Artistic & Management Team
Director: Paul Gatrell
Assistant Director: Nora Jones*
Producer: Brent Maddox
Stage Manager
Grace Klimczyk
Technical Director
Assistant Stage Manager
Nicolette Manrique
Jerry Stratton Set Design
Lighting Design
Em Mills*
Costume Design
Zach Alderdice
Properties Design
Jules Robinson
Lighting Programmer
Charlotte Francis*
Caroline Million Dramaturg
Logyn Molloy
Assistant Properties Design
Conner Boggs
Intimacy Choreography
Ellie Anderson
*indicates member of APO, National Theatre Honor Society
Cast
William Gillette................................................................................Michael Shelley
Martha Gillette.....................................................................................Jane Duncan
Felix Geisel....................................................................................................Eli Bell
Madge Geisel..........................................................................................Ally Anglim
Simon Bright...................................................................................Zebee Carnahan
Aggie Wheeler.....................................................................................Molly Barbery
Inspector Goring...........................................................................Catherine Moore*
Daria Chase.........................................................................................Logan Applin
Swings/Understudies: Paige Hardy, Ellie Anderson, Danny Mantel, & Xander Kline
*indicates member of APO, National Theatre Honor Society
Production Run Crew
Artwork & Publicity Materials......................................................Maddi Patoto
House & Box Coordinator.......................................................Erin Grace Bailey
Box Office Manager...........................................................................Alix Brown
Assistant Box Office Manager.......................................................Jack Johnson*
House Manager.......................................................................Savannah Raeder*
Assistant House Manager............................................................Laura Walker*
Costume Shop Manager...............................................................Jessica Mueller
Cutter/Draper.............................................................................Teacora Sherrill
Wardrobe Supervisor....................................................................Maddi Patoto
Wardrobe Crew....................................................................................Zoe Zink
Summer Clark Molly Ryan
Folley Artists...............................................................................
Michelle Easler
Rae Eppard
Emily Aeschbach
Light Board Op...........................................................................Ava Armstrong
Sound Board Op...........................................................................Lauren Brown
Run Crew....................................................................................Maxwell Collins
Peyton Green
Sarah Memmo
Katie Williams
*indicates member of APO, National Theatre Honor Society
Production Staff
Technical Crew
Ashley Angerman Joshua Becker Genesis Biondi* Ashlynn Boyle
Melody Brooke Myers Jillian Barman Ariel Carter Brielle Cohen
Sophie Eastone Tucker Eskew Ellie Ferrara Grace Fields
Michael Guiltier Amy Halloran Claire Hickey Gentry Anne Hollis
Brennan Huepenbecker Sadie Jensen* Whitney Johnson Claire Krischenman
Xander Kline Hope Kobus Ava Kolker Zachary Ligasan
Maurliea Long Ki’Ara Lynch Ella Markwald Josiah Martinez
Riley McConnell Finn McGinnis Tessa Melton* Eva Milligan
Eli Moore Vhian Murphy Kuzey Palmer Mia Phillips
Victoria Pregent Olivia Reeder Mia Ridling Maizy Rioux
Jacobi Robinson Graham Russell Marie Sheets Adelaide Siegers
Carter Stammel Patricia Weispfennig Johanna Wells Caleb Young
Costume Crew
Genevive Bevell Kalyn Dickey* Jack Freedman Mari Hannah
Keira Maupin* Emily Miller Molly Ryan* Zoe Snell
Lindsay Weidenfeller* Carolina Wood
*indicates member of APO, National Theatre Honor Society
Director’s Note
Thank you all for Attend Belmont University’s production of Ken Ludwig’s “The Game’s Afoot”. Mysteries are as old as mankind and our love for a good mystery just as old Novels, Television, Movies, and now, Podcasts are rampant with a good murder mystery and the unique people who investigate and solve these murders. We are drawn to the thrill and the macabre. We revel in both the fictious and the real, excited to solve the mystery along with the encyclopedic detective, the hard-bitten inspector, the precocious teenage, and the down-to-earth amateur detective We live vicariously through the investigation and the investigators. We even sometimes identify with either the victim or the killer. (You know it’s true)
Ken Ludwig writes in his introduction to “The Game’s Afoot” the following lessons he learned from his foray into Murder mysteries. (The Game’s Afoot Introduction, October 2012)
1 Great mysteries are plotted meticulously
2. Mystery plots are relentlessly linear even with the occasional Red Herring.
3. The great mysteries, almost magically, have resonances to other, deeper layers of meaning.
4 Mysteries, by their very nature, have reoccurring themes These usually include questions about death, about justice, and about appearances versus reality.
5. What we are really seeking when we look for answers in a mystery is a sense of order. “Order from Chaos”
“The Game’s Afoot” is an excellent example of these lessons with a bit of broad comedy add to the mix.
