september 17-19, 2026 at 7:30pm
LEE STREET LAB
THE CAST LIST
Mary Girard ……................................... Lindsey Litka-Montes Fury #1/Warder ….......................................... Matthew Ensley Fury #2/Mrs. Lum …....................................... Ashley Pearson Fury #3/Polly …................................................ Sarah Deutsch Fury #4/Mr Phillips ............................................. Evan Moreno Fury #5/Mrs. Hatcher …............................... Christie Lee Wolf Stephen Girard …..............................................… Pedro Lugo
THE PRODUCTION TEAM Director/Production Designer.................................. Rod Oden Sound Designer …............................................ Matty Montes Costume Designer .......................................... Sarah Deutsch
TOTAL RUN TIME: 1 Hour no Intermission
AUDIENCE ADVISORY The Insanity of Mary Girard explores mature and potentially distressing subject matter, including involuntary institutionalization, historical treatment of mental illness, psychological abuse, misogyny, pregnancy, marital conflict, and emotional distress. The production contains intense psychological themes and moments that may be unsettling for some audience members. Recommended for mature audiences.
Videotaping or recording of any kind is strictly prohibited by law. “The Insanity of Mary Girard” Is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
A NOTE ON THE HISTORY The Insanity of Mary Girard is rooted in the life of a real woman whose story survives largely through records written about her rather than by her. Mary Lum Girard, wife of Philadelphia merchant and financier Stephen Girard, was admitted to Pennsylvania Hospital in 1790 and remained there until her death in 1815—approximately twenty-five years. While institutionalized, Mary gave birth to a daughter, also named Mary, who died in infancy. Her life unfolded during a period when understandings of mental illness were primitive, women possessed limited legal and social independence within marriage, and medical treatment could involve confinement, restraint, bleeding, purging, and other practices that today seem deeply troubling. Lanie Robertson’s play draws upon these historical circumstances but does not function as documentary history. The Furies, Mary’s conversations, the precise circumstances surrounding her pregnancy, and portions of the medical treatment presented onstage are theatrical constructions. Historical figures and practices are sometimes compressed or repositioned in time to create Mary’s psychological world. That distinction is important. History can tell us that Mary Girard was confined. It can tell us where she lived, when she gave birth, and when she died. What the surviving record cannot fully tell us is what Mary thought, feared, remembered, or understood during those years. Robertson places that missing voice at the center. The historical importance of The Insanity of Mary Girard therefore lies not only in the events it depicts, but in the question it asks: Who gets to define another person as sane, respectable, disobedient, difficult—or disposable? More than two centuries later, Mary Girard’s story asks us to consider the distance between medical treatment and control, between historical record and human experience, and between the lives history preserves and the voices it leaves behind.
ABOUT LAB SHOWS Lee Street LAB shows create space for bold, intimate theatre that deserves to be seen. These productions shine a light on compelling stories, challenging ideas, and unique theatrical experiences that may live outside the traditional Main Stage season. With an emphasis on artistic exploration, meaningful storytelling, and opportunities for local artists, LAB allows Lee Street Theatre to take creative risks, amplify important voices, and invite audiences to experience theatre in a more immediate and thought-provoking way. The Insanity of Mary Girard embodies that mission — a haunting, intimate work that asks us to look closer, listen harder, and consider whose voices history has chosen to silence.
THE PLAYERS LINDSEY LITKA-MONTES (Mary Girard) Lindsey Litka-Montes is excited to join the cast of The Insanity of Mary Girard for a mind bending journey! While this is her first Lee Street Lab show, she has been seen in main stage shows like Lizzie the Hard Rock Musical (Lizzie), Jekyll and Hyde (Lucy), and many others! She’d like to thank her DDLM family for their support and Rod Oden for believing that she could tackle such a physical and emotional challenge. MATTHEW ENSLEY (Fury #1/Warder) Matthew is so grateful to be able to return to the Lee St lab with this incredibly gifted group of people. He was most recently seen as Nick in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Other past credits include Friar Laurence in Romeo & Juliet, Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, and Frederick in Young Frankenstein: The Musical. He would like to thank you for coming to support live and local theatre, we couldn’t do this without you. ASHLEY PEARSON (Fury #2/Mrs. Lum) Ashley Pearson (she/her) is a proud Latina actor/singer/director originally from Maryland now based in Winston-Salem. She is the Theatre Director at Salem Academy and College as well as the Artistic Director of Camel City Playhouse! Selected previous acting credits include Lee Street Theatre: The Play That Goes Wrong (Annie), Noises Off (Belinda); Little Theatre of Winston-Salem: The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Edwin Drood), Into the Woods (the Witch); Kernersville Little Theatre: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Sibella), Shrek (Fiona), High Point Community Theatre: Cabaret (Sally Bowles), The Addams Family (Morticia); Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance: Damn Yankees (Lola), POTUS (Stephanie). Thanks to all who support the arts! SARAH DEUTSCH (Fury #3/Polly) is excited to join the cast of The Insanity of Mary Girard. Recent credits include EVITA (DCP), Cher Show (QC Concerts), and The Crucible (Lee Street). She would like to thank her DDLM family for always seeing the vision, and the audience for supporting live theatre.
