Witness for the Prosecution Program by leestreettheatre

THE CAST LIST

Greta …....................................................... JESSIE DIETZEL

Carter .......... AARON ZIMMERMAN, RAQUEL ODEN (Swing)

Mr. Mayhew ......................................…. ANDREW MONROE

Leonard Vole .....................................… JOHN COLBY BRITT

Sir Wilfrid Robarts …........................................... ROD ODEN

Inspector Hearne …......................................... CHRIS ELLER

Romaine …........................................................... AMY HOPE

The Other Woman..................................... RAVEN MONROE

Justice Wainwright ................... SHAWN VAN WALLENDAEL

Mr. Myers, Q.C. .....…................................ STEVE SCHREUR

Dr. Wyatt ….................................................. BETH BENTLEY

Janet Mackenzie ......….............................. ALYCE SMINKEY

Thomas Clegg ..... KEVIN DIETZEL, EVAN MORENO (Swing)

Court Clerk …................................ LORI VAN WALLENDAEL

Court Usher..................................................... LUCAS ODEN

Jury Foreman …............................................... JOE BRANDT

Female Juror ............................................. TERESA BRANDT

Plain-Clothes Detective / Warder ….................. LESI JONAP

Court Stenographer….............................. KELLY SANDOVAL

SCENE LIST

ACT 1

The Chambers of Sir Wilfrid, Q.C.

ACT2

The Central Criminal Court, London. The Old Bailey. Six Weeks Later.

ACT3

Scene One: After Hours at The Central Criminal Court. Scene Two: Same. The Next Morning.

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Director......................................................... RAQUEL ODEN

Stage Manager.................................... KENZIE CLONINGER

Rehearsal Asst. Stage Manager..................... ASHA BROWN

Technical Director/ASM............................. KELLY SANDOVAL

Scenic Design .................................................... ROD ODEN

Costume Design ....................................... JACQUELYN LOY

Lighting Design ................................... WINTER HAMILTON*

Sound Design ...................................... CAMDEN TRIMMER*

First Hand..................................................... BETH BENTLEY

Set Construction ................. ROD ODEN, KELLY SANDOVAL, STEVE SCHREUR

Scenic Charge Artists.............................. KELLY SANDOVAL, AARON ZIMMERMAN

Set Painting............ KENZIE CLONINGER, JESSIE DIETZEL, SHERMAN DISTIN, SARAH DEUTSCH, JESSICA JAX, LESI JONAP, GARRETT JENNINGS, LINDSEY LITKA-MONTES, STEVE SCHREUR

Costume Special Thanks ............... ALICE BARSONY, SANDRA LOY, CATAWBA COLLEGE, JULIA ROCKWELL* * - Denotes a current Catawba College Theatre Arts Student

TOTAL RUN TIME: 2 Hours 30 Minutes

Act 1 - 40-Minutes

10-Minute Transition/Intermission

Act 2 - One-Hour

15-Minute Intermission

Act 3 - 35-Minutes

Please note: Videotaping or recording of any kind is strictly prohibited by law. The production uses atmospheric haze and includes mild violence.

“Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

THE PLAYERS

JESSIE DIETZEL (Greta) is thrilled to be in their first production at Lee Street theatre! Growing up in Alaska, Jessie has several acting credits, some of their favorites including “Chrissy” in Hair, “Audrey” in little shop or Horrors and “Bert” in Landscape of the body. They have also directed several shows in Southern Pines, NC. You can catch them again quite soon in another production at Lee Street! Jessie wishes to thank her very patient family and the Lee Street team for taking a chance on this new face!

AARON ZIMMERMAN (Carter) Aaron is happy to join the cast and production team of Witness for the Prosecution. This is the second time Aaron has performed in an Agatha Christie show, previously portraying Major Metcalf in The Mousetrap here at Lee Street. Other Lee Street credits include the Bellhop in Lend Me A Tenor, swing/ Gary in I Hate Hamlet and recently played Leartes in The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon. He has performed with the Davidson Community Players, Fort Mill Community Playhouse, Free Reign Theatre, Union County Playmakers and the Living Room Reading Series.

