RUMORS

written by Neil Simon

directed by Matthew Randall

When Neil Simon needed a good laugh, this is the play he wrote! Join us for this first-rate farce with plenty of physical comedy, high-octane energy, and loaded with classic Neil Simon wit. It begins with three couples as they arrive at an upper-crust Manhattan anniversary party to discover that their host (the Deputy Mayor of New York), has accidentally maimed himself. Watch as the couples go to outrageous lengths to keep the police and press from finding out the truth. Don’t miss this gem of a comedy!

Meet the Cast (in alphabetical order)

Michael J. Fisher (Victor Fleming) was seen last season on the LTA stage in The Savannah Disputation and August: Osage County. Other previous productions include Angel Street (GAC and OTC), Any Given Monday (DS), Blithe Spirit (PTC), Expecting Isabel (SSS), Rough Crossing (RLT), Kind Lady (CCP), Dearly Departed (ACCT), All My Sons (PCP) and Judgment at Nuremberg (SCT). He has also been seen on several Investigation Discovery Channel productions: “Evil Stepmothers,” “Evil Kin” and “Nightmare Next Door,” among others.

Hillary Leersnyder (Miss Poppenghul) is pleased to be in her first production after graduating from the College of William and Mary. During her time there, she was involved in Into the Woods as well as Sinfonicron Light Opera Company’s productions of Kiss Me, Kate; The Sorcerer; The Grand Duke, and The Drowsy Chaperone. When Hillary is not onstage, you can find her building theatre sets or playing rugby.

J.T. Spivy (Ben Hecht) makes his debut at LTA in Moonlight and Magnolias . At the Actors Guild of Parkersburg (WV), he portrayed Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, Dr. Henry Jekyll in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Igor in Young Frankenstein and Phil Davis in White Christmas: The Musical. He also performed in Company, 9 to 5: the Musical, Shrek The Musical , Dracula, The Full Monty , Prelude to a Kiss , Alice in Wonderland , Beauty and the Beast , Ten Little Indians and A Streetcar Named Desire.

Griffin Voltmann (David O. Selznick) is having a ball. Hope you do too!

Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association invites you to visit www.artseventsalexandria.com to view the arts calendar and schedule of events.

Follow us on twitter @thelittletheatr

For your own safety, look for your nearest EXIT. In case of emergency, WALK, DO NOT run, to the exit.

Meet the Crew (in alphabetical order)

Hilary Adams (Hair and Makeup Design) is delighted to bring her love of makeup and vintage fashion to this production. Hilary has worn many hats at LTA, including those of actor, assistant director, producer, props designer and bartender, to name a few. She is grateful to Juli, the production team and the cast for making her a part of the Moonlight family. Enjoy the show!

Ceci Albert and Mary Wallace (Co-Costume Design) are delighted to be back at LTA after their debut as a costuming team for this year’s production of A Christmas Carol. Ceci previously costumed at LTA for Red, White and Tuna; The Audience, and A Fox on the Fairway with Lisa Brownsword, who moved to Georgia. Mary Wallace joined us this year from Florida with extensive costuming experience. Ceci and Mary are excited about helping to bring 1939 back to life with this incredible cast and crew.

Rachel Alberts (Co-Producer) has produced a grand total of 10 shows at LTA in addition to directing, producing and writing plays for children for a dozen years. She is a three-time recipient of LTA’s Award for Excellence in Producing, serves on the Board as the Governor of Public Relations and is a proud recipient of Alexandria’s Salute to Women Award for Cultural Affairs.

Helen Bard-Sobola (Co-Properties Design) has worked backstage on props or set dressing or whatever needs to be done at many local theatres. Her latest LTA project was You Can’t Take It With You, and Last Summer at Bluefish Cove at Dominion Stage. Enjoy she show. Enjoy each moment of any given day, because that is all we really have—moments and people to share them with. Love to my family.

Stacey Becker (Set Decoration and Co-Set Design) is excited to be working on another production at LTA and is especially delighted to be partnering with Ken Brown on set design. Stacey’s latest work behind the scenes was co-producer and set painting designer for The Haunting of Hill House and most recently co-set painting designer for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. She hopes the audience enjoys the show as much as she did working alongside the wonderful cast and crew. Have fun!

Juli Tarabek Blacker (Director) is excited to be directing her first mainstage at LTA! Previous directing credits include The Savannah Disputation (LTA, assistant director), Just Relative (LTA one-act), Capsmittment (VTC), Hamlet (PCP) and Capsmittment (LTA New Voices). Many thanks to James for his support.

Ken Brown (Set Construction and Co-Set Design) is excited to be working on another LTA production as set builder and set designer with Stacey Becker. Ken has built LTA sets for Red, White and Tuna; The Audience; A Christmas Carol (2017), and A Fox on the Fairway and designed and built the set for The Haunting of Hill House. Ken would like to thank Russ and Rachel and the great team of this production.

Alexander Bulova (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be making his LTA debut! Alex is a recent graduate of the College of William and Mary and a resident playwright and director with the Class Act Players Theatre Company. Directorial credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Sinfonicron Light Opera Company), Antony and Cleopatra: In Space! (Shakespeare in the Dark), Modern Art, The Complete History of Fairfax and SuperNOVA (Class Act Players).

