Synopsis
Catherine Sloper, a shy and plain young girl, falls desperately in love with a delightful young fortune hunter. Catherine’s lack of worldliness prevents her from realizing that the young man proposing to her is not entirely drawn to her by her charm. Catherine’s father, a successful doctor, sees through the fortune hunter and forbids the marriage, but his daughter proposes an elopement that fails to materialize. Catherine retires into a world of her own, until the fortune hunter turns up once more.
- Written By: Ruth Goetz & Augustus Goetz
- Directed by: Barbara Barkan
- Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
You may view the full program by clicking here.
The Cast
Maria
Elizabeth Piel-Black
Dr. Austin Sloper
Jeffrey J. Albright
Lavinia Penniman
Cindy Bilby
Catherine Sloper
Marissa Rex
Elizabeth Almond
Jean Mills
Arthur Townsend
Brad Riker
Marian Almond
Emily Remaklus
Morris Townsend
John DuVall
Mrs. Montgomery
Kate Argow
The Crew
Director:
Barbara Barkan
Producer:
Jean Mills
Stage Manager:
Debbie Marinink
Rehearsal Prompter:
Kate Argow
Lighting Design:
Andrew C. Todd
Lighting Crew:
Patrick Drummond & Kari Kapszukiewicz
Sound Designer:
Laura Crawford
Sound Crew:
Angelique La Vache
Props Gatherer:
Brad Riker
Costume Designer:
Elizabeth Piel-Black & Chris Jagodzinski
Costume Apprentice:
Jennifer Ellison
Dresser:
Kate Argow, Jennifer Ellison, & Kate Juhasz
Stage Crew:
Scott Dibling & Jeff Witt
Set Designer:
Andrew C. Todd
Set Builder:
Scott Dibling, Chris Jagodzinski, & William J Priest
Set Painters:
Lindsay Cromwell, Scott Dibling, Chris Jagodzinski, & Jean Mills
Scenic Artist:
Chris Jagodzinski & Jean Mills
Set Dresser:
John DuVall
House Manager:
Ann Veasey
Box Office Manager:
Ann Veasey
Box Office, Lobby, & Usher Staff:
Sandy Blanchard, Kimberly Bruggemann, Pam Engle, Dan Finkel, Jake Gordy, Darlene Hatfield, Patty Hoover, Christopher Jagodzinski, Debbie Marinik, Jean Mills, Susan Rice, & Laura Zelenka
Publicity:
Chris Jagodzinski
Program:
Jake Gordy
Program Art & Cover Design:
Christopher Jagodzinski
Production Logo:
Christopher Jagodzinski
Program Printing:
AIM Specialists
Marquee Sign:
Jake Gordy & Christopher Jagodzinski
Special Thanks:
Kate Argow, Artco Salon, Atlas Bridal, Kevin Charles, Children’s Theatre Workshop, Jeanne Fairchild , Rev. Elizabeth M. Hoster, Kelly McBane, Judy & CJ Meeks, Jim Norman, The Toledo Rep, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Museum
The Show
Act I
Scene 1: An October evening.
Scene 2: An afternoon two weeks later.
Scene 3: The next morning.
Act II
Scene 1: An April night six months later.
Scene 2: Two hours later.
Scene 3: A morning three days later.
Scene 4: A summer evening almost two years later.
The Biographies
The Director
Barbara Barkan (Director) Even before Quartet ended its run, and Barbara retired the role of Jean Horton, she was already entrenched in rehearsals for The Heiress. “What a feast for the creative mind and soul,” she stated, “Quartet was a pure joy to work on and now The Heiress; a multi-layered play with twists, turns, and challenges for both actor and director alike.” Barbara last directed The Liar, Born Yesterday, and School for Husbands at The Village. At the Rep she has directed I Hate Hamlet, Rabbit Hole, Inventing Van Gogh, and Love Letters. Of all the many productions she has been involved with in her 45 year career in community theater, her most cherished “production” to date is her daughter, Thea Catherine.
The Cast
Elizabeth Piel-Black (Maria) is thrilled to be onstage again in The Heiress! The last time she actually walked the boards was in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She has her bachelor’s degree in music and theatre from Valparaiso University. Currently, Elizabeth is a bank teller by day, and she tends to stay backstage, either costuming or stage managing, by night. Elizabeth sends love to Andrew, her wonderful husband, and her baby, Mercutio. Break a leg to everyone in the cast! One final note – Chris, you are my hero!