ANDREW MONROE (Mr. Mayhew) Andrew is an Acto-tron 9000 model LBM87 from the Monroe Friendly Robotics & Space Sprockets corporation. Originally designed purely for physical roles such as “BRUTE NO 1” or “RANDOM STREET TOUGH”, a slight anomaly in the source code of the LBM87 makes it unusually adept at a wider range of character archetypes, from laid back sage elder (“THE HOT WING KING”), to devoted friend and lawyer (“JEKYLL & HYDE: THE MUSICAL”), and even charismatic crime boss (“SISTER ACT”). Andrew has been on loan to Lee St since 2023. ***WARNING: THE LBM87 IS DESIGNED FOR SIMULATED STAGE COMBAT. DO NOT MAKE ANY SUDDEN MOVEMENTS AROUND THE LBM87 WHILE IT IS IN STAGE MODE, AS IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO MISTAKE THIS FOR HOSTILITY AND ENGAGE IN SIMULATED SELF DEFENSE. ALSO REFRAIN FROM FEEDING THE LBM87 AFTER MIDNIGHT AS IT IS ON A STRICT TIME RESTRICTED DIET.***

THE PLAYERS

JOHN COLBY BRITT (Leonard Vole) After an 11 year break in acting he is ecstatic to be making his 8th appearance at Lee Street Theatre. Lee Street Credits include Vince Lombardi in LOMBARDI, Giles Ralston in THE MOUSETRAP, General Lord Glossop in JEKYLL AND HYDE, and most recently as Ben Hecht in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS. John is from Hendersonville, NC where he spent alot of his youth at Flat Rock Playhouse in various shows such as Baltus Van Tassel in THE LEGAND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, Mr. Darling in PETER PAN, and James in THE ORPHAN TRAIN. He is ecstatic to be back doing what he TRULY LOVES! ACTING!

ROD ODEN (Sir Wilfred Robarts) is grateful to be able to return to the Lee Street stage is this thrilling Agatha Christie. Rod was last seen as the ghost of John Barrymore in “I Hate Hamlet.” Other performances at Lee Street include Lombardi, And Then There Were None, Clue, and Deathtrap. Rod is also thankful to be the Executive Artistic Director of Lee Street theatre. Rod wishes to send his love and appreciation to his children, Ariel, Isabelle, Tristan, Lucas, James and Sylar; and especially is thankful for the opportunity to work alongside and the support of his wife, Raquel. Thanks for being my everything, Rocky!

CHRIS ELLER (Inspector Hearne) is thrilled to have yet another opportunity to perform on the Lee Street stage so quickly after having just recently performed as Ernie Cusack in Neil Simon’s “Rumors” this past January. Chris loves Lee Street Theatre, and has more than 10 years’ history acting, directing, and stage managing shows in this magical place. He’s grateful for the privilege to work with such a dynamic cast and talented crew, and hopes you will enjoy the show!

AMY HOPE (Romaine) Amy began acting at age 3 and spent most of her life performing on stages throughout Charlotte. She moved to Salisbury in 2017. Lee Street audiences may remember her as Diana in Lend Me a Tenor, Felecia in I Hate Hamlet or Fannie in Sense and Sensibility. Some of her favorite past shows include, A Midsummer Nights Dream (Actors Gym),MacBeth ( Classics Theatre of Charlotte), Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Carolina),Dog Sees God (ATC), Imitation of Life (AACT),Dracula (CPCC), The Crucible (Theatre Charlotte) and as The Woman in The Turn of The Screw (Actors Scene Unseen) for which she proudly won a Metrolina Theatre Award in 2009. She

THE PLAYERS

would like to thank her dad for being such an inspiration in her life, her sister Julie for running lines with her everyday and always being her biggest cheerleader. Above all she gives thanks to the love of her life, her husband Dustin, for his unwavering love and support and to their precious son Noah for blessing her with her favorite role of all, his mommy. Amy dedicates this performance in honor of her late mom. “Without the endless encouragement and unwavering support (of her little girls deeply rooted passion) I wouldn’t be here on this stage tonight doing what I love most. I hope you all enjoy the show”!

