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Poudre High School Theatre presents |
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by
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Laura Lenczycki |
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| Directed by Joel Smith | |||
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Presented by arrangement with Dramatic Play Service under license from Mischief Worldwide Ltd. |
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THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG was first presented by Mischief Theatre under the title The Murder Before Christmas on December 4th, 2012, at the Old Red Lion Theatre in London. |
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Cast
Creative Team
Esther Ambrose
Laurie Lindsey
Marlie Clark
Jeremiah "Geralt" Daley
Sara Ogden
MJ Scott-Donegan
Octavio Sutton
Izzy Johnson
Skylar Lamoreaux
Gwyneth Parker
Juelz Martin
Alice Kress
Birdie Fry
Brooklyn Wilkes
Calen Clapp
Charli Lawler
El Zweygardt
Emily Hertzog
Emmie Jackson
Gibson Wessel
Mia Pulido
Orissia Cruz
Lucia Cruz-Rodenbeck
Carter Larsen
Katy Riley
Maeve Schinkel
Lily VanZant
Shop Talk
Upon learning that our winter show was titled The Play that Goes Wrong, one might envision it as a technical director’s nightmare. You wouldn’t be wrong. The first read-through of the script induced some minor heart palpitations, as did the second. By the third, I was both nervous and genuinely excited. You see, for something to "go wrong" on stage, many things need to go exactly right, and I count my blessings that they have.
The first right thing has and will always be my incredibly supportive family—my parents and siblings who are there for me, primarily by listening to anything and everything I need to say after a long crew call. The second right thing is our amazing directing team behind this show. Thank you, Ms. Kari, for being a hopeful visionary and a positive presence in our creative space. Thank you, Alec, for being my "supervising adult" in crime, spending endless hours brainstorming and implementing some crazy ideas. And, Mr. Smith, thank you for never accepting anything less than our best, for challenging me to grow as a person, and to use skills I didn’t think I had. We've come a long way since Eurydice's "stringa" set design when you asked me to come in and see what being a technical director might be about.
Finally, this show would not be able to go wrong without the very right skills and attitude of this technical crew. They've turned some ideas that felt impossible into reality. They've had to think creatively to meet the script's insane demands and be precise in their execution so that it could all come off as "theatre magic." When building a box set like this, you need a wide variety of skills, from construction, sourcing props, painting, wallpapering, set dressing, practical light wiring, and more that I am probably forgetting. We had the full spectrum of experience on this crew, from new people who had never used an impact drill or held a paintbrush to our experienced heads who were teaching others to use power tools, hang lights, program on the boards, and hone their scenic painting skills. All of this was done under the pressures of a short build time and the dreary winter weather. To say that I am proud is an understatement. I am truly amazed at the work they have done, the challenges they have overcome, and the friendships that were forged in the long hours of Saturday tech calls. I am excited for this show that will bring down the house and hope that you find it "wrong" for all the right reasons!
Help Send Our Thespians to Internationals!
3 PHS Thespians are travelling to the International Thespian Festival this June with Fossil Ridge High School. Please help support their trip!
Costumer Snippets
I love to shower well-deserved praise on the amazing costume crews who work so hard on each show here at Poudre Theatre. And here I go again.
We knew our decision to present this play would use a small cast—half which would be wearing technical black clothing, typical of backstage work.
I chose superstars Maeve Schinkel, Carter Larson, Lily Van Zant and Katy Riley to fit the men’s looks and to build the very few women’s costumes for our 1920’s play within a play “The Murder at Haversham Manor”.
We knew the physical comedy nature of this show would be hard on the sturdiest of costumes. There have been daily repairs from rehearsals alone! We simply could not put our actors into the delicate, authentic vintage pieces gracing our stock. We also reasoned that the costumes were one of the few parts of the play NOT necessarily “wrong”.
Before the hilarious disasters within the play, there was every intention of the Cornley Drama Society to present a well-done and classy production. To illustrate those good intentions, the costume crew used truly authentic, complicated, and often bewildering women’s sewing patterns reproduced directly from the 1920’s. The crew bravely took on the challenge of building and styling these complex puzzle-piece gowns with a believable, beautiful, (and mostly sturdy) result.
