Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Alexandra made her professional stage debut at the Stratford Festival as the Changeling Child in their 2026 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She’s thrilled to continue her artistic adventuring with Drayton! Many thanks to her dance teacher Breanna Willis (Stratford Dance Co), singing teacher Robert Markus and ukulele/guitar teacher Dayna Manning, for their expert training and unwavering support.
Patrick McManus (Hercule Poirot) Drayton Entertainment: Witness for the Prosecution. Recently: The Drawer Boy (Thousand Islands Playhouse, and available @playme podcast). Other theatre: Two Stratford Festival seasons, most recently Much Ado About Nothing (also Stratfest@home). Eleven Shaw Festival seasons including Pygmalion, Hedda Gabler, Uncle Vanya, Arcadia and An Octoroon; The Outdoor Donnellys (Blyth Festival); The Realistic Joneses (Tarragon Theatre). Also, many productions with the late Marti Maraden, during her Artistic Directorships at The National Arts Centre and The Stratford Festival. Patrick can be seen in the Niagara-filmed indie, Cow’s Come Home (Bell FibeOne), and he can be heard reading Michael Redhill’s The Trial of Katerfelto.
Tyrone Savage (Samuel Ratchett/Colonel Arbuthnot) Drayton Entertainment: Halfway There, A Few Good Men. Other theatre: The Long Weekend (Port Stanley/Foster Festival); The Wedding Party (Theatre Orangeville); Fifteen Dogs (Mirvish/Crow’s); Cymbeline, The Diviners (Stratford); 9 seasons at the Stratford Festival including; Love’s Labour’s Lost, Hamlet, Death and the King’s Horseman, Grand Magic, Richard II, School for Scandal, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet and The Grapes of Wrath. His work has taken him from theatres across the country from St. John’s to Vancouver, including roles at The Arts Club, The Mayfield Theatre and Neptune. Film/TV: Boston Blue, Law and Order, Reign, Hallmark, Wind at my Back. Voice: Caillou, Redwall, Assassin’s Creed, Immortals: Fenyx Rising. Tyrone is a proud dog dad and gardener and sends love to Marie and Pantufla!
Steven Sutcliffe (Monsieur Bouc) Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Elsewhere: Steven has performed in theatres across Canada, regionally in the US and on Broadway. Recent credits include Twelfth Night (Canadian Stage); The Bidding War (Crow’s); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mirvish). Thanks for coming to the theatre and supporting the live arts in Canada.
Maggie Walters (Mary Debenham) Drayton Entertainment: The Odd Couple. Other theatre: Company (Talk Is Free); The Merry Wives of Windsor, Twelfth Night, Trouble in Mind, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Taming of the Shrew (The Old Globe, San Diego); Mother Courage, Measure for Measure (Darlene Shiley Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (MyShakespeare); Broadway: Kristin Chenoweth: My Love Letter to Broadway (Richard Jay-Alexander Theatre). Training: Juilliard, University of San Diego. Thanks to all my pals and my fam for being the best a kid could ask for.
the creative team Mike Shara (Director) Drayton Entertainment: Director: Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, An Inspector Calls. Actor: American Son, A Few Good Men, The Rainmaker. Other theatre: 10 seasons at Stratford, 10 seasons at Shaw. Performances at the National Arts Centre, Vancouver Playhouse, Theatre Calgary, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Soulpepper, Theatre Aquarius, Canadian Stage, Tarragon, Citadel, Crow’s Theatre, and The Grand Theatre. Film/TV: Recurring roles on Orphan Black, Murdoch Mysteries, Astrid & Lilly Save the World, and Ride. Recent credits include: Trust Me, I’m A Doctor, Nesting, The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, All the Lost Ones. Gratitude to Alex and everyone at Drayton Entertainment for this opportunity. Love to Carla, Molly, and the rest of my family.
Brandon Kleiman (Set & Costume Designer)* Drayton Entertainment: Finding Neverland. Brandon is a set and costume designer based in Hamilton with work appearing on stages across Canada. He’s had the pleasure to design at The Stratford Festival, Drayton Entertainment, Mirvish Productions, Theatre Aquarius, The Grand Theatre, The Citadel Theatre, Musical Stage Co., Canadian Stage Co., The Globe Theatre, Young Peoples Theatre, Neptune Theatre, and countless other independent companies across the country. Brandon is a multiple Dora Award nominee and two-time winner, and he also won a Merritt Award for his work bringing Viola Desmond to life in the world premiere of Controlled Damage in Halifax. For more information and to see his portfolio, please visit www.brandonkleimandesign.com.