SHAWN VAN WALLENDAEL (Mr. Justice

Wainwright)

Delighted to be part of this talented cast. It’s been over a year since I played Abraham Van Helsing in Dracula. Most recent stage performance was in OCT’s living room series reading stage performance of Little Foxes as the reprehensible Oscar January of this year. Happily on stage with my lovely wife Lori and this time I’m not trying to kill her at the end of the play.

STEVE SCHREUR (Mr. Myers Q.C.) is delighted to be working with Lee Street Community Theatre again. He grew up in Texas and was active in music and theatre in high school and college. After a long sabbatical in the real world he made multiple appearances in North Texas in the 2010’s, and more recently has worked with Theatre Charlotte, Davidson Community Players, and The Green Room Theatre. He continues to work toward his lifelong goal of becoming a crazy old man.

BETH BENTLEY (Dr. Wyatt) Beth has enjoyed volunteering at Lee St Theatre for eight years, on and off the stage. She currently sits as a member of the LST Board, and a season partner. She has a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters in Information Science, from UNC-Greensboro. She currently enjoys working as the Costume Shop Manager at Catawba, and a Reference Librarian at the Rowan Public Library. Her previous roles have been: Veta Simmons in Harvey, Mrs Soames in Our Town, Mrs Gloop in Willy Wonka Jr, Mrs White in Clue, multiple voices in the livestream of Vintage Hitchcock and Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Margaret Pomerance in 9 to 5, Myra Bruhl in Deathtrap, LucyGale in The Shiloh Rules, and multiple roles in Shipwrecked!: An Entertainment, the Adventures of Louis de Rougemont. She wishes to thank her family for their loving support, and her mother, Teri Steelman, for her love of Agatha Christie.

THE PLAYERS

ALYCE SMINKEY (Janet Mackenzie) Alyce is excited to be performing for the first time at Lee Street Theater. Previous regional productions include Exit Laughing, On Golden Pond, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Dixie Swim Club, and Miracle on 34th Street at Davidson Community Players, as well as Motherhood Out Loud at Three Bone Theater in Charlotte. A native New Yorker, Alyce has also performed in numerous regional productions on Long Island, Staten Island, several OffOff Broadway productions in Manhattan, and in the show Secrets with her husband Tom, performed Off-Broadway. Thanks to God and family!

KEVIN DIETZEL (Mr. Thomas Clegg) is very excited to make his debut on the Lee Street stage with this production. Last seen on-stage in Southern Pines as General McKenzie in And Then There Were None, these days you can find him down the street working behind the scenes as Managing Director of Piedmont Players Theatre.

RAVEN MONROE (The Other Woman) is an actor and playwright from Charlotte, NC. She is happy to be back at Lee Street Theatre! Raven is a graduate of UNC Charlotte (BA 2016) and New York University (MFA 2019). She has performed in shows such as Godspell and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Matthews Playhouse), Legally Blonde (Lee Street Theatre), Ragtime and recently Diana: The Musical (Queen City Concerts), among others. After Witness for the Prosecution, she will be back at Lee Street Theatre again, joining the cast of Disenchanted. When she isn’t performing, she teaches theater and performing arts at both UNC Charlotte and at Lanti Performing Arts in Indian Trail.

