WRITTEN BY
Christopher M. Walsh
BASED
PRODUCED
of Woodstock, Illinois
DIRECTOR Debra Susi
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR + FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER John Logan
SCENIC DESIGN Allison Turlo
COSTUME DESIGN Candace Chase
LIGHTING DESIGN Bryant Cyr
SOUND DESIGN Juniper Purinton
PROPS DESIGN Nathan Sylvester
STAGE MANAGER Andrea Swiderski
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Sherlock Holmes ...................................................... Phoebe Sanborn
Dr. Dorothy Watson ............................................... Michelle Schmitt
Habiba Asad ............................................................................ Lilah Akins
Josephine Butler ........................................................... Marcine Sopko
Olive McGann ......................................................................... Hana Valle
Mrs. Hudson ................................................................. Jeralyn Shattuck
Mrs. Wiggins ................................................................. Serena Sanborn
Geoffrey Lestrade ......................................................... Matt Stanford
Mycroft Holmes .............................................................. Bart Shattuck
Daniel Burke ........................................................................ Stevie Webb
Adam Worthington .................................................... Timothy Croce
Dock Worker/Ensemble/Backstage Crew .................... Eli Mowry
Ensemble/Backstage Crew ........... Krystal Guckin, Becky Paradis
PRODUCTION STAFF
Technical Director ................................................... Juniper Purinton
Production Manager ............................................................ Bryant Cyr
Production Assistant ............................................ Nathan Sylvester
Light Board Operator .......................................... Andrea Swiderski
Master Carpenter ................................................................... Wil Currie
Scenic Artist ....................................................................... Allison Turlo
Scenic Volunteer ................................................ Nicole Solis Clewley
Backstage Crew ............................................................ Marissa Steiner
SPECIAL THANKS
Ann Durost, Tanya Dyer, Travis M. Grant, Lillian Lambert, Christine Nilles. and Kim Shorey
We honor and celebrate the array of identities in our local community and broader communities, including those that are not part of the predominant culture. We hold space on our stage, our screens, and our gallery walls, in our studios, and at our community events and programs to present diverse stories, identities, and lived experiences in real and authentic ways. This production is presented with one 15-minute intermission.
Going beyond banking
ABOUT THE CAST + CREW
Lilah Akins (Habiba Asad) is a Penobscot Nation Tribal Member. She acknowledges this summer as the 300th anniversary of the massacre at Norridgewock on the banks of the kin pék iht k . This is her first time on the Waterville Opera House stage— but it is her second performance, appearing in The DoubleWalker short film at MIFF 2023. Lilah was recently in Penobscot Theatre Company’s collaboration of My Story is Gluskabe, as well as the Where the River Widens (2023) with Wabanaki REACH and Threadbare Theatre’s truth-telling initiative Beyond the Claims–Stories from the Land & the Heart.
Candace Chase (Costume Designer) has been costuming for the WOH for about twelve years. Her designs include Game’s Afoot, Clue, Miss Holmes, and Drinking Habits. She has done extensive patterning and construction for many musicals including Elf, Hello Dolly, Young Frankenstein, and Mary Poppins. She thanks WOH for being a home away from home.
Timothy Croce (Mr. Worthington) has appeared in many productions here at the Waterville Opera House over the past decade. Some past roles that have a special place for Tim were Mr. Green in Clue, The Tin Man in Wizard of Oz, Justin in The Fox on the Fairway, and Igor in Young Frankenstein. Chances are high that the role of the bumbling bookworm Mr. Worthington in Miss Holmes Returns will become a new favorite for him. Born and raised in Kennebec Valley, Tim currently lives in Waterville. For the past sixteen years, he has worked for MaineDOT as a cartographer.
Krystal Guckin (Ensemble) is honored to be part of this remarkable cast. Krystal previously performed as Sam/Adult ensemble in Elf the Musical. She has also enjoyed assisting with the backstage crew for Murder on the Orient Express, Drinking Habits, and Head Over Heels. Krystal would like to thank her husband, Richard, and her kids, Damian, Leo, Asher, Scarlett and Delaney, for their love and support in all things.
John Logan (Assistant Director + Fight Choreographer) is excited to be making his directorial debut at WOH after appearing as Robert in The Play That Goes Wrong in 2023. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 with his MFA in Acting and from the University of Maine in 2017 with his BA in Theatre and Media Studies. He would like to thank his wife (first time saying that!), Deb, Michelle, and the WOH family for giving him this opportunity.
Becky Paradis (Ensemble/Run Crew) is very excited to be in the ensemble performing alongside some real Waterville Opera House super stars for this performance of Miss Holmes Returns. You may have also seen her in the ensemble for last season’s production of Elf the Musical. She has been a huge fan and regular audience member
at the Waterville Opera House for over a decade, and she is honored to now share in some of the magic on stage.
