Our 535th Production
Directed by Loretta Lucy Miller
June 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 2023
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Arsenic and Old Lace is a farcical black comedy revolving around the Brewster family, descended from the Mayflower pilgrims. A lot has happened to this family since the early days of their ancestors. Mortimer Brewster pays a surprise visit to his mild-mannered, spinster aunts in their charming, chintz-filled home. He discovers that his aunts are not as mild mannered or innocent as they seem. Dark and deadly secrets spark a series of events beyond his wildest imagination. Throw in an uncle who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt, a murderous brother, who looks like a Boris Karloff, and a host of zany characters, and you have a rollicking good story with a surprise ending that you won’t want to miss!
Meet the Cast
Ben Kunkle as Mortimer
Ben Kunkle made his Old Academy debut in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Mr. Darcy) under the direction of Jane Jennings, and is honored to return. He previously performed in 2019’s New York City Sketch Fest and his sketch comedy videos have been shared by outlets including AOL, MSN, and Thomson Reuters.
David Moyer as Mr. Gibbs & Mr. Witherspoon
This is David’s fourth appearance for Old Academy. Previous plays were An Ideal Husband, The Bad Seed and Twelfth Night. Favorite roles are Mayor Shinn in The Music Man and Lou in After the Fall. This is his fourth appearance in a production of this play but the first time to play two roles. He praises God for his talent and dedicates his performance to all who supported him during his time in a hotel as well as his new friends at Jefferson Apartments in Norristown.
Harley Diamond as Jonathan
A native New Yorker and retired to Philadelphia last year after a lengthy legal career. He made his Philadelphia area debut last year in Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest at the Old Academy Players followed by Neil Simon’s Rumors at Dramateurs at the Barn Playhouse, Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre on the Verge, Something Rotten and Indecent at Players Club of Swarthmore, an understudy gig in Cinderella at the Walnut, and Big Fish at Salt Performing Arts Center. After graduation from Hofstra University and Stella Adler Conservatory, he performed in regional theatres from New Jersey to Iowa and also toured in Tartuffe. At St Barts Players in New York, he performed in A Little Night Music (Frederick), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Neville Landless), and Merrily We Roll Along (Joe). At the Brooklyn Heights Players, he performed in The History Boys, A Midsummer Nights’ Dream, Fiddler on the Roof, Call Me Madam and Cheaper by the Dozen. At the Gallery Players, he performed in Grand Hotel, The Tempest, The Comedy of Errors, and The Front Page. At other Brooklyn theatres, he performed in The Producers ( Roger de Bris), and Pippin ( King Charlemagne). He has also performed cabaret shows at several venues in New York. He is excited to be working with Loretta Lucy Miller again at the Old Academy.
James Hearn as Officer Brophy
James Hearn (Officer Brophy) is returning to theater after a 13 year absence. He has done theater off and on since 1982, first in Hawaii for 15 years, then in productions locally with The Stagecrafters and Player’s Club of Swarthmore. He is grateful for the continuing support of his wife Sonya, his father George (who has done Arsenic twice himself,) his sister Holly, and his late mother Linda, who got the family started in theater in the first place.
Jerry Jennings as Officer Klein (Understudy)
After years of writing screenplays and plays, and helping wife Jane with directing shows at Old Academy, Jerry is excited to join this talented cast and make his second appearance on the OA stage — this time with lines!
John Pinto as Dr. Einstein
JOHN PINTO Appeared as Inspector Thomas in OAP’s The Uninvited Guest. Other acting credits at area theaters include: PlayCrafters All My Sons (Joe Heller); Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry);Witness for the Prosecution (Judge and Carter) at Stagecrafters; Writers’ Block (Fred), Bach at Leipzig (Kaufman) at Langhorne Players; Julius Caesar (Cassius); The Little Foxes (Ben Hubbard) at ActorsNet of Bucks of County; Moon Over Buffalo (George Hay), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Ira Stone) at The Kesey Theater (NJ). Other theater pursuits: Performing Off-Off Broadway and on tour with the Lincoln Center Students Program. He has been business manager of The Acting Company, a professional company that tours the United States, performing up to fifty plays annually. Education: Holds a B.S. degree from The Juilliard School Drama Division and an MS in accounting from Pace University. He is a retired CPA and lives in Doylestown.
Jonathan Lovett as Teddy
Jonathan Lovett is DEE-LIGHTED to make his debut in Philadelphia in Arsenic and Old Lace. Jonathan relocated here from New York City. Jonathan was fortunate to have studied with Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof founders of HB Studios. Some of Jonathan’s favorite productions are Telephone Man, Barefoot in the Park, Oscar, The Odd Couple, Pertruchio in Taming of the Shrew, First Guard in Jean Anouilh’s Antigone, Pseudolus and Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Wool Gatherers, Jonesy in SideMan, and Tom in Christopher Durang’s For Whom the Southern Bell Tolls.