Sherry Clarke (Co-Stage Manager) first “dabbled in the arts” with the typical childhood neighborhood plays. In her late teens, Sherry experienced high school/college plays and musicals, starting a 13-year career as a vocalist based in Seattle. In Alexandria, she discovered LTA, a new home in which to explore her theatrical roots. Sherry’s most recent stage management credits include The Haunting of Hill House, A Fox on the Fairway, Harvey, August: Osage County and The Fantasticks.

Margaret Evans-Joyce (Co-Stage Manager) has produced about a dozen plays and stage managed almost twice that many. She served four years at LTA President and also as the Governor of Production. She received the Outstanding Service to LTA Award and the award for Long and Exceptional Service in a Single Department and also shared the award for 2014 Outstanding Production for Avenue Q. Margaret is an adjunct professor at Howard University in speech language pathology. It’s nice to be back on Book again!

Alex Geoghagan (Wardrobe Coordinator) After a long hiatus from theatre, Alex Geoghagan joined up with LTA for 2018’s A Christmas Carol as part of the makeup team. Afterward, he transferred to the wardrobe department and has since become wardrobe co-chair with Robin Woo. He regularly works to lend LTA’s costumes for use in productions in other theaters across the community and to curate LTA’s vast costume collection.

Bobbie Herbst (Co-Properties Design) has designed or co-designed properties for Dirty Blonde ; Twentieth Century ; Heaven Can Wait ; The Underpants; The Foreigner; Red, White and Tuna; and It Runs in the Family (LTA) and Black Hole (PCP—WATCH Award). Bobbie has received LTA’s Most Outstanding New Member Award and Outstanding Service to LTA Award. Sharing prop duties with the talented Helen Sobola has been a joy, and it is a pleasure to be working with such a talented cast and crew. Love and hugs to M, C and E.

JK Lighting Design (Jeffrey Scott Auerbach and Kimberly Crago/Lighting Design and Master Electricians) are thrilled to be part of the production team for Moonlight and Magnolias. JK Lighting Design also works with ACCT, RCP, TAP, VTC and other local theatre companies. Jeff and Kimberly are the 2018 WATCH Award winners for LTA’s Dracula. Jeff would like to thank his family, David and Katie Clement, for all their love and support. Kimberly would like to thank Steve Crago for his unwavering support. They consider it a joy to work with their talented friends at LTA. Please enjoy the show!

Brian Knapp (Photographer) has been a portrait and event photographer for close to 20 years and actively shooting theatre for over 10. He has captured candid images from close to 100 performances by a variety of theatre groups in the Northern Virginia area. His love of theatre photography started when his youngest daughter became involved in a local children’s theatre group. Though his daughter has since moved on to university, Brian has continued to work closely with the same theatre group he started with and has recently expanded to working with other theatres in the area. This is Brian’s first production with LTA, and he is honored to be working with such a talented cast and crew!

Meet the Crew (continued)

Kathy Ohlhaber (Set Painting) moves offstage from playing Theo in LTA’s recent production of The Haunting of Hill House to behind the scenes for Moonlight . Having only dabbled in set painting, Kathy is making her debut as leader of a talented team of painters, and she is thrilled to continue working with LTA.

Stefan Sittig (Stage Combat Choreography): Falling Water (Kennedy Center); Polaroid Stories (Studio); Man of La Mancha (Washington Savoyards); Jesus Christ Superstar (Open Circle—Helen Hayes nomination); The Wiz (ATLAS); That Championship Season, Hollywood Pinafore, Picnic, The Seven-Year Itch , Hotel Universe , The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window , Luv (TACT); Peter Pan, North Shore Fish, Good Night Desdemona Good Morning Juliet, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet (PCP—WATCH nomination); Omnium Gatherum (SSS); West Side Story (WATCH Award), A Streetcar Named Desire (LTA); The Clean House (ESP). Society of American Fight Directors; GMU faculty. www.stefansittig.com

Alan Wray (Sound Design) is excited to be working with the cast and crew of Moonlight and Magnolias. Alan has designed sound for various LTA productions as well as for other theaters. He most recently designed sound for The Producers. Additionally for LTA, he has designed Ragtime, Picnic (WATCH nomination), Rabbit Hole, Harvey and the chilling Widdershins (LTA Award). He also designed sound for TAP’s She Loves Me and The Seagull (WATCH nomination) and for Dominion Stage’s Spring Awakening and The Boys in the Band (WATCH nomination). Occasionally he produces shows, and his last co-production was The Haunting of Hill House with Stacey Becker.

Russell M. Wyland (Co-Producer, Rigging) has produced numerous shows and dressed sets for countless LTA productions, including Hairspray, The Full Monty , Avenue Q , 33 Variations , The Underpants and A Fox on the Fairway. He is the winner of several LTA and WATCH awards for set decoration, special effects and producing. Russell’s specialty and first love, however, is rigging, and he has been hanging curtains, signs and chandeliers at LTA for almost 25 years.