A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE
THE CREATURE CREEPS! About the author Jack Sharkey (1931-1992) was born on May 6, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. He began writing when he was 10 years old. He graduated from college with a BA in the Creative Writing Field of the English major. After that, he taught school for two years from 1953 to 1955. In mid-1955, Mr. Sharkey enlisted in the Army. He served at Sandia Base, New Mexico as a Special Services worker. He wrote, produced, and directed one show per month for the Enlisted Men's Club. In 1958, Mr. Sharkey went to New York to begin a full-time freelance writing career. He wrote Science Fiction stories and novels, humor articles, and mystery novels. In 1961, he returned to Chicago where he worked as joke editor for Playboy Magazine and then was Editor of the Allstate Insurance Company Magazine for 11 years from 1964-75. Mr. Sharkey wrote his first stage comedy in 1965. At the end of 1975, he went exclusively into playwriting, which he continued until a few months before his death. He has 83 published plays written under his own name and four others - Rick Abbot, Monk Ferris, Mark Chandler, and Mike Johnson. Mike Johnson wrote only stage thrillers. All the other plays are comedies and/or musicals. The plays are performed all around the world. Mr. Sharkey passed away on September 28, 1992 after a bout with cancer.
Setting Time: Shortly before the end of the 19th Century Place: the parlor of Castle Von Blitzen, high in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania
Act One: Just before sunset, on a Friday the 13th Act Two: That night, during a terrifying storm Act Three: Shortly before dawn, the following morning
This hilarious send-up of the horror story genre has an ancient castle, creaking doors, a mad scientist, his misshapen assistant, a grim housekeeper, secret laboratory, shrieks from the depths of the cellar, disappearing villagers, an incredibly stalwart and stupid hero of sterling character, the scientist's absolutely dopey daughter, and so many laughs you'll lose count.
Cast Donald Von Blitzen.......................................................James Spencer Daisy Von Blitzen..........................................................Haley Fletty Frank Sterling (Thursday Performance........................Spencer Williams Frank Sterling .............................................................. Ty Wurtz Babsy Ballou................................................................. Alex Barnett Mord.............................................................................. Jamie Manning Gretchen Twitchill........................................................ Lilly Berget Hans Shtunken, Fritz Shtunken, Otto Shtunken, Heinrich Shtunken ........................................................................................ Aidan Beck Hannah Zitzen.............................................................. Shelby Shahbas Freda Zitzen.................................................................. Lilly Kennedy Olga Zitzen.................................................................... Lillian Barrett Heidi Zitzen.....................................................Alma Herrerra-Edwards Maritza Von Blitzen..................................................... Nia Tomalin
Any resemblance between the characters in this show and any other person, living or dead, is highly unlikely.
Production Team Director .................................................. Natalie Rios Technical Director.................................. Ian Beck Costume Design & Construction........................................... Victoria Rios Hair and Makeup................................... Meredith Brandimore
Production Team Student Team Stage Manager........................................ Eloise Schad Assistant Stage Manager ....................... Lilly Berget House Manager ..................................... Uy Le Crew Chief.............................................. Oliver Schad Lighting Operator.................................. Ryan Hoffman Lighting Op Assistants ......................... Taylor Biafora Natalie Pina Sound Operator..................................... Marisa Iannelli Kiersten Jacobs Mic Operators........................................ Olivia Golden Riley Adams Props Master ......................................... Lydia Mageras
Build Team Zy'Nasia Alhuzaifi, Lillian Barrett, Jordan Battle, Aidan Beck, Makaylah Berta, Callen Burnett, Ava Greene, Devin Hayes, Ryan Hoffman, Dedee Knight, Alejandro Lugo, Lydia Mageras, Nikita Ploshkin, Alex Russo, Maya Tracy, Mykhailo Tymoshyk, JJ Ward
Costume and Makeup Crew Avary Bond, Kinsey Felts, Olivia Golden, Kiersten Jacobs
Professional Bios Ms. Rios (Director) is excited to help bring, The Creature Creeps to life on the Canterbury stage. She is thrilled to join the performing arts faculty at Canterbury and share her 25+ years of theater and musical production experience. She would like you to know that working with this cast and crew has been a delightful, creative, and joyful experience! She would like to thank the cast and crew for their hard work and laughter; Mr. Beck for his deliciously gothic dreadful set and all things technical; Ms. V. Rios for her fabulous costume designs; Ms. Brandimore for her stunning makeup and hair designs; Ms. Coker, Ms. Coates, Ms. Hehn, and Mr. Hall for their behind-thescenes- work, and the parents of the cast and crew and her family for their loving support. Meredith Brandimore (Hair and Makeup) is thrilled to be working with the amazing theater department again. Though she has previously worked in other school productions, Grease was her first at Canterbury. She wants to thank the incredibly hard-working cast and crew. Not only is she impressed with their talent, but also their attitude, dedication, and kindness. "Thank you for letting me be a part of something so special. I’m very proud of all of you!"