The sewing talent, hard work, great attitude, and total dedication of this small but mighty crew has me shaking my head with astonishment and appreciation. Thank you so much, you fabulous four!
Astonishment and appreciation also go to Joel Smith, my longtime partner in magical theatrical insanity, to Laura Lenczycki who we lured back into technical shenanigans, and Alec Munoz, who glows with positivity and possibilities. Thanks also to our valued student assistants Ester, Laurie, and Lucia. You’re the best!
As always, such gratitude to my patient husband and family, who encourage and believe in me while I disappear into the depths of the costume basement for weeks at a time.
Please enjoy this zany show!
Kari Armstrong
Costume Director
Meet the Company
Suzie Matlock
Suzie Matlock is a junior at Poudre High School, and is very excited to be performing in The Play That Goes Wrong! She has been doing theatre since her Freshman year, such as Clue, Mean Girls, and more. Suzie would love to thank her family and friends for always being so loving and supportive in her journey through theatre.
Harper Skjerseth
Harper is excited to be portraying Taylor in the Play That Goes Wrong! This is Harper's sixth show at Poudre and feels like she has found her second family with Poudre Theatre. She´d like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her in her artistic endeavors and being there for her throughout the process of creating this show.
Christine Pannell
This will be Christine's 10th show at Poudre High School, and she is so grateful for the opportunities she has had in the program! Some of her favorite roles include Mrs. White in Clue, Gretchen in Mean Girls, and Bippy in Puffs. She wants to thank her Mom, Grandma, and siblings for the love they show her every day.
Riley Jané
Riley is a Junior and never thought he'd end up doing theatre at the high school level. This is his first show and he is ecstatic to share this production with you. He would also like to thank his family, friends, and the rest of the cast for their support.
Harriet Marcus-Bause
Harriet Marcus-Bause is a junior at Poudre High School and has been doing theater since 7th grade, she started her acting career at La-De-Da and then joined PHS theater her freshman year. Her acting experiences range from one language performances to plays in a different country with four different languages! Harriet is excited to introduce you to her character Rachel/Mary Colleymoore in the performance of The Play that Goes Wrong!
Cooper Hix
Cooper is currently a senior at Poudre High School and this will be his 4th production. He previously played Aaron Samuels in Mean girls and is excited to play Dennis in the Play that goes Wrong. Cooper would like to thank his friends and family for their endless support and pushing him to always be his best self.
Finn Vaughan
Finn is a senior, continuing his work in theatre, most recently portraying Damian in Mean Girls. He would like to acknowledge the cast of Glee for their three-dimensional concert film and their groundbreaking work. In addition, he’d like to thank Troy Bolton for inspiring him to do theatre (the basketball career didn’t pan out). All things go, all things go.
Pelé Allen
Pelé is thrilled to get to work alongside her talented peers in this winter production. Recently, you might have seen her as Regina in Mean Girls at PHS or Adella in The Little Mermaid at the Academy by Divabee. Pelé thanks her family and friends for supporting her throughout this production run, and she hopes you enjoy!
Lennon Shipton
Lennon has been in theatre since he was a child, and was in most of the productions at his middle school. He has also been a part of some of the productions here at Poudre. He played Guy in a one-act show called Check Please. He also played Kevin G in Mean Girls The Musical.
Merrick Mackinney
Merrick made his theater debut by making costumes for The Little Mermaid, and later did costumes for Puffs and Romeo & Juliet. Since, he has had acting roles in Matilda the Musical as Rudolpho and Mean Girls the Musical as an ensemble member.
Zoë Anderson
Owen Johnson
After his debut in Poudre Theatre’s production of Mean Girls, Owen is excited to act in his second production with the company. When Owen is not working with the troop he spends his time jerry-rigging robots with Poudre’s robotics team. Thus, he is excited to take the role of technical-crew-actor to bring his love for shoddy construction to the stage.
Josephine Beck
This is Josephine’s debut on the tech crew! Just kidding… but not really. She is a junior and this is her 6th show acting and her 7th production with Poudre Theatre. She would like to thank her everyone who supports her in everything she does. She is so excited to for you to see this show and hopes you enjoy!