Linda Palmarozza as Abby Brewster
Linda is a theater veteran with over 40 years of community and regional theater credits. She has worked with the wonderfully talented Loretta Lucy Miller several times at Old Academy, the most recent was as Mrs. Warwick in last year’s production of The Unexpected Guest. She’s thrilled to be back playing Abby in this production of Arsenic and Old Lace. This past fall she played another wacky character also named Abby in the comedy Ripcord at Playcrafters in Skippack. Besides theater, Linda’s other passion is as an “overactive” volunteer for Stray Cat Blues, Inc., a Montgomery County non-profit cat rescue.
Marisa Block as Elaine
Marisa is always excited to be on stage at Old Academy. Favorite past roles include Gloria in Boeing Boeing, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jane in Men are Dogs and Corie in Barefoot in the Park. When Marisa is not acting she spends her days jumping up down and waving her arms, as she teaches first and second grade, cooking and getting outdoors as much as possible. All my thanks to David for embracing the crazy and picking up slack whenever I’m in a play!
Randy Shupp as Lt. Rooney
Randy Shupp is delighted to tread the OA boards again as Lieutenant Rooney and to co-produce Arsenic and Old Lace with his lovely wife Joan. He most recently appeared as Julius Caesar in Shakespearapalooza and in OA’s One Act Bonanza in The Joke written by Nancy Frick. Previously, he and his lovely wife Joan co-produced Old Ringers, Unexpected Guest, Calendar Girls, and Streetcar Named Desire. Randy proudly served Old Academy as a Vice-President and as various committee chairs and co-chairs. His first appearance as an actor was as Marcus Leicus in Forum, followed by (in no specific order) Peter Ravenswaal in Wrong Turn at Lungfish, Sydney Greenstreet in Ten Chimneys, a couple of roles in Twelfth Night and various One Acts. In 2008, he met his first professional musical partner at OA _ Don Kawash, and he went on to appear in many OA Christmas musical revues.
Rich Geller as Officer O’Hara
Rich Geller is happy to be back at Old Academy Players having previously appeared in Mornings at Seven and Purlie Victorious. Productions elsewhere include Tartuffe, Clybourne Park, A Raisin in the Sun, The Crucible, Lettice and Lovage, The Little Foxes, Rumors, Calendar Girls, Childe Byron, The Foreigner, Noises Off, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, and As You like It.
Steven Peitzman as Rev. Harper
A native Philadelphian, Steven J. Peitzman is a partly retired physician and medical school professor, and an historian of medicine — also a reservationist, theater enthusiast, and (very) occasional actor. He has done acting classes at Lantern Theatre. He recently played a dispirited federal judge at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in Effie Kammer’s Corpus; and recorded the voice of an asylum inmate for an exhibit at the Library Company of Philadelphia. At OAP, Steven appeared as second kibitzer in a summer one-act, and served as co-producer for Barefoot in the Park. He is delighted to now portray the Rev. Harper in Arsenic, in the company of a great cast, director and crew.
Taylor Whitehead as Officer Klein
Taylor Whitehead is a sophomore at The University of Pennsylvania studying film. He has been attending shows at Old Academy for as long as he can remember and is extremely excited to finally be taking part in one! While his focus is on the screen and he likes to put together short films with his friends in his spare time, and the theater holds a very special place in his heart. Thanks to the wonderful cast and crew and the amazing director, Taylor is having a great time with this production so far and cannot wait for future collaborations!
Terri Bateman as Martha Brewster
Terri has been involved in theater since high school. North Light Players roles include: The Music Man (Maude Dunlop), You Can’t Take It With You (Penny Sycamore), Arsenic And Old Lace (Abby Brewster), Ten Little Indians (Ethel Rodgers), Father of the Bride (Delilah), Lemonade (Edith Northrup). Old Academy roles include: Nunsense (Sister Nonpublic), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Party Girl), Hogwash! (Karen) Exit Date (Victoria/Evelyn), All in the Timing (Mrs. Trotsky), Seniors of the Sahara (Fannie Green), Minor Demons (Carmella Delgado), Incorruptible (Peasant Woman), The Rose Tattoo (Flora), You Can’t Take It With You (Penny Sycamore), Bermuda Avenue Triangle (Angela Bruno), An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf (Louise), “In the Jar” (Firefly), “The Interview(Mental Patient/Head Nurse)”, Nancy Frick’s original play Waiting to be King (Anna), Planet Radio (Karen), Looking (Nina), The Chocolate Affair (Green M&M) Standing Tall (Eva). Terri also played Celia in the much lauded Calendar Girls in 2019. She last directed Old Ringers at Old Academy for the 22 season and also appeared in The Joke (Marge) as part of the Old Academy One Act Bonanza in the summer of 2022. Terri was the Stage Manager for Old Academy’s last show SWEAT. Terri has been a movement instructor over the last 10 years in the Children’s Art Program at OA and has been in several Fringe Festival original shows since 2006. Terri is happy to work with such a wonderful, talented cast on Arsenic and Old Lace. Much love to the cast and crew.
