Murder's In The Heir

Aiken Community Theatre presents

FEBRUARY 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 @ 7:30 PM FEBRUARY 20 @ 2:00 PM 126 Newberry Street SW; AIKEN, SC 29801 803-648-1438 www.AikenCommunityTheatre.org

ACT Mission Aiken Community Theatre (ACT) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to entertain, educate, and enrich our community by providing a quality theatre experience.

ACT Board Executive Director – Kyle Seconi Artistic Director – JC Crider Facilities Director – Tyler McKinney Secretary – Chrissey Miller Treasurer – Jimmy Moore Marketing Director – Jeff Mastromonico Youth Wing Acting Director – Steven McKinney Thurmond Whatley Marcia Harris Gail Daigle Wendy Dietzel Jim Schroeder Ellen Williams Angie Galan Collette Miller Cory Herbst Dustin Turner Beth Williams

YW Mission The mission of the ACT Youth Wing is to provide the broadest range of theatrical experience and education we can to the greatest number of young people we can while maintaining the highest level of quality we can in a safe and welcoming environment.

YW Board Acting Executive Director – Steven McKinney Artistic Director – Steven McKinney Education Director – Jimmy Moore Youth Leadership Liaison – Wendy Dietzel Secretary – JC Crider Marketing Director – Cory Herbst

YW OFFICERS President – Luke WIlliam Vice President/Secretary – Savil Jensen Marketing – Paul Hommel & Caroline Seawell

presents

MURDER’S IN THE HEIR Written by Billy St. John

Performed by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service

Directed by Marcia Harris

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A note from ACt’s Executive Director The Youth Wing is a unique and special part of what we do at Aiken Community Theatre.

The Youth Wing is a fantastic place for students aged 11 – 18 to learn about the theatre arts and meet others that share an interest. Free workshops are held on the second Saturday of every month September through May and include instruction in basic theatre skills such as stage movement, script analysis, and improvisation.

ACT Youth Wing truly is one of the best free resources for youngsters in the CSRA – but, parents, BEWARE! While your children are enjoying themselves on stage, you may find yourself right at home, too. I was introduced to Aiken Community Theatre through my daughters’ attendance in Youth Wing and found there is truly something for everyone here.

I could not have asked for a more productive outlet for my children, a more wonderful bonding experience for us all, nor a better place to spend my time now that the nest is empty.

Do you know a young person that might benefit from what ACT Youth Wing has to offer?

Find more information online at aikencommunitytheatre.org.

Kyle A. Seconi ACT Executive Director

COMING SOON to ACT April 1 – 9, 2022 Check www.aikencommunitytheatre.org for details.

A full-length play that is made up of a collection of short, episodic plays. Each short play can stand on its own, but they’re all tied together by one theme. They’re all set in the same town – some place called Mayor’s Income, Tennessee.

Written by local playwright, Jonathan Cook

mUrDer’s In tHe HeIr DIreCtor’s note While this has been a challenging time to direct a play, it has also been a pleasure directing and getting to know these talented high school students, many of whom are part of Aiken Community Theatre’s very successful Youth Wing Program. The other adults tasked with backstage responsibilities join me in commending their dedication and hard work.

These actors have been responsible for preparing themselves by learning lines and attending rehearsals on time. I am sure you will find this to be another quality production presented by the ACT Youth Wing. On behalf of Aiken Community Theatre, thank you for your support of our youngest players.

Marcia Harris

The Story Turn the game Clue into a play and you have the masterfully entertaining Murder’s in the Heir! Almost every character in this hilarious mystery has the weapon, opportunity, and motive to commit the unseen murder. And it’s up to your audience to decide who did it! Each of the heirs to the tyrannical billionaire Simon Starkweather has the means and the motive to do away with him. Starkweather gathers his family and employees to announce the contents of his will. His lawyer, Lois van Zandt, reveals that he has bequeathed vast fortunes to his befuddled niece Fiona, her playboy son Jordan, his great-niece Paula (a Southern belle) and his grandson Simon III, as well as to his many servants. Then Lois delivers the bombshell! Within hours this will become invalid. Of course, the rejected heirs are not pleased, so it’s not surprising when they roam the old mansion carrying such items as an ax, a gun, and poison. Predictably, the lights go out, and Simon is discovered murdered. Simon III (played by the same actor who plays the elderly Simon) is determined to find his grandfather’s killer, with the help of detective Mike Davis. The play’s unique ending, utilizing secret ballots gathered at intermission from the audience, determines the killer in this Billy St. John maze of murder.

There will be a 15-minute intermission between Acts 1 and 2.

