THE GAME's AFOOT (Holmes for the Holidays) by Ken Ludwig

The Belfry Theatre presents

THE GAME'S AFOOT (Holmes for the Holidays) by Ken Ludwig

Directed by Eric Matters

November 27 – December 13, 2020

Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Originally Produced by Cleveland Play House; Michael Bloom, Artistic Director; Kevin Moore, Managing Director

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

The Belfry is a proud member of the Encore Association. Visit www.encoreassociation.net for more information.

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The Belfry’s mission is to create interest and participation in community theater by providing quality, entertaining theatrical productions.

Our vision is to be recognized as a preeminent community asset in Central Indiana by providing quality theatrical productions in a collaborative, welcoming, and intimate atmosphere.

President’s Note

Thank you to all our patrons, performers, volunteers, staff, and board members for the continued support and devotion to the Belfry. While we are experiencing new circumstances in our lives, it is comforting to know that the passion for the Belfry persists. The Belfry is so happy you are joining us for the first show of the season, The Game’s Afoot: Holmes for the Holidays. You will notice that our surroundings are different this season. The Belfry cannot thank the Noblesville First United Methodist Church enough for allowing us to use their facility. The facility of First United Methodist provides us an excellent venue to safely produce shows and is a safe environment for patrons. For this, we are extremely grateful.

Again, thank you for joining us for The Game’s Afoot: Holmes for the Holidays. We are confident this production will infuse humor, wit, and good cheer into your holiday spirit. The cast and crew have worked extremely hard. We at the Belfry hope you continue to be safe and healthy during this holiday season. As always, please consider contributing to the Belfry. Season tickets, flex passes, and individual show tickets make excellent holiday gifts.

We look forward to seeing you during this 2020-2021 season.

Sincerely,

Kyle Blowers President, Belfry Theatre Administrative Board

The Belfry Theatre Administrative Board of Directors

Kyle Blowers, President Anne Auwaerter Dan Stevens, Vice President Edd Booher Casey Arnold, Treasurer Karyn Hobbs Bob Crandall, Secretary Fran Knapp Betsy Reason Teresa Peil

Support The Belfry Scholarship Fund! No refreshments will be sold at this production. However, if you would like to donate toward The Belfry’s annual Youth Scholarship, there is a basket in the lobby. Cash and personal checks are welcome. The scholarship is awarded annually to a Hamilton County graduating high school senior planning to study the arts.

Director’s Note

This show is a murder mystery with a touch of humor, which is fitting because whether we can perform live theater has been a mystery, and we’ve all needed a laugh this year. I’ve been involved in community theater in some capacity for as long as I can remember, and I have seen many shows and thought “I would have done something different there.” Well, this is my chance. I’m sure there are others who would do things differently than I have, and that’s a good thing. I hope to inspire someone else’s creativity so maybe they’ll go on to create something new. This is my first time directing, and even now, there are things I would do differently from what I have presented here. I hope to get that opportunity in the future, but the future (like this show) is a mystery.

Directing a mystery is hard. Especially one as well-crafted as the one Ken Ludwig has provided us here. Balancing tense moments with more light-hearted fare is important and difficult. Too heavy handed and you give the end away. Too light, and the mystery doesn’t matter. I truly believe this cast has done a masterful job of doing just that. They understand when they need to frown and when they need to smile. As a first-time director, working with such a talented and fun group has been a dream. So, sit back and see if you can figure out the mystery, but remember to laugh at times. I’d hate for something “untoward” to happen…

Eric Matters, Director

About the Playwright

Ken Ludwig has had six shows on Broadway and seven in London's West End, and many of his works have become a standard part of the American repertoire. 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 and won the Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Musical. In addition, he has won two Olivier Awards (England’s highest theater honor), the Helen Hayes Award, the Edgar Award for Best Mystery of the Year, and the Edwin Forrest Award for Contributions to the American Theater.

His other plays include Moon Over Buffalo (starring Carol Burnett), Twentieth Century (starring Alec Baldwin), Be My Baby (starring Hal Holbrook), Baskerville, A Comedy of Tenors, Shakespeare in Hollywood, A Fox on the Fairway, Leading Ladies, and a stage version of Murder on the Orient Express written expressly at the request of the Agatha Christie Estate. His newest play, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, which tells the story of his parent’s courtship during World War II, premiered at Arena Stage in fall 2019. His book How To Teach Your Children Shakespeare, published by Penguin Random House, won the Falstaff Award for Best Shakespeare Book of the Year, and his essays are published by the Yale Review. His work has been performed in over 30 countries in more than 20 languages, and his plays are produced throughout the United States every night of the year. www.kenludwig.com