Loretta Lucy Miller (Director)
Loretta Lucy Miller (Director) is absolutely delighted to be working with the fantastic cast and crew of Arsenic and Old Lace. What a joy they are! She has been directing for over thirty years and acting for sixty…time does fly when you are having fun! Some favorite shows directed: The Unexpected Guest, Purlie Victorious; Morning’s at Seven; Angel Street; The Country Girl; The Foreigner; Broadway Bound; Crossing Delancey; Bell, Book and Candle; The Last Night of Ballyhoo; Expecting Isabel; Lost in Yonkers and The Mousetrap. Favorite acting roles range from Louisa in The Fantasticks to Queen Eleanor in The Lion in Winter, Kate in the Taming of the Shrew, Kate in All My Sons, Ida in the Cemetery Club, Tess and Fannie in Bermuda Avenue Triangle (twice), Amanda in the Glass Menagerie (twice) and Mrs. Clackett in Noises Off. She is grateful to have attended Hedgerow Theater acting classes (decades ago) which gave her the foundation for acting and directing. She thanks her handsome husband, Larry, for all of his wonderful support
Joan Shupp (Producer)
Joan Shupp has been involved in many productions at Old Academy in roles ranging from co-chair of Hospitality, props and scenery for 10 years with the Children’s Arts Program, lights and sound operator, Recording Secretary of OAP, and Producer of several shows including Streetcar Named Desire, the fun and fabulous Calendar Girls, Agatha Christie’s Unexpected Guest, the last two directed by the fun and fabulous Loretta Lucy Miller, and most recently, Old Ringers with Terri Bateman. She is delighted to be working with Lolu again, as well as many other old and new friends. She is happy to be working with her husband again amid the laughter, the music, and the roar of the greasepaint.
Larry Hastings (Producer)
Larry has his masters in Special Education and has been teacher for over 40 years, serving every level of education, his favorite is teaching literacy to adults. He was a dancing and juggling clown with the Seed and Feed Abominable Fun Marching Band in Atlanta for many years before moving to Philadelphia in 2007. This is first time he is producing and he says, “it won’t be my last”. He is grateful for the love and support from his wife, Loretta Lucy, the cast and crew of this wonderful show.
Randy Shupp (Producer)
Randy Shupp is delighted to tread the OA boards again as Lieutenant Rooney and to co-produce Arsenic and Old Lace with his lovely wife Joan. He most recently appeared as Julius Caesar in Shakespearapalooza and in OA’s One Act Bonanza in The Joke written by Nancy Frick. Previously, he and his lovely wife Joan co-produced Old Ringers, Unexpected Guest, Calendar Girls, and Streetcar Named Desire. Randy proudly served Old Academy as a Vice-President and as various committee chairs and co-chairs. His first appearance as an actor was as Marcus Leicus in Forum, followed by (in no specific order) Peter Ravenswaal in Wrong Turn at Lungfish, Sydney Greenstreet in Ten Chimneys, a couple of roles in Twelfth Night and various One Acts. In 2008, he met his first professional musical partner at OA _ Don Kawash, and he went on to appear in many OA Christmas musical revues.
Carla Childs (Set Design)
Kimberly Hess (Stage Manager/Props)
Kimberly just finished playing Sissy in Sordid Lives at Kelsey Theatre for the MTM Players. Previous performances include Diane in Old Ringers at Old Academy Players, Paulina in Winter’s Tale for The Drama Group, Ida Bolton in Mornings at Seven at Old Academy Players, Sharon Bates in Book of Days at Players Club of Swarthmore, Fiona Babcock in Out of Sight, Out of Murder at Dutch Country Players, Julia Perry in A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody at Playcrafters, Lenya Zubritsky in Fools at Forge Theatre and Mrs. Brady in Inherit the Wind at Kelsey Theatre for Forte Productions. Other performances include major roles in 12 Angry Jurors, Don’t Dress for Dinner, No Sex Please We’re British, and Something Intangible. Kimberly sings with Bucks County Choral Society and Cantus Novus choral group.