William Gillette was a real person who created the first successful Sherlock Holmes stage play in consultation with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. William Gillette portrayed the venerable role of Sherlock Holmes for a total of 1300 performances over thirty years in New York and London. He indeed built a castle with his royalties on the Connecticut River This production is in honor of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, William Gillette, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and all the lovers of a good mystery. Please enjoy a good-old-fashioned Murder.
SPECIAL THANKS
DR. STEPHEN EAVES
DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS
FRIENDS OF THE ARTS AT BELMONT
ARTISTIC & MANAGEMENT TEAM
ZACH ALDERDICE (Costume Designer) Credits include: Director, No Exit, Looking-glass House, Sunday in the Park with George (Belmont University); Assistant Director, Legally Blonde, Hello, Dolly!, Lucky Stiff, Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods (Belmont University); Assistant Stage Manager and Script Coordinator, A Doll’s House (Belmont University); Costume Designer, Love Letters (Belmont University); The Man With The Red Eyes, A Wrinkle in Time (Belmont University). Zach is a senior and will graduate in May with their BFA in Directing.
ELLIE ANDERSON (Intimacy Choreography)
CONNER BOGGS (Asst Properties Design): Design credits include Asst Costume Designer, Blue Stockings, Properties Designer, RepCo (Belmont University); Costume Designer, The Color Purple, A Christmas Carol, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Addams Family (DeSoto Central High School); Lighting Design, The SpongeBob Musical, Alice in Wonderland (The Warehouse Theatre). Conner is a sophomore pursuing his BFA in Theatre Education.
CHARLOTTE FRANCIS (Lighting Programmer)
PAUL GATRELL (Director) Paul Gatrell is a Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Belmont University with his MFA in Design and Technology from the University of Georgia. Paul has been an educator for 23 years at Belmont University. Paul is a professional set and lighting designer and his most recent design work includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, A Twelfth Night, Hamlet, and Richard III for The Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Heavy, When We Were Young and Unafraid, Tiny, Beautiful Things, Kodachrome, and Citizen for Actor’s Bridge Ensemble, Doubt for The Christian Leadership Conference, The Story Builders for Theatre Craft, The Flick, The Nina Variations, and End Days for Verge Theatre, and Betrayal for the Tennessee Repertory Theatre. Paul has designed 64 productions for Belmont’s Theatre and Dance program including Tom Jones, Blue Stockings, Silent Sky, The Merry Widow, The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter and the Starcatcher, Argonautika, Three Sisters, Rumors, Peter Pan, and Almost Maine Paul has directed recent productions including The Things I Know to be True at Actors Bridge Ensemble and These Shining Lives and The Diviners for Belmont University Paul was one of the first recipients of the Nashville First Night Award for his contributions to Nashville Theatre. He has been awarded the Best Faculty Design by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for his set design for the original production of Alice.
NORA JONES (Assistant Director)
GRACE KLIMCZYK (Stage Manager): Credits include: Run Crew, The Play That Goes Wrong (Belmont University); Asst Stage Manager, Blue Stockings (Belmont University); Stage Manager, Pippin (Curtains Up). Grace is a sophomore pursuing her BFA in Theatre Directing.
NICOLETTE MANRIQUE (Assistant Stage Manager)
ARTISTIC & MANAGEMENT TEAM
CAROLINE MILLION (Properties Design): Select credits include: Properties Designer, Blue Stockings, A Wrinkle in Time (Belmont University); Costume Designer, Silent Sky, A Doll’s House (Belmont University), James and the Giant Peach (Millbrook Playhouse); Wardrobe Supervisor, The Play that Goes Wrong (PCPA); Lighting Designer, Lucky Stiff (Belmont University). Caroline will be graduating in May with a BFA in Theatre Production Design. EM MILLS (Lighting Design): Credits include: Lighting Design, The Aviator, Senior New Voices Festival (Belmont University); Stage Management, Precious Metals: Beauty in Brokenness (Good Light Productions) Performance Credits include: Valet, No Exit (Belmont University), Much Ado About Nothing (Nashville Shakespeare Festival) Em will be graduating in May with a BFA in Theatre Performance
LOGYN MOLLOY (Dramaturg): Credits include Stage Management, The Play That Goes Wrong (Belmont University); Assistant Stage Managment, Loves Labours Lost (Belmont University); Directing, Blood On Canvas, 4 A M (Belmont University). Logyn is a senior pursuing a BFA in Theatre Directing and is currently directing her capstone project, Proof.