Phoebe Sanborn (Sherlock Holmes) is delighted to perform as one of her favorite literary characters, and to share this fun, fascinating story with other fans of Holmes. Her prior credits include Bari in Two Cent Theater’s reading of Be Here Now (2024), as well as Molly Ralston in The Mousetrap (2022) and Sherlock Holmes in Miss Holmes (2020) at the Waterville Opera House. Many sincere thanks to her husband, Matt, for stepping onstage one last time (again), her sister, Serena, for diving in with her, and to Terence, Ylva, Luke, and Kate for even considering coming such an awful long way for a good mystery.
Serena Sanborn (Mrs. Wiggins) has graced the Opera House stage once before, portraying Mrs. Peacock in Clue. She has also performed in several mystery dinner theaters in the great town of Canaan, Maine. Serena’s passions are diverse: she loves discussing dark skies and animal senses, creating cyanotypes, listening to frogs, hanging with her fabulous family and friends, and wooing fireflies. She enjoys the company of Min Min, a wild sweet orange cat, and is dedicated to enhancing community through her work with Waterville Creates, aiming to bring more joy, connection, and creativity into the world.
Michelle Schmitt (Dr. Dorothy Watson) is thrilled to be back at WOH for her second show. Portraying the role of Dr. Dorothy Watson has been an unforgettable experience. Some of her favorite roles have been Margaret White in Carrie, Mrs. Phagan in Parade, Vi in Footloose, and Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Michelle and her husband split their time between Maine and Florida. They have two grown boys and two furry girls. During the day, she’s in her art studio painting or on adventures with the girls. Much love to her friends and family for their love and support. Enjoy the show!
Bart Shattuck (Mycroft Holmes) returns to the role of Mycroft Holmes having played Sherlock’s brother in the WOH production of Miss Holmes. Previous WOH roles include Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express, Max Bialystock in The Producers, Inspector Kemp/Blind Hermit in Young Frankenstein, Jean Sheperd in A Christmas Story, The Narrator in Rocky Horror, The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Boddy in Clue, and Felix in The Odd Couple. Other favorite roles include Bottom in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sherlock Holmes in The Adventure of the Suicide Club, Renfield in Dracula, and Artie in House of Blue Leaves.
Jeralyn Shattuck (Mrs. Hudson) is thrilled to get back on the WOH stage! Her most recent project was directing Small World and acting in Post-Its for ACAT’s return. Opera House regulars will remember her as The Wicked Witch of the West (Wizard of Oz), Frau Blücher (Young Frankenstein), Hold Me Touch Me (The Producers), Mrs. Brill (Mary Poppins), Daria Chase (Holmes for the Holidays), and Nana (Tuck Everlasting).
Other favorites are Martha (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf), Bananas (The House of Blue Leaves), Charlotte (Moon Over Buffalo). Jeralyn was also in Miss Holmes back in 2020 as Dr. Anderson, Peggy, and Martha.
Marcine G. Sopko (Josephine Butler) Thanks to her husband, George, who brought them both to Maine in 2020, Marcine is pleased to join the Waterville Opera House community with this production. Having left theater life to raise a family, she is now exploring a return to the stage. With a background in singing, Marcine teaches an early childhood music class, and recently performed with Maine State Music Theatre in The Sound of Music.
Matt Stanford (Geoffrey Lestrade) returns to the Waterville Opera House for his third show. He was previously seen in 2022 playing Giles in The Mousetrap and Chris in the 2023 production of The Play That Goes Wrong. He would like to thank his wife, Phoebe, for offering such amazing support through the process and his theater friends for making it so hard to say “no” to just one more show.
Debra Susi (Director) is a 39-year Theatre Educator who works as an Intimacy Director/Choreographer and costume designer. Her directing credits include U.S. premiere of Fame Forever—Reunion and Rebirth, sequel to the musical Fame, as well as Shrek, Spamalot, Cabaret, Camelot, The Full Monty, The Producers, Clue, The Mousetrap, Almost, Maine, and Tuck Everlasting. Costume Design credits at The Public include Morning After Grace, Women in Jeopardy, Screwball Comedy. Debra would like to thank her husband, family, and friends for their continued patience, love, and support of her artistic work. Missing you, Miss Juli.
Andrea Swiderski (Stage Manager) is a graduate of Colby College, where she studied Psychology: Neuroscience and Women’s Gender and Sexuality studies. There, she developed her interest in feminist theatre practices and the pursuit of making theatre an inclusive space for everyone: actors, crew, and audience. Andrea has stage managed for eight years, with her most recent productions being The Sound of Music, The Play that Goes Wrong, Rock of Ages, and Elf at Waterville Opera House and Of This Place at Colby College.
Allison Turlo (Scenic Designer/Scenic Painter) is a recent graduate from Syracuse University, where she earned her BFA in Theater Design and Technology with a focus in set design. Previously, she was the set designer for WOH’s Murder on the Orient Express, and the scenic charge for Elf the Musical and The Play That Goes Wrong.
Stevie Webb (Daniel Burke) is an actor/singer who currently hails from Waterville. You may have seen him on stage at WOH recently in Elf, Rock of Ages, or The Play That Goes Wrong. He is very excited to help bring this wonderful production to life.
