Tag Archives: Actors Circle

Actors Circle to present Agatha Christie’s “Case of the Missing Will”

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Rehearsing for “The Case of the Missing Will” are, from left: Tricia Hemming, Dominick Azzarelli, and April Holgate.

Actors Circle will present Agatha Christie’s ‘The Case of the Missing Will,’ a short story adapted for the stage by Robert Spalletta at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road,  Scranton. 

Directed by Katie VonBergen, show dates are April 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 2024 with show times Thursday, Fridays and Saturday, April 20, at 7 p.m.; Sundays and Saturday, April 13, at 2 p.m.. Tickets are $15 general, $12 senior, and $10 student. On Thursday, April 11, all tickets are $10. Pay cash at the door or visit www.actorscircle.com to purchase tickets online. Call 570-342-9707 for reservations.

This is presented with assistance from a grant from Lackawanna County Arts and Culture.

In the play, Poirot assists an intelligent young woman in proving to her deceased uncle that her education was valuable. They must solve the puzzle of his will or else she will be left with no inheritance.

Members of the cast are: Dominick Azzarelli as Hercule Poirot; Tricia Henning as Miss Violet Marsh; April Holgate as Poirot’s assistant Felicity Lemon; Harry Powell as Violet’s uncle, Andrew Marsh;  Cathy Rist Strauch as the cook, Mrs. Baker, and Jeff Ginsberg as the tradesman, Walter Coghan. Robert Spalletta is production designer and Mark Fryer is stage manager.

Shown in rehearsal for “The Case of the Missing Will” by Actors Circle are Jeff Ginsberg, seated, and Harry Powell and Cathy Rist Strauch, standing.

Katie VonBergen, director, is a resident of Scranton and is an administrator assistant at Holy Cross in Dunmore and the Moderator and Artistic Director of the Holy Cross Theatre Ensemble. Last spring at Holy Cross she directed “The Garment,” and in the fall of 2023, “ The Wizard of Oz.” With Actors Circle, she has appeared in several AC productions, stage managed, and directed “On Golden Pond” by Ernest Thompson. Katie has also served on AC’s board and is currently on its auxiliary board.

Cathy Rist Strauch, native of Dunmore, is the daughter of the late Harold W. and C. Marion  McCabe Rist and resided on Clay Avenue in the Hollywood section of Dunmore during her early years. She attended St. Mary of Mount Carmel School, Dunmore (the same as her mother), and later, Scranton Prep and the University of Scranton. 

Upon marriage to her husband, Joseph J. Strauch, she moved to Clinton Township, near Factoryville), where they they raised three daughters.

Cathy has been active in theater most of her life, joining Actors Circle board of directors in 1987, serving is a past president, and now as ongoing secretary. Throughout her theatrical career, Cathy has done many things: acting, singing, dancing, directing, producing, costuming, sound design, set decoration, fundraising and publicity.

Rehearsing for “The Case of the Missing Will” are, from left: Tricia Hemming, Dominick Azzarelli, and April Holgate.

Dr. Robert Spalletta joined the faculty of the University of Scranton in 1983 and served as the chair of its Physics Department for 11 years. Dr. Spalletta first got involved in theater in 1964, and has won writing awards during his high school, college, and postgraduate career. He has served on the Board of Directors for Actors Circle since 1990 and was president of the board for 12 years. He has been serving in the technical maintenance of the theatre since he came onboard. Robert has directed for Actors Circle on several occasions and appeared in a few of their productions and has produced several shows. 

This is his second time adapting a story for the stage at AC. His last work was staging and directing “His Girl Friday” which was originally produced as a movie written by Charles Lerer and Ben Hecht.