CAST

WILLIAM GILLETTE/ SHERLOCK HOLMES …………………………………………...R.C. Thorne FELIX GEISEL/ MORIARTY …………………………………………………………Mike Sosnowski SIMON BRIGHT/ COUNT ZERLINKSY ……………………………………………….Gideon Roark INSPECTOR HARRIET GORING ………………………………………………………...Fran Knapp MARTHA GILLETTE ……………………………………………………………...Jennifer Kaufmann MADGE GEISEL/ MARIAN …………………………………………………………Stephani McDole AGGIE WHEELER/ ALICE ……………………………………………………………...Lizzie Schultz DARIA CHASE ……………………………………………………………………………...Tonya Rave

PRODUCTION TEAM

PRODUCER …………………………………………………………………………...Ka'Lena Cuevas DIRECTOR ………………………………………………………………………………….Eric Matters ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ………………………………………………………………...Diane Wilson STAGE MANAGER ………………………………………………………………..James H. Williams LIGHT DESIGNER ………………………………………………………………………….Brian Coon LIGHT OPERATOR ……………………………………………………………………….Kara Jacobs SOUND DESIGNER ……………………………………………………………………….Geoff Lynch

SOUND OPERATOR ………………………………………………………………………..Eric Dixon SET DESIGNER ……………………………………………………………………………Eric Matters SET CONSTRUCTION …………………………………………………………………….Ted Jacobs SCENIC DESIGN ………………………………………………………………………………..ML Lich SET PAINTER ………………………………………………………………………Melissa Yurechko COSTUMES ……………………………………………………………………………….Addie Taylor PROPERTIES …………………………………………………………………………..Kathy Hoefgen DIALECT COACH ……………………………………………………………………….Frankie Bolda HAIR/MAKEUP ……………………………………………………………………………..Monya Wolf STAGE CREW …Jake Hobbs, Anne Auwaerter, Diane Reed, Christine Early, Bob Hammett

SPECIAL THANKS

Noblesville First United Methodist Church Ricks-Weil Theatre Co., Greenfield Jeff Wright Beth & Dave Scott Carol Darling Indianapolis Opera Alivia Pavich Michelle Sybesma Brandon Ridge Melissa Bowyer Jerry Rairdon Footlite Musicals Betsy Reason Laurie Dyer Carla Crandall T&T Sales and Promotions Kathy Hoefgen Erin Keller

SETTING

The living room of the mansion of William Gillette on the Connecticut River near East Haddam, Connecticut.

TIME

December 1936

ACT ONE

Scene 1: December 1895

Scene 2: Christmas Eve, 1936

Scene 3: An hour later

ACT TWO

Scene 1: Same time

Scene 2: About 5 minutes later

There will be one 15-minute intermission. No concessions will be sold.

PRODUCTION TEAM

KA’LENA CUEVAS (Producer)

Ka’Lena has been involved in Indianapolis community theatre since 2016 and currently serves on the board for Main Street Productions/Westfield Playhouse. Favorite past performances at the Westfield Playhouse include Social Security, Going Going Gone, and Picnic. Ka’Lena most recently produced and stage managed Lie, Cheat, and Genuflect at the Westfield Playhouse, for which she won an Encore Award in both categories. Ka’Lena has also been a part of the creative team for various community theatre productions as a producer, stage manager, and properties person. This is the third show she has had the pleasure of producing at The Belfry. Many thanks to the cast and crew for working hard to finish their commitment to this show and their help orchestrating this production. A shout-out to Jeff Wright and the team at the Noblesville First United Methodist Church for their assistance and generosity. And many thanks to YOU for supporting community theatre. Enjoy the show!

ERIC MATTERS (Director, Set Designer)

Eric Matters is elated to be making his directorial debut at The Belfry Theatre. He has been in and around the theater community in Indianapolis for a while; he is happy to be expanding his skill set and creating art yet again. He would like to thank the cast and production staff for putting up with his craziness. He would also like to thank his family and friends supporting him on this journey.