JULES ROBINSON (Set design): Credits include: Lighting Designer, A Doll’s House (Belmont University); Costume Designer, Lucky Stiff (Belmont University); Assistant Stage Manager, Things I Know To Be True (Actors Bridge); Lighting Designer, Silent Sky (Belmont University); Assistant Set Designer, The Good Times Are Killing Me (Belmont University); Assistant Stage Manager, Kodachrome (Belmont University); Lighting/Set Designer, Trojan Women (Belmont University); Stage Manager, The Last Five Years (Belmont University); Lighting/Props Designer, Bright Star (Belmont University); Lighting Designer, No Exit (Belmont Capstone)
CAST
ELLIE ANDERSON (Swing)
ALLY ANGLIM (Madge Geisel)
LOGAN APPLIN (Daria Chase) Logan is pursuing her BFA in Theatre Performance. Originally from New Jersey, she grew up performing at New York City venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Room, Symphony Space, and The Triad. Educational theatre credits include: Estelle Rigault, No Exit (Belmont University); Ophelia, Hamlet: Hold off the Earth Awhile (Belmont University), Annabel Glick U/S, Lucky Stiff (Belmont University); Reader #1, A Wrinkle in Time (Belmont University); and Ivanka, Once (Sacred Heart University). She has also worked as a Teaching Artistry Intern with Nashville Children's Theatre.
MOLLY BARBERY (Aggie Wheeler) Credits include: Olive Ostrovsky, Spelling Bee (Fort Mill Community Playhouse); Gertrude McFuzz, Seussical (Matthew’s Playhouse); Fastrada, Pippin (The Lotus Project); Featured Tapper, 42nd Street (Showtime Theatre Company). Molly is currently a Freshman pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Performance.
ELIJAH BELL (Felix Geisel) Credits Include: Jimmy Ray Dobbs U/S, Bright Star (HPAC); Minstrel/Ensemble, Something Rotten (Pull-Tight); Busboy/Ensemble, She Loves Me (PullTight); Lewis, Pippin! (Belmont University); Cody Brown, Trust (Belmont University). Elijah is a Senior pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance.
ZEBEE CARNAHAN (Simon) Credits Include: Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein (Drama People Theatre Group); Matthew, Anne Of Green Gables (Logos Theatre); Harry the Horse, Guys and Dolls (CYT); Henry, Ensemble, Newsies (CYT). Zebee is a freshman in the B.F.A. Theatre Performance Program.
JANE DUNCAN (Martha) is the Associate Dean for the College of Music and Performing Arts and an Associate Professor of Theatre since July 2018. She teaches First Year Seminar, Play Analysis, Voice and Diction II; she is co-leading a Belmont Maymester trip to France in 2025. Jane has been on hiatus from onstage work for a bit, focusing instead on directing, dialect coaching, and dramaturgy. Recent directing credits at Belmont: You Can't Take it With You (2020), Little Women (2021), The Good Times are Killing Me (2022), and Blue Stockings (2024). In addition to her work at Belmont, Jane is a proud Board Member for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival.
PAIGE HARDY (Swing) Credits Include: Swing for Sandra and Annie, The Play That Goes Wrong; U/S Miss Blake, Blue Stockings (Belmont University); Director’s Apprentice, She Kills Monsters (Williamson County Children’s Theatre). She is currently pursuing her BFA in Theater Performance with a minor in education.
XANDER KLINE (Swing) Credits include: Hades, Eurydice; U/S for Chad, Sheriff Earl, All Shook Up; Tom Buchanan, The Great Gatsby; Aaron, Mean Girls (Hillsboro High School); William, As You Like It (Nashville Shakespeare Festival) Xander is a Freshman starting his B F A In Theatre Performance
DANNY MANTEL (Swing) Credits include: The Baker, Into The Woods; Davey, Newsies; Dr Ginsburg, The Patient; Lee, Radium Girls; Motel, Fiddler on the Roof; Juror #4, 12 Angry Men (Wheaton Academy) Danny is a Freshman at Belmont pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Theater Performance
CAST
CATHERINE MOORE (Inspector Goring) Credits Include: Ensemble/Swing, Tom Jones; Miss. Bott U/S, Blue Stockings; Ensemble, The IT; Frieda, Sunday Act 1; Emily, Finding A Chord (Belmont University); Abbie, Another F***ing Growth Opportunity; Delilah, Salt in the Wound (Belmont Motion Pictures). Catherine is a Junior pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance.
MICHAEL G. SHELLEY (William Gillette) Credits include: Capt. Blifil, Mr. Square, Fitzpatrick, Tom Jones (Belmont University); Moritz Stiefel, Spring Awakening (Arts Bonita); Gee-tar, West Side Story (Florida Repertory Theater); Boy/Peter, Peter and the Starcatcher (Florida SouthWestern State College). Michael is a brand new Sophomore Transfer student in the B.F.A. Performance Theatre emphasis from Fort Myers, Florida
UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
THEATRE & DANCE
2024-2025 SEASON
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
KATIE HAMILL
DIRECTED BY: JASON SPELBRING
FEBRUARY 20TH - MARCH 2ND
TROUTT THEATER
PRODUCED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NASHVILLE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
WILLIE AND ROBERT REALE
DIRECTED BY: SHAWN KNIGHT
MARCH 28 - APRIL 6
BLACK BOX THEATRE
MIXED BILL
DIRECTED BY: DEBBIE BELUE
APRIL 4 - 6
THE FISHER CENTER