Logan Yaste
Logan has been in Poudre Theatre since her freshman year. Some of her past productions include Matilda and Mean Girls. She is extremely excited to be doing her first play. She would like to thank her family and friends for kindly and patiently supporting and encouraging her.
Masen Odell
As a freshman, Masen is excited to be making her Poudre Theatre debut in The Play That Goes Wrong, and is looking forward to becoming a part of the theatre community through her high school career. Her biggest hope for The Play That Goes Wrong is to meet new people and create memories—and to ultimately find Winston.
Michael Abramowitz
Michael is a sophomore at prouder High School, this is his first show as an actor. Michael has done past shows such as Clue, Almost Maine and Mean Girls. Acting is a whole new aspect of theater for him compared to being a technician. He wants to thank his family and friends for the support he gets to pursue theater.
Esther Ambrose
Laurie Lindsey
Marlie Clark
Jeremiah "Geralt" Daley
Sara Ogden
MJ Scott-Donegan
Octavio Sutton
Izzy Johnson
Skylar Lamoreaux
Gwyneth Parker
Juelz Martin
Alice Kress
Birdie Fry
Brooklyn Wilkes
Calen Clapp
Charli Lawler
El Zweygardt
Emily Hertzog
Emmie Jackson
Gibson Wessel
Mia Pulido
Orissia Cruz
Lucia Cruz-Rodenbeck
Carter Larsen
Katy Riley
Maeve Schinkel
Lily VanZant
Special Thanks!
Thank You
to the following individuals and businesses whose support
and generosity make our productions possible.
- PHS Administrators & Deans
- Kim Witman & Justina Malm
- Matt Grevan. Melissa Centgraf & CSU Department of Theatre
- Lindsay Shipton
- Stephanie Mosnik & PHS TV Production students
- Christy Gigliotti & PHS Advanced Photography Students
- Gregg Osterhout
- Madison McGinty and PHS Catering Students
- Antonio, Jesus, and the PHS Custodial Team
- Don Cox
- Melanie, Jackson & Taryn
- Parent Meal & Intermission Volunteers
and all the families and friends whose patience, flexibility and support make it all possible!
Support Theatre in Our Schools
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Director's Notes
We're all thinking it: February is the worst.
After the fun of the holidays and the resolutions of the new year, February drags me down and fills me with the kind of indistinct dread and nebulous anxiety that I cannot define enough to do something about. February is the mosquito buzz in the middle of the night. It's the calendar-equivalent of that maddening tingle when the Novocain wears off and the toothache sets in. I don't know how the shortest month can last soooo long, but it really, really does.
So, I want to thank the cast, crew, Ms. Kari, Laura, Alec, and this show for getting me through a really rough month. There has been precious little to laugh about so far this year, but this company has made me laugh out loud with their hard work, comic timing, brilliant ideas, and excellence in craft. They have made an unbearable month not just bearable, but so much fun.
Thanks also to Adam, for his awesome vocal coaching; Matt, for teaching us how to pull hair; Melissa, for some very good weapons safety lessons; and Lindsay, for bee-stung 1920's lips. I am so grateful for the community of artists here willing and excited to teach our students their craft and their passion.
I also want to recognize the theatre teachers in our district. You push me to be a better teacher, designer, director, artist. From the brilliant directors at the other 5 high schools to the elective teachers at our middle and elementary schools doing theatre as a club or a special or a skinny, I see you, admire you, cherish the work you do. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but yours is the vital work of creating in destructive times, building community in an divisive age, building human beings in the face of AI, nurturing the empathy that we will all need to survive (it's an election year: I'm gonna get political!). I'm sure you will recognize your students, yourselves, the joyful absurdity of what we do in The Play That Goes Wrong. I know I do. If we can't laugh at ourselves...
And finally, speaking of empathy, I want to thank the three incredible women in my life for helping me get through these past few months. My mother, my wife, and my daughter are such amazing, caring, generous, humble, talented, and beautiful women, and they have picked me up and carried me when I couldn't make it alone. The men in my family are a work in progress (you're on the right track, J!), but I am blessed to have these strong and giving women in my world. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
J Smith
February 2024
Friends & Family