DIANE WILSON (Assistant Director)

Diane is excited to return to the Belfry for a third time in a “behind the scenes” role, having been an assistant director and stage manager for Side-by-Side by Sondheim and assistant director for Marvin’s Room. In 2018, after a nearly 25-year hiatus, Diane returned to the stage in Our Town (Mrs. Soames) and was seen most recently in A Christmas Carol (clown and scavenger). She also appeared in Red, White, and Tuna (various roles) in 2019. Non-Belfry roles include We Must Kill Toni (Toni); Love, Sex, & the IRS (Connie); The Tunnel of Love (Alice); Pippin (Player); The Matchmaker (Director); Oklahoma! (Director and choreographer), and The Sound of Music (choreographer). By day, Diane is a travel consultant and owner of W & W Destinations. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, as well as reading, writing, and attending theatre. Diane wishes to thank Eric Matters for asking her to be a part of The Game’s Afoot; it has been her pleasure working with these talented individuals! She also thanks her husband for his continued support and for entertaining her puppy Molly and tolerating her cat Joey. She hopes you enjoy the show!

STAGE MANAGER James H. Williams

James is thrilled to be working behind the scenes stage managing this show. James is also one of the active directors for The Belfry, where his main passion is mentoring for the Apprentice Players Productions. He recently directed Gilligan’s Island the Musical, Brighton Beach Memoirs, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, HONK Jr., Camp Rock, and The Final Jam. When not volunteering his talents as a director/actor, he serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Scout Troop 303. He is an active member of Keystone Masonic Lodge 251 and Carmel Masonic Lodge 421. James would like to thank his family and friends for their continued support of his love for the theatre.

ADDIE TAYLOR (Costumes)

Addie has worked on a variety of shows at The Belfry. She would like to thank the Noblesville First United Methodist Church for opening their doors to us and graciously letting us use their facilities to put on this production. She wants to thank the cast, crew, and production team for making this such a fun experience. A special thank-you to Eric Matters for bringing her in on this show.

KATHY HOEFGEN (Properties Designer/Manager)

Kathy is (normally) a professional stage manager and props designer but is happy to be volunteering with The Belfry. In addition to her many local credits, Kathy has worked regionally in Chicago, Connecticut, Colorado, and most recently, with the Indianapolis Opera. Kathy’s home theater is Ricks-Weil Theatre Co. in Greenfield where she has served on the staff of nearly twenty productions since 2010. She is a proud member of the US Stage Managers Association and the Broadway Stage Management Symposium.

CAST

R.C. THORNE (William Gillette/ Sherlock Holmes)

RC has made it a goal to be in a show at every theatre in and around Indianapolis. Having returned to the stage after a 25-year absence, he’s been in Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Nile in Carmel, Wait Until Dark in Downtown Indy, and most recently The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance in Westfield. He’s honored to be able to add Noblesville to that list with tonight’s performance of The Game’s Afoot. RC has also produced Fools and The Addams Family Values musical, as well as directed The Casualty Game. RC would like to thank his son, Zach, and his new bride, Elyse, for their continued support and patience as he asks them to run lines with him. Fun fact: in every production RC has been in, he’s either been the murderer, or been murdered... spoiler? Who knows?! Enjoy the show!

MIKE SOSNOWSKI (Felix Geisel/ Moriarty)

Mike is so excited to be back on stage in his first Belfry show and first show since graduating in 2014. Favorite roles have included Mr. Henderson (You Can’t Take it with You) and Stepan Stepanovitch (A Marriage Proposal). During his long absence from the stage, Mike has taken up woodworking, glass etching, 3D printing, and is often a show widow. Mike would like to thank the Belfry staff for a great experience, to Ka’Lena Cuevas for letting him know about this wonderful opportunity, his friend Tanner for inspiring how he’s playing Felix, and his wonderful wife, Melissa, and adorable cat, Bella, for putting up with him being at rehearsals so much! Na zdrowie!

GIDEON ROARK (Simon Bright, Count Zerlinsky)

Gideon is glad to be working with The Belfry again this holiday season! He has previously appeared in productions with other companies including Noblesville Shakespeare in the Park, Muncie Civic Theatre, and The Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis. Gideon’s passion is acting. He is also an avid theatre goer and loves Shakespeare, studying theatre, and spending time with his dogs and guinea pigs.

FRAN KNAPP (Inspector Harriet Goring)

This is Fran’s 87th production at The Belfry Theatre. In 87 productions, she has done many things such as stage managing, backstage crew, assistant director, lights and sound board operator, and acting on stage. As an actress, she has played Mabel in Three Men on a Horse, Flo in Picnic, Emilie in My Three Angels and Miss Warriner in Deskset, just to name a few. Fran also won an Encore Award last year, along with her sister, for stage managing It’s a Wonderful Life. Her participation in this production is her way of honoring her late aunt, Ginny Burt, who passed away on September 22, 2020.