Ian Beck (Technical Director) is glad to be back at Canterbury for another show. Ian enjoys his time here and all the fun that is to be had with these folks, but he feels you all are crazy and should be watched carefully. Ian would like to thank all the people who have helped him get to this point, unfortunately, he is not too sure if you are real or not. It has been an interesting adventure for Ian as he braved all the Slurpee brain freezes and endless Kool-Aid made here in the Dollinger theater during the build process. Ian would like to send out a shout out to the unsung heroes of the whole build process, the various wood screws used to make this set happen!! Without you, none of this would have been possible! Oh, and to the cast and crew, you all are awesome! Ian will now leave you with a quote from his favorite mime, “ !”. Enjoy the show!
SeniorCast Bios Alex Barnett (Babsy Ballou) Alex, a senior, has been participating in theater since her sophomore year. Roles include French Maid/Clue!, Waitress/Tracks, and most recently Jan in Grease. She is thrilled to bring Babsy Ballou to life in The Creature Creeps. Alex is thankful to work with people who enjoy theater as much as she does and for that, she thanks you. She appreciates and thanks Mr. Beck for his understanding, Ms. Coker for her determination, and Ms. Rios for her encouragement. Haley Fletty (Daisy Von Blitzen) is a senior at Canterbury and has been a student and active Thespian at Canterbury since the eighth grade. Haley has participated in the productions of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind Ensemble), Ms. White/Clue!, Mayzie/Seussical, Highschool Girl/Tracks, and Frenchy/Grease. Haley is beyond excited to be a part of The Creature Creeps as Daisy Von Blitzen! She would like to thank her family for always supporting her, the cast and crew for making the stage experience memorable, and Ms. Rios for giving her the opportunity to be on the Canterbury stage once again. Lilly Kennedy (Freda Zitzen) A senior, Lilly is very excited to make her stage debut as Freda! She has attended Canterbury since the sixth grade and was previously cast as an understudy in Tracks and crew in Grease. Theater is one of her greatest passions, so she is thrilled to be up on stage tonight. Thank you to the director, Ms. Rios, for her kindness. Thank you to her family for their support, and thank you to her friends for their encouragement.
SeniorCast Bios Eloise Schad (Stage Manager) is a senior at Canterbury. She has participated in theater behind the scenes as Stage Manager/Assistant Stage Manager since the eighth grade, starting with Still Into You, and she loves doing it. During her Junior year, she was promoted to Student Director of the high school One Act, Tracks, and the high school musical, Grease, in addition to her role as Stage Manager. As a conclusion to her high school theatre career, she is stage managing one last time in The Creature Creeps. She would like to give thanks to her family who has supported her through it all. Shelby Shahbas (Hannah Zitzen) A senior, Shelby has been a part of the theater community since she was in second grade. She is always very appreciative of the whole cast and crew in making her experience more enjoyable. She would also like to thank Mr. Beck, Ms. Coker, and of course Ms. Rios for all of their help and determination in making this show happen. A special thank you to Ms. Rios, who has been an excellent inspiration since the start of Shelby’s journey in theater and has helped her become who she is as an actor. James Spencer (Donald Von Blitzen) James Spencer is a senior at Canterbury who has been attending since the fifth grade and is currently playing Donald Von Blitzen in The Creature Creeps. He started doing theater in the eighth grade, where he played Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes. He joined troupe 4637 freshman year of high school and was a part of the ensemble in the one-act play Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind and the spring musical The Wizard of Oz as the Scarecrow. In his Sophomore year, he played Wadsworth in Clue!. In his junior year, he played businessman in the one-act competition piece Tracks and Danny Zuko in Grease. He plans to major in Psychology with the hopes of achieving a medical degree in Psychiatry. He has gotten a great deal of enjoyment out of theater and will miss his wonderful cast a great deal. He hopes his underclassmen the best of luck in their future endeavors, whether it is within theater, academics, or life in general.
SeniorCast Bios Nia Tomalin (Maritza Von Blitzen) is a senior at Canterbury. She has participated in theater for ten years. In her high school career, Nia has participated in all mainstage and one-act productions offered at the school. Shows include: Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, Miss Scarlet/Clue!, Sour Kangaroo/Seussical, Business Women/Tracks, and most recently in Rizzo/Grease. She is now very excited to add Maritza/The Creature Creeps to this list! Nia loves and enjoys acting and is grateful to have made such wonderful high school memories while on the stage. She would like to thank the cast and crew for a wonderful experience. Ty Wurtz (Frank Sterling) is a senior and has been in every Canterbury show since 6th grade including Cowardly Lion/Wizard of Oz, Purser/Anything Goes, Cat in the Hat/Seussical and most recently, Kenickie/Grease. He has loved doing theater all this time and making great lifelong friends. He is very thankful for the opportunities Ms.Coker, Mr. Beck, and Ms. Rios were able to provide him. He would like to thank his family for always supporting him.