LUCAS ODEN (Court Usher) Lucas is excited to be returning to the Lee Street Theatre’s main stage series. He was recently seen as Young Scrooge in the Scrooge’s Christmas Trolley Tour. He has also been seen in LST’s Spotlight series in She Kills Monsters as Steve. Some of his favorite roles include Maurice in the Beauty and the Beast, and Tim in Blood Done Sign My Name. He also performed at the Norvell as Rico in Madagascar and for many years you could see him as the Know it All Boy in the Polar Express in Spencer. He would like to say thank you to his family for always supporting him in theatre.

THE PLAYERS

LORI VAN WALLENDAEL (Court Clerk) is thrilled to finally be acting in an Agatha Christie play, having been a mystery enthusiast all her life. Lori has been active in area theaters for over 30 years. She was most recently seen as Clarice in Lee Street Lab’s November, Harriet in Fire/Pit Theatre’s production of POTUS and as Heidi in Lee Street Lab’s What the Constitution Means to Me. Other favorite roles include Evelyn Ashford in Wit and Helga Ten Dorp in Deathtrap at Lee Street Theatre, Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love, Mabel Cantwell in The Best Man, Clelia in The Nerd, and the title role in Lysistrata. Lori has also been a member of the readers theater troupe The Phoenix Readers since 2017. By day, she is a soon-to-be-retired Associate Professor of Psychological Science at UNC Charlotte, wife to Shawn, mother to Heather and Courtney, and grandmother to Emilia.

JOSEPH BRANDT (Jury Foreman) Joe is retired but currently works part time at Enterprise Car Rental in Salisbury. He grew up in Uniondale, NY and served in the United States Air Force. Joe is married to his lovely wife and fellow actor, Theresa Brandt. He got his start in acting with Piedmont Players Theatre (2012) with roles in “You Can’t Take It With you” as the lead G-Man, “Look Homeward Angel” as Mr. Farrell (dance instructor), Juror #9 in “12 Angry Jurors”, and Second UPS man and other various duties behind the scenes in “Nana’s Naughty Knickers. His other roles included a traveler in “Trip to Bountiful”, Grandpa George in “Willy Wonka Jr”, and Sir John Middleton in “Sense and Sensibility” at Lee Street Theatre. He also worked with Laugh Tracks in various roles at the Old Blackbox Theatre. Joe is truly excited to be back on stage performing in another courthouse drama “Witness for the Prosecution” with an awesome cast and crew and, of course, his beautiful wife, Theresa!

TERESA BRANDT (Juror) Theresa, a remote triage nurse, has been part of the Salisbury theatre community for many years, beginning with PPT as Mrs. Graves in “Enchanted April” and, most recently, Mrs. Merkel in “Bye Bye Birdie.” Also with PPT, she’s played Mrs. Grose in “The Innocents”, Juror #7 in “Twelve Angry Jurors,” as well as others. With Lee Street Theatre, she’s been Mrs. Reynolds in “Pride and Prejudice,” Mrs. Jennings in “Sense and Sensibility” and others. Along the way, she’s also been costume designer for many shows, sometimes doing both in one show! Theresa often shares the stage with her wonderful husband, Joe Brandt, for whom she is forever grateful for his support and encouragement. Many thanks to Raquel for the chance to “play in the sandbox with the other kids” again.

THE PLAYERS

LESI JONAP (Plain-Clothes Detective/Warder) Lesi is thrilled to be part of another Agatha Christie show at Lee Street. Lesi has been performing in community theater in Florida and North Carolina for over 20 years. Favorite roles include Mom in A Nice Family Gathering, Sonia in Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike, and Miss Casewell in The Mousetrap. Thank you to Raquel and the cast and crew!

BEHIND THE SCENES

RAQUEL ODEN (Director) has been involved in all facets of theater for over 25 years. She most recently directed Lee Street Theater’s production of Silent Sky. She is extremely excited to dive into the world of Agatha Christie with this courtroom thriller. Her passion is supporting other female artists and she especially enjoys directing plays written by female playwrights, with strong female characters. She would like to thank her Lee Street theater family for all their love and support and for being such a pillar in the arts community. She is proud to be able to call LST her home away from home. And a special shout out to her amazing husband, Rod for being her rock in all things.