Mikael Kangas (Lighting Designer)* Drayton Entertainment: Dear Evan Hansen, Beehive – The ‘60s Musical, Naked Radio. Other theatre: Anything Goes, My Fair Lady, The Amen Corner, Damn Yankees, Trouble in Mind, Glass Menagerie, O’Flarety VC (Shaw Festival); Die Walküre (Edmonton Opera); Chris Mrs. (Boldy Productions); Wozzeck, Madama Butterfly, Nabucco, Fantasma (Canadian Opera Company); Just for One Day, In Dreams, & Juliet (Mirvish Productions, Associate Designer); White Christmas, Holiday Inn, Brigadoon (Shaw Festival, Associate Designer). Mikael is the Lighting & Projection Design Coordinator for the Canadian Opera Company, and is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada & United Scenic Artists. www.mikaelkangaslighting.com *Indicated designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.
Suzanne McArthur (Stage Manager) Drayton Entertainment: The Birds and the Bees, Aladdin: The Panto, Snow White: The Panto, Weekend Comedy, Perfect Wedding. Elsewhere: Suzanne has enjoyed 8 seasons with the Stratford Festival, 17 seasons with the Grand Theatre, 6 seasons with the Port Stanley Festival Theatre and has also worked for the NAC, the Blyth Festival, Mirvish Productions, Studio 180 Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times and Tarragon Theatre. Training: BA from Brock University. Et cetera: Suzanne lives in London with her children, Michael and Charlie.
Grace Batten (Assistant Stage Manager) Drayton Entertainment: Misery, Flight Risk, Grease, Crazy for You, An Inspector Calls, Steel Magnolias, The New Canadian Curling Club. Other theatre (selected): Beneath Springhill, Same Time, Next Year, The 39 Steps, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Never Not Once, Where You Are; three years as Entertainment Technician for Carnival Cruise Lines. Since graduating from the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Art, Grace has worked at venues across North America, from Banff to Belize, on land and at sea. When she isn’t working, she can usually be found knitting or playing with random dogs. @woolngrace.
Agatha Christie Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in English with another billion in foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and, in many languages, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is the author of 66 crime novels, 150 short stories, over 20 plays, and six novels written under the name Mary Westmacott. Her work includes Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and the genre-defining And Then There Were None. Agatha Christie’s first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was written towards the end of the First World War, in which she served in the VAD. In it she created Hercule Poirot, the little Belgian detective who was destined to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. It was published by Bodley Head in 1920. In 1926, after averaging a book a year, Agatha Christie wrote her first masterpiece. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was the first of her books to be published by Collins and marked the beginning of an author-publisher relationship that lasted for 50 years and well over 70 books. Ackroyd was also the first of Agatha Christie’s books to be dramatized – under the title Alibi – and to have a successful run in London’s West End. By 1930, Agatha had introduced a new character to act as detective. When she created Miss Marple, Agatha did not expect her to become Poirot’s rival, but with The Murder at the Vicarage, Miss Marple’s first full-length outing, it appeared she had produced another popular and enduring character. The Mousetrap, her most successful play of all, opened in 1952 and is the longest-running play in history. Agatha Christie was made a dame in 1971. She died in 1976. Agatha Christie Limited (ACL) has been managing the literary and media rights to Agatha Christie’s works around the world since 1955, working with the best talents in film, television, publishing, stage and on digital platforms to ensure that Christie’s work continues to reach new audiences in innovative ways and to the highest standard. The company is managed by Christie’s great grandson James Prichard. Visit www.agathachristie.com for more information.
Ken Ludwig Ken Ludwig may well be the most performed playwright of his generation. He has had six productions on Broadway and eight in London’s West End. His 34 plays and musicals are staged around the world and throughout the United States every night of the year. They have been produced in over 20 languages in more than 30 countries, and many have become standards of the American repertoire. His first play, Lend Me a Tenor, won two Tony Awards and was called “one of the classic comedies of the 20th century” by The Washington Post. Crazy For You was on Broadway for five years, on the West End for three, and won the Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Musical. It has been revived twice in London, most recently in 2023. His play Death on the Nile is currently on a 26-city tour of the UK and Ireland. In addition, he has won the Edwin Forrest Award for Contributions to the American Theatre, two Laurence Olivier Awards, two Helen Hayes Awards, the Charles MacArthur Award, and the Edgar Award for Best Mystery of the Year. He was also nominated for an Emmy Award for writing the 1990 Kennedy Center Honors. His other plays include Moon Over Buffalo; Leading Ladies; Baskerville; Sherwood; Twentieth Century; Dear Jack, Dear Louise; A Fox on the Fairway; A Comedy of Tenors; The Game’s Afoot and Shakespeare in Hollywood. They have starred, among others, Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Tony Shalhoub, Joan Collins, Kristen Bell and Henry Goodman. His book How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare, published by Penguin Random House, has been a bestseller and has recently been released in a new, expanded edition. It won the Falstaff Award for Best Shakespeare Book of the Year. He studied music with Leonard Bernstein at Harvard University. His essays on theatre are published in the Yale Review, and he gives the Annual Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship at the American College Theatre Festival. He holds a lifetime appointment to the Council of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-Upon-Avon. His first opera, Tenor Overboard, opened at the Glimmerglass Festival in 2022. His most recent world premieres were Moriarty and Lady Molly of Scotland Yard, and his newest plays and musicals include Pride and Prejudice Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley; Adults at Play; Beginner’s Luck with a score by George and Ira Gershwin; and Easter Parade with a score by Irving Berlin. He has been commissioned to write plays by the Agatha Christie Estate, the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Old Globe Theatre, and the Bristol Old Vic.