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The CAST Simon Starkweather…………...……………Brayden Nixon Fiona Starkweather……………………...Claire Woodworth Jordan Starkweather…………………………Luke Williams Paula Thompson……………………………...Sway Brown Simon Starkweather III……………………..Brayden Nixon Bensonhurst……………………………………Dee Ateca Mrs. Trent………………………………….Ryleigh Goetter Minerva Walker………………………………….Bridget E. Nancy Pollard……………………………………Kaylin Fox Rufus Jones………………………………Scott Woodworth Lois Van Zandt …………………………...Aubree Campbell Miss Withers…………………………………Paige Scarlett Kathy Collins………………………………...Jasmine Smith Mike Davis…………………………………....Paul Hommel Jean Culpepper …………………………....Caroline Seawell

Bridgett Krol Lesley Klepac

The CREW Director………………….……………………………..…Marcia Harris Assistant Director………………………………………....Franny Fields Stage Manager……...…..………………………………..Collette Miller Set Construction…………Duane Berning, Jim Schroeder, Bob Erickson Costumers..................................................Wendy Dietzel and Ellen Williams Props…………………………………...………………... Audrey Ateca Sound Board……………………....Thurmond Whatley and David Werth Lighting Designer………………….……………………….Cory Herbst Lighting Operator………………………………………….Daniel Wood

SPECIAL THANKS Petch Respiratory Jack Newsome Geary Azbill

This show is Aubree’s first with ACT. She recently moved to South Carolina from Utah. In Ohio, Aubree played Ophelia in Hamlet. She is currently part of South Aiken High School’s Choral Group and has been singing in choir since kindergarten.

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AUBREE CAMPBELL

BRAYDEN NIXON 11

BRIDGET E. This is Bridget’s second time acting at ACT. Her previous roles include Mrs. Toot/Elf Ellen in Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells Batman Smells and Millie in Egad, What a Cad! •

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CAROLINE SEAWELL • Caroline Seawell is a junior in high school. She began performing at a very young age.

You may have seen her on stage at ACT as Lily inThe Giver.

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CLAIRE WOODWORTH This is Claire’s sixth show at ACT. Previous credits include Happily Ever After, A Christmas Story, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Princess Who Rescued Herself, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Claire enjoys babysitting, friends, family, and theatre.

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Dee is a high school sophomore who has been performing and working backstage at ACT for years. Outside of theatre they enjoy painting and drawing, playing piano, percussion, and guitar, and playing Animal Crossing.

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DEE ATECA

JASMINE SMITH This is Jasmine’s first time performing with ACT. She has lived in South Carolina her whole life. She has acted in A Christmas Carol and Mary Poppins with a homeschool group. She enjoys acting, drawing, and making jewelry.

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KAYLIN FOX This is Kaylin’s first time performing at ACT. She started acting early in 2021. She’has performed once at school as Agnes from U.S.S. Titanica. She has many hobbies, including playing video games and painting.

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LUKE WILLIAMS This is Luke’s fifth year with ACT and the Youth Wing. He was recently elected Youth Wing President. Luke played Vlad Vladakov in Seussical the Musical, Jr. , Bram Vanbrunt in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Hemlock in The Princess Who Saved Herself.

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PAIGE SCARLETT • This is Paige’s third play at ACT. She is 17 years old and attends Midland Valley High School. You may have seen Paige before in Miracle on Thirty-fourth Street or The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

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PAUL HOMMEL Paul has been in many ACT productions, most recently, Seussical the Musical, Jr. and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He is currently a junior at South Aiken High School.

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RYLEIGH GOETTER Ryleigh is a junior at South Aiken High School. This is her first time performing at ACT since moving from Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Ryleigh enjoys learning about history and science and spends her time reading and drawing.

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SCOTT WOODWORTH Scott is a homeschooled junior in high school who enjoys drawing, writing, reading, listening to music, and, of course, acting. This is his sixth production at ACT. Scott is pleased to be acting alongside his much more talented sister, Claire, and one of his best friends, Brayden.

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SWAY BROWN This is Sway’s first time performing with ACT. Previous stage credits include Into the Woods Jr. (Rapunzel), Shrek: The Musical (Ugly Duckling and Exploding Bluebird), The Addams Family (Wednesday).

She had been in Honors Theatre and Chorus for four years and plans to pursue the arts in college.

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MARCIA HARRIS (DIRECTOR) Marcia is a member of the Board of Directors and has held several positions; she is currently head of Props and Wigs. Audiences may remember productions that Marcia has directed: Les Miserables, Into the Woods, Angel Street, and A Breath of Spring, to mention a few. Acting credits include the one woman show, The Belle of Amherst, Chapter Two, and many others.

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