KENZIE CLONINGER (Stage Manager) Kenzie is so glad to be back at Lee Street running another show full of friends doing silly accents. You might have seen her onstage as Bernadette in Lee Street’s production of POTUS, but you may have also seen her featured as the booth gargoyle in Rumors, Lizzie, She Kills Monsters, Moonlight and Magnolias, and many other productions. Kenzie would like to thank Rod, Raquel, Kelly, Winter, Jacquelyn, the cast, crew, and the entire Lee Street gang for their hard work and dedication. Enjoy the show!

JACQUELYN LOY (Costume Designer) is a free-lance Costume Designer and Technician whose work has premiered on stages across the country, including Florida Repertory Theatre (FL), Sewanee- University of the South and Cumberland County Playhouse (TN), Bigfork Summer Playhouse (MT), Utah Festival Opera (UT), GSU Players (GA), Hope Summer Repertory Theatre (MI), Mississippi Opera (MS), Castleton Festival Opera (VA), Disney Parks (international); as well as IATSE Local 574, Piedmont Opera, and Lee Street Theatre (NC). Select Design Credits: Lizzie, Silent Sky, The Mousetrap, Dracula (Lee Street); A Doll’s House Part Two, Matilda, Hay Fever, Refugee (world premier), and Heathers (Florida Rep); Murder On the Orient Express, Peter Pan jr., Scrooge, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Little House On the Prairie (Cumberland); Mamma Mia, Sister Act, and The Drowsy Chaperone (Bigfork); Sense and Sensibility, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Turning 15 On the Road to Freedom (a new musical) (WFU). Awards: KC-ACTF Region IV- First Place Awards for Theatrical Design Excellence in Costume Design for The Matchmaker (2017; produced at USM) and Violet (2016; produced at USM), KC-ACTF Region IV- First Place in Technical Design for her millinery work (2016), SETC- Marian A. Smith Graduate Costume Scholarship (2014), Jasika Pruett’s Kickstart Your Art Scholarship (2014). Education: University of Southern Mississippi (MFA) and Catawba College (BA).

BEHIND THE SCENES

WINTER HAMILTON (Lighting Design) is a theatre student at Catawba College who has a passion for all things theatre. At Catawba College she has served as the Assistant lighting designer for three different productions including The Cake, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and Avenue Q. Last summer she even got the wonderful opportunity to be an Entertainment Tech Intern at Walt Disney World. She is so excited for her first design experience at Lee Street Theatre! Lee Street Theatre is like a home away from home to Winter. She has appeared many times performing on the Lee Street stage and has spent free time volunteering to work on sets and help with hangs. Whether it be acting, designing, directing or helping out backstage you can always find her in a theatre! Enjoy the show!

CAMDEN TRIMMER (Sound Design) (he/him) is enthusiastically animated to be designing here at Lee Street again, and thanks you for coming to see the show! Camden is a senior at Catawba College, preparing for the terrifying reality of the real world (GASP!) by majoring in Theatre Arts Administration and Directing. He has recently been unseen as Sound Designer of The Holiday Channel… and Sound/Projection Operator of Lizzie here at Lee Street Theatre, as well as Director and Sound Designer of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Alabaster at Catawba College. He hopes you all have a tremendously fun time at the show!

LEE STREET STAFF

ROD ODEN (Executive Artistic Director) 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 of venue. 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.

KELLY SANDOVAL (Technical Director) Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Kelly has called North Carolina home for several years and now serves as Lee Street theatre’s technical director. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Catawba College and a MFA in Theatre Design from UNC Greensboro. She’s previously designed lighting for Lee Street’s productions of Legally Blonde, Little Shop of Horrors, and served as an intern on Deathtrap.