Actors Circle opens production of “Harvey” this month

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  • Cast members of “Harvey,” to be presented by Actors Circle in late February and early March include, seated, from left: Kandis Hill, Chris Eibach, and Cecelia Pugh. Standing: Jason Narcoonis, Lorrie Loughney, and Paul Kantor.
  • Chris Eibach of Dunmore plays the title role in a production of “Harvey” by Actors Circle.
  • Cast and staff of “Harvey” at Actors Circle include, seated from left: Linda C. Griffiths and Chris Eibach of Dunmore. Standing, same order: Jeff Ginsberg, Nina Kemp, Paul Kantor, Britt Demming, Jason Narcoonis, Charlie Spano, Kandis Hill, Harry Powell, Lorrie Loughney, Cecelia Pugh, and JP McGowan.

Actors Circle continues its 42nd season with the presentation of Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy “Harvey” at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road, Scranton. Show dates are February 22, 23, 24, 25, and March 1, 2, 3.

Show times are Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m and Sundays at 2 p.m.. Tickets are $15 general; $12 senior, and $10 student. On Thursday, February 22, all tickets are $10. Pay cash at the door or visit www.actorscircle.com to purchase tickets online. Call 570-342-9707 for reservations.

Elwood P. Dowd, played by Chris Eibach of Dunmore, is a polite and friendly man, has a very strange best friend—a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch invisible rabbit named Harvey. Elwood’s sister Veta is concerned the rabbit will interfere with her life as a socialite, so she tries to have Elwood committed at the local sanatorium. 

Directed by Linda C. Griffiths, and produced by Mark Fryer and J.P. McGowan, the cast also includes Britt Demming, Jeff Ginsberg, Kandis Hill, Paul Kantor, Lorrie Loughney, Jason Narcoonis, Harry Powell, Cecelia Pugh, and Charlie Spano. Nina Kemp is stage manager.

Dunmorean Chris Eibach has been seen in many productions of Actors Circle. Most recently, he was one of the two actors in AC’s “The Woman in Black.” Other AC  productions include “Lombardi,” “Auntie Mame,” “Wait Until Dark,” and “A Bad Year for Tomatoes” for which he received a best actor award from Northeast Pennsylvania Theatrical Association. He has also won other NEPTAs over the years.  

In his 35 years of acting, Chris has also been seen on several stages within Northeast PA. Chris has also been seen in several local commercials including those for Fidelity Bank and Mohegan Sun Arena. He won all state actor twice in high school state forensics and actor of the year at Penn State Worthington College. He resides in Dunmore with his daughter, Katrina, and son, Evan. Evan, an eighth grader, will soon be seen in Dunmore High School’s upcoming play, “Percy Jackson.”

Actors Circle presents first show of 2024: “Ravenscroft”

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Cast and staff members of Ravenscroft include, seated from left: April Holgate, Courtney McCreary, Marnie Azzarelli, Britt Demming and Jessi Teevan. Standing, same order: Eric Lutz, Jeff Ginsberg, Kate Martin, Justin O’Hearn and Cathy Rist Strauch.
The Gothic thriller “Ravenscroft” features, from left: April Holgate, Britt Demming, and Marnie Azzarelli.

Actors Circle will present Ravenscroft by Don Nigro at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road, Scranton,  on January 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21

Performances are on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and  Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 general; $12 seniors, and $10 students. On Thursday, January 11, all tickets are $10. Pay cash at the door or prepay online through Actorscircle.com. Call for 570-342-9707 for reservations, which can be held until 10 minutes before  showtime.

This psychological drama is a thinking person’s Gothic thriller, a dark comedy that is both funny and frightening. On a snowy night, Inspector Ruffing is called to a remote house to investigate the headlong plunge of Patrick Roarke down the main staircase. He becomes involved in the lives of five alluring and dangerous women.

Directed by Kate Martin and produced by Cathy Rist Strauch and Jeff Ginsberg, the cast includes Eric Lutz, April Holgate, Jessi Teevan, Courtney McCreary, Britt Demming, and Marnie Azzarelli.  Justin O’Hearn is stage manager. Joe and Karen Sadowski are royalty sponsors. This is presented through special permission by Concord Theatricals, and special grants from The Lackawanna County for the Arts and Culture, Sam’s Club, Dickson City, and Walmart (Taylor, and Dickson City).