Jeffrey J. Albright (Dr. Austin Sloper) directed The Village Players season opener Quartet. Jeff has appeared in The Drowsy Chaperone (Felzeig), Death of a Salesman (Ben), A Christmas Carol (Marley), Hamlet (The Player King), The Odd Couple (Oscar), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Big Daddy), and Harvey (Elwood P. Dowd) at the Toledo Rep. Jeff was last seen on The Village Players’ stage in 1982 as Mark in The Shadow Box for one performance only…it’s a long story. He serves on the Board of Directors at The Village Players Theatre and is a founding member of Actors Collaborative Toledo.
Cindy Bilby (Lavinia Penniman) is delighted to return to The Village stage after last season’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Lettice and Lovage. She is a 1992 graduate of Ohio University’s School of Theatre and has appeared in a variety of roles in a variety of venues over the years. Favorites include Mae in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Miss Maudie in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Marissa Rex (Catherine Sloper) is honored to perform in her 5th production at The Village. Marissa was recently in The Valentine Studio A Theatre’s The Mousetrap (Mollie), The Village’s Impossible Marriage (Floral), The Dinner Party (Mariette), From Up Here (Caroline), and several Toledo Rep productions. As Catherine would say, “it’s important to find a person to love and one who loves you in return (for that is the same thing).” Marissa has found that in her supportive husband, Justin, and her son, Jack, who made his own stage debut in The Mousetrap (in utero). Also, a big thank you to her mom and dad for loving her always. Enjoy the show!
Jean Mills (Elizabeth Almond) has performed with The Village Players and other area theatres since 1981. A past president and current board member, she can be found volunteering her talents on-stage and behind the scenes to ensure that our audiences have a marvelous experience every time they come for a performance. Jean’s roles include dramas, mysteries, comedies and musicals. Some of her favorite characters include Daisy Wertham (Driving Miss Daisy), Ethel Thayer (On Golden Pond), Madame Armfeldt (A Little Night Music), Melissa Gardner (Love Letters), Olive Madison (The Female Odd Couple), Christine Milman (Mixed Emotions), and Lily Harrison (Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks). Jean thanks the director, cast, and crew for a great experience. She is particularly happy to be sharing the stage with Jeff Albright and John DuVall who were students at Maumee High School where she was a teacher. (Yes, their talents were in evidence back then!).
Brad Riker (Arthur Townsend) has taken several seasons off from acting at The Village, but is glad to be back once more on the boards. Brad enjoys working behind the scenes, dressing, propping, and painting the sets. His favorite rolls have been Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap, Colonel Starling in Camping With Henry and Tom, Eli in The Spitfire Grill, Peter Sloan in Light Up The Sky, Magnus in The Real Inspector Hound, and most recently on The Village stage, Jimmy in The Rainmaker. It’s nice to be back at The Village
Emily Remaklus (Marian Almond) is a BGSU graduate with a major in theatre. While at Bowling Green, she participated in various theatre and film productions. This past year, Emily has become involved in the Northwest Ohio’s community theatres. Her recent productions include Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Bobbi) with The Village Players, Over the River and Through the Woods (Caitlin O’Hare) with Waterville Playshop, and Les Miserables (Chorus/Lady of the Night) with 3B Productions. She would like to thank her family, friends, The Village Players, and everyone who came out to see the show!
John Duvall (Morris Townsend) From 75 years old to 30! John is returning to The Village stage directly after his portrayal of Reggie in Quartet. He is so happy to be back on stage with one of his dearest friends, Jeffrey Albright, and directed by one of his favorite people on Earth, Barbara Barkan. Add to that an ensemble of great actors and great friends, and he is one happy Morris! John is also thrilled to have his fiancé and best friend, Jeff Witt, working the crew. Who could ask for anything more?
Kate Argow (Mrs. Montgomery) has performed everything from Shakespeare to Gurney, and Restoration Comedy to musical comedy. She has served backstage as a director, author, stage manager, costumer, etc. She is thrilled to be working with the talented cast and crew of The Heiress.