Congrats to our Senior Thespians
Thank you for all you have given to our stage. We will miss you!
Cast Bios Lillian Barrett (Olga Zitzen) Lillian is a new student at Canterbury this year. Coming into the school as a junior, Lillian decided to continue with her love for the theater. She has been acting since a very young age and is thrilled to make her high school production debut. For the past three years, Lillian has focused exclusively on improv. She is very excited to get back on the stage, and could not be more thrilled to have it be with such a wonderful cast. A big thank you to Ms. Rios, the director, and o everyone else who is behind the scenes making this production happen. Aidan Beck (Heinrich, Hans, Fritz, Otto, and Oscar Shtunken) is a junior at Canterbury, who has been a part of the school and acting since sixth grade. He participated in Schoolhouse Rock and Circus Olympus, Clue! and Grease. As a member of Thespian Troupe 4637, he competed in the District One Act with the play Tracks, taking home a Superior! Aidan has also participated in stage crew for The Wizard of Oz and Anything Goes. He is glad to be a part of another school production and is thankful for this opportunity to act and build friendships along the way. Lilly Berget (Assistant Stage Manager/ Gretchen Twitchill) is a sophomore at Canterbury. She has participated in the Canterbury productions since she arrived in eighth grade. She has worked behind the scenes in many shows either running lights, sound, or creating set design for Hamlett, Charlotte's Web, Tracks, and Grease. This is Lilly’s first role as assistant stage manager and understudy for Olga Zitzen. She is very excited and can’t wait for more opportunities within the thespian community. Lilly would love to give a very special thanks to Mr. Beck, Ms.Rios, Ms.Coker, and everyone who makes this play possible. She would also like to thank her family for always supporting her!
Cast Bios Alma Herrera-Edwards (Heidi Zitzen) is a freshman at Canterbury. She has been at Canterbury since fifth grade but didn’t start participating in plays until recently. She appeared in The Wizard of Oz, Medusa/Circus Olympus, and stage crew for Clue!. She is excited to be a part of The Creature Creeps as Heidi, and she looks forward to many roles in future shows. She would like to thank her dad for taking her to so many practices, and the cast for helping her with her part and making it fun along the way. Jamie Manning (Mord) is a freshman at Canterbury. He has been into theatre since a very young age. Jamie loves improv, acting, and singing. You might recognize him as he was an actor in Anything Goes, Circus Olympus, Hamlette, Seussical, and Tracks. He was also part of the crew for Wizard of Oz. He has spent most of his years at Canterbury as a Jr. Thespian but he is very excited to be a High School Thespian and enter a new chapter in his life. Jamie is very excited to work with the incredibly talented cast, crew, and directors. Jamie thinks that it is kind of creepy that he is referring to himself in the 3rd person.
Spencer Williams (Frank Sterling Understudy) Spencer is a junior at Canterbury. He has been in numerous school plays and musicals since the fifth grade. These productions include Grease, Circus Olympus, School House Rock and Clue!. He is excited to participate in his fourth upper school production, and he is very thankful for the opportunity to act and make memorable experiences with the amazing cast and crew.
Thank you for dressing our Baron to the nines in one of your fabulous tuxedos!
Sacino's Formalwear 2206 4th St. N (727) 895-5558
Special Thank you to Ginnie
for our lovely, dead flowers!
Eloise, You’re the best sister I could ask for and thank you for always being there for me. I can’t believe you’re a senior now and I’m going to miss you next year!
- Oliver
Thank you to all our Tee It Up Sponsors
Introducing our Lifetime Members of the Canterbury Muses of the Arts Kristy Alderson and Mark Taber Wendy Sage Baker Russ and Mary Ball Big T Printing - The Moore Family Carolyn and Scott Buchanan Mike and Janet Carroll Drs. Jake Carrerio and Vanessa Lucarella Dax and Stacy Cummings Kelly and Michelle Curtis Mark and Melissa Dann The Meyers Family Norm and Maureen Dobiesz Chris and Stephanie Flynn Mike and Cara Hanna Andrew and Kimberly Hicks Robert and Rosslyn Hicks Mary Anne and Tom Hochadel
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A huge Thank You!! to all our members for their contributions and dedication. Because of you we can keep
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