JENNIFER J. KAUFMANN (Martha Gillette)

Jennifer is thrilled to be back with the Belfry Theatre! She was most recently seen in Side-by-Side by Sondheim and Gilligan’s Island. Jennifer graduated from Hope College, Holland, MI, in 2001 with a BA in Musical Theatre. She spent the next 5 years working with different theatre companies across the country, including Missoula Children’s Theatre and The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. Jennifer had the privilege of teaching theatre to children all over the country as well as in South Korea and Japan. She ended up in Indianapolis in 2010, where she attended graduate school at Marian University. Earning a Master of Arts in Teaching, Jennifer is currently working as a 6th grade teacher. Some of her favorite roles include: Miss Scarlet in Clue the Musical, Mother Miriam Ruth in Agnes of God, and Mary Ann in Gilligan’s Island. She enjoys spending her time scrapbooking, working on home improvements, and being a Mary Kay Independent Consultant. Thank YOU for coming out to support this event and local theatre!

STEPHANI MCDOLE (Madge Geisel/ Marian)

Stephani is thrilled to be a part of this production of The Game’s Afoot! This is her second show with the Belfry Theatre, but you may have seen her in shows with CrazyLake Acting Company in Greenfield or Ten West Center for the Arts in Fortville. She would like to thank everyone for joining our cast and crew on this merry murder mystery!

LIZZIE SCHULTZ (Aggie Wheeler/Alice)

Lizzie is more than ecstatic to be a part of this wonderful production. This will be her third time working with The Belfry Theatre; she has appeared in a youth production as well as It's A Wonderful Life. She is a junior at Noblesville High School and is a part of her school’s thespian troupe (Troupe #8118) as well as the mixed varsity show choir, The NHS Singers. She hopes to continue her love for theatre her whole life and possibly pursue a full career in this field. Enjoy the show!

TONYA RAVE (Daria Chase)

Tonya is excited to be part of another Belfry production, having previously appeared in The Girls of the Garden Club, To Kill a Mockingbird, and State of the Union. Tonya’s most recent stage experiences include an appearance in Physical Education during DivaFest at IndyFringe and director of First Kisses at Center Stage Community Theatre. A handful of Tonya’s other favorite productions include Nightingale, Jake’s Women, On Golden Pond, The Dining Room, and Talking With… A former high school theatre teacher, Tonya now enjoys teaching classes for Roots’ School of Theatre. Tonya would like to thank her family – especially her husband Toby – and friends for their love and support. Speaking of family, Tonya (whose maternal grandmother’s maiden name was Gillette) recently discovered another interesting connection: William Gillette was a distant cousin of hers!

The Belfry Theatre would like to thank our season sponsors:

Director Level The Medicare Family: Gordon Marketing Insurance

Playwright Level Discount Copies Gaylor Electric and Chuck Goodrich Ginger's Cafe Heritage Woods of Noblesville Redwood Apartment Neighborhoods Rowland Printing

Stage Manager Level Jack Bell, Kaiser Real Estate Companies Bison Properties Indiana Restoration & Cleaning Services / Hometown Window & Roofing Team Reynolds Farm Equipment

Stagehand Level The Grand Little Barn at Artisan Acres Estate Noblesville First United Methodist Church State Farm, Andy J. Wolfe, Agent Taylored System

THE ENCORE ASSOCIATION 2020 SEASON

Black Coffee (Mystery) Center Stage Community Theatre Sept. 3 - 13 Center Stage Community Theatre - Lebanon (765) 894-5587 Fridays - Saturdays 7:30 pm and Sundays 2:30 pm www.centerstagetheatre.org

Going to a Place Where You Already Are (Play) Epilogue Players Sept. 17 - 27 Epilogue Players - Indianapolis (317) 926-3139 Thursdays - Saturdays 7:30 pm and Sundays 2:00 pm www.epilogueplayers.com

Hedda Gabler (Play) Westfield Playhouse Sept. 24 - Oct. 4 Main Street Productions of Westfield (317) 402-3341 ext 0 Thursday - Fridays - Saturdays 7:30 pm and Sundays 2:30 pm www.westfieldplayhouse.org

The Game’s Afoot (Mystery) Belfry Theatre Nov. 27 - Dec. 13 **The Belfry productions will be presented at Noblesville First United Methodist Church, 2051 Monument St., Noblesville, IN 46060** The Belfry - Noblesville (317) 773-1085 ext 0 Fridays - Saturdays 8:00 pm and Sundays 2:00 pm www.thebelfrytheatre.com

Christmas Express (Play) Epilogue Players Dec. 3 - 13 Epilogue Players - Indianapolis (317) 926-3139 Thursdays - Saturdays 7:30 pm and Sundays 2:00 pm www.epilogueplayers.com