Join us on a fun-filled getaway and enjoy all the luxuries that Fern Resort has to offer: comfortable accommodation, great meals, first-rate service, and plenty of optional activities.
Package Includes • 3 nights in a cozy room with a fireplace. • Welcome Reception. • All Meals (Alcoholic beverages not included). • Optional activities inside and outdoors. • Drayton Entertainment Cabarets. • $275 tax receipt per person. • Comfortable motorcoach transportation with Great Canadian Coaches.
“It was our first time at the resort and we were very impressed. We’ll be back!” for more information visit draytonentertainment.com to book, Call Rob at 519-496-6770 or email rob@bullastravel.com
staff ADMINISTRATION
PRODUCTION
Founder & CEO Alex Mustakas Artistic Director David Connolly Executive Director Steven Karcher Producer Dave Horner Director of Finance Siobhan Lovejoy Director of Human Resources Natasha Hopf Director of Facilities Alan Card Director of Audience Services Ellen Berwick Director of Marketing Jackson McMillan Director of Development Elizabeth Dwyer
Production Manager Jenna Barry Production & Design Coordinator Jeff Johnston Collins Technical Directors Lyle Franklin Jeff Johnston Collins Austin Wilson Technical Director Assistant El D’Almada Production Administrator Caitlyn Hill Head of Electrics Lyle Franklin Head of Construction Rob Clarke Lead Carpenter Lindsey Woelfle Carpenters John Bigelow John Graham Junior Carpenter Ajae Whittaker House Technicians Richard McLeod Naomi Damasco
ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION Artistic Administrator Brenley Charkow Artistic Administrative Assistant Molly Tice FINANCE
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Accounting Clerk Joanne Labrecque
Head of Audio Allan McMillan Audio Assistants James Chapeskie Nicholas Wadel-Turcotte
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT Group, Events & Rentals Manager Karen De iuliis Marketing Manager Galen Johnson Graphic Designer Annissa Malthaner Marketing Associate Lia Tunstall Marketing & Development Intern Joshua Bakermann AUDIENCE SERVICES Facility Managers Ethan Bleskie Jason Dannock Ashley Legedza Cheryl Oudshoorn Audience Services Manager Gary Good Box Office Manager Laurie Castro Box Office Supervisor Paige Corriveau Box Office Attendants Abbey Brown Emily Castro Emma Foster Laura Kapp Fiona Lehmann Addyson Ignor Brianna Wing Ticket & Systems Specialist Tristan Sabourin
PROPS Head of Props Kat Theriault Senior Props Builder Madeline Samms Junior Props Builder Josiah Bosse Props Apprentice Daijah Clement-Day SCENIC PAINT Head Scenic Painter Tillie Morgan Senior Scenic Painters Kristen McCormick Candice Jeromkin Teresa Phillips WARDROBE Head of Wardrobe Jenine Kroeplin Assistant Head of Wardrobe Jessica Pembleton Wardrobe Supervisor Katka Hubacek Costume Assistant Amanda Kennedy Cutter Jennie Wonnacott
YOUTH ACADEMY General Manager Natasha Hopf Education & Outreach Manager Chad McNamara Marketing & Development Associate Esther Odukoya Jaedon Sayles Administrative Assistant Eliza Mills Front Desk Ambassadors Katie Neeb-Craig Abby Verberne HAMILTON FAMILY THEATRE CAMBRIDGE Facility Manager Jenna DeGraaf House Manager Gary Good House Technician Glenn Beckner Bartenders Alex Gagu Alyssa Gascho Brie Gascho Leigh Hynes Leslee Urquhart Box Office Staff Zoha Kan Jess Legati Ethan Marchand Kayden McKeown Sindy Wood Custodians Monique Bride/Domestic Bliss Lynda Johnston Parking Attendants Jason Harnack Levi DeGraaf FOR MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS Fly Operator Toofik Boulus Running Crew Glenn Beckner Katrina Kosa Head Dresser Amanda Kennedy Dresser Katie Jetter Stitchers Erin Babury Katie Jetter Amanda Kennedy Wardrobe Maintenance Amanda Kennedy Katie Jetter Wig Stylist Anne May Wig Assistant Lauren Rankin
Coming Soon to hamilton family theatre cambridge
Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez Book by Jennifer Lee Originally directed on Broadway by Michael Grandage Based on the Disney Film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee Originally Produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions
November 18 to December 27 draytonentertainment.com | 519-621-8000