THE PLAYERS EVAN MORENO (Fury #4/Mr Phillips) Evan is proud to join this talented cast of people in his first Lee Street Lab show. He has been seen in many programs for his work on and off stage at Lee Street, Piedmont Players, and his Alma Matter Catawba College. Enjoy the show!
CHRISTIE LEE WOLF (Fury #5/Mrs. Hatcher) is excited once again to return to the Lee Street stage. Featured area credits include: Lee Street TheatreYoung Frankenstein (Elizabeth Benning), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Miss Mona), Jekyll and Hyde (Emma), QC Concerts- Everybody’s Talking About Jamie(Miss Hedge), Davidson Community PlayersLegally Blonde (Vivienne Kensington), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), Comedy of Tenors (Mimi), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Mother), Boeing Boeing (Gloria Hawkins), Warehouse PAC- Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice), and CPCC- Bridges of Madison County (Marian). In her non theatre life, Christie spends her free time torturing her husband and pets with improv song and dance numbers. Thank you to the cast and crew for this wild ride. PEDRO LUGO (Stephen Girard) Pedro G. Lugo, hailing from Puerto Rico, spent his formative years in a dynamic environment, relocating between Massachusetts, Connecticut, and his homeland. Embarking on a journey of adventure, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at the tender age of 17, granting him the privilege of exploring diverse corners of the globe. Subsequently, Pedro transitioned to a fulfilling career with te Department of Justice, ultimately retiring in 2019. Remarkably, his second marriage coincided with his official retirement date, symbolizing the closure of one life chapter and the dawn of another. Pedro is a devoted father with two grown children from his first marriage, namely Ariana, aged 34, and Gabriel, 27. In addition to his biological offspring, he warmly embraces his three step-children: Melanie, 18; Milena, 15; and Kratos, 13. Pedro’s foray into the world of modeling commenced in 1997, but his passion for acting was ignited during his middle school years, where he took part in theatrical productions. This love for the stage endured through high school and beyond, flourishing as he took on teaching and coaching roles. Witnessing his students undergo transformative journeys, evolving from shyness and insecurity toconfidence and extroversion, is a source of immense satisfaction for him. Today he continues to chase his passions while working on commercials and films. @pedroglugo
BEHIND THE SCENES SARAH DEUTSCH (Costume Designer) Sarah Deutsch is a local seamstress and costume designer and is happy to design for Lee St again! Her design process is documented on her instagram/tiktok @sarahdeutsch. designs. Recent costume work includes CHER SHOW (QC Concerts), GREAT COMET (Children’s Theatre of Charlotte), JAGGED LITTLE PILL and RENT (Lee St Theatre). She would like to thank her assistant Lindsey for being her biggest supporter in every artistic endeavor and her DDLM family for always seeing the vision. She hopes the costumes help bring the story to life! MATTY MONTES (Sound Designer) Matty Montes is thrilled to return to Lee Street Theatre as sound designer and live musician for The Insanity of Mary Girard. An actor, singer, musician, producer, fight choreographer, and designer, Matty is also the lead designer at Lowlight Stage (@lowlight.stage), his marketing and production company. He is a two-time MTA nominee, including Best Actor in a Musical for Jekyll & Hyde at Lee Street Theatre, as well as recognition for his music direction of Lizzie: The Hard Rock Musical. As always, Matty is grateful to his DDLM family, Rod, and Lee Street Theatre for continuing to champion interesting, challenging work that doesn’t often get produced. ROD ODEN (Executive Artistic Director/Production Designer) Whether for the audiences on a professional stage or instructing at educational institutions and professional workshops, Rod Oden is proud to have over 25 years experience directing and designing in a variety of venues, genres and audiences. Rod has directed on stages from Los Angeles to New Orleans, and in virtually every type ofvenue. He enjoys working alongside community members, volunteers and students to help grow and create professional experiences in the theatre. Recent credits include In the Heights, Lombardi, Jekyll and Hyde the Musical, Legally Blonde the Musical, Tick, Tick, Boom!, Wit, The Play That Goes Wrong (NC Premiere), CLUE, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, and How I learned to Drive. He has worked with countless community theaters, educational organizations and professional troupes to produce quality, high-end productions audiences have enjoyed watching. Rod is blessed and thankful for his beautiful wife Raquel and his four precious boys Tristan, Lucas, Jamie and Sylar. He also enjoys spending time with his two lovely daughters Ariel and Isabelle.
HICKORY COMMUNITY THEATRE PRESENTS
OCT 16 - 31, 2026
INFO & TIX 828.328.2283 or hickorytheatre.org