Our 545th Production
Directed by Josh Tull
March 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 2025
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Tony Award winning play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time follows 15-year-old Christopher. Christopher has a brilliant mind but is ill-equipped to interpret the social dynamics of everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road and has an inherent distrust of strangers. At 12:07 AM Christopher finds himself beside his neighbor’s dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington, and he carefully records each fact of the crime. His detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a thrilling journey that upturns his entire world.
Content Warning: Contains adult themes and adult language, it is not suitable for young children. Viewer discretion is advised.
Meet the Cast
Asher Chancey as Voice 2
Asher Chancey is thrilled to be making his Old Academy Players debut with this wonderful and talented cast.Originally from New Orleans, Asher is a realtor living and working in West Philadelphia. Previous credits include Senator Fipp in Urinetown and Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Annie. He would like to thank his wife Kelly and his children Lily, Alex and Reese for inspiration and support.
Christie Fischer as Judy
Christie is excited to return to Old Academy after playing Diana in Next to Normal last year. While the last decade found her performing largely in her car, previous favorite roles include Freaky Friday (Katherine), Urinetown (Little Sally), Anything Goes (Hope), Hay Fever (Myra), The Imaginary Invalid (Toinette) and Oliver (Nancy). Many thanks to Josh and this incredible cast. Biggest love to CJ, Sid, Marigold and Thisbe who are her biggest cheerleaders, favorite huggers and most honest critics of said car performances.
Grace Monahan as Siobhan
Grace is a nursing student at Temple University who loves writing, biking, and doing her clinical rotations at Temple Hospital. She has appeared in the short film Good Boy Banjo and the new Max series Task, and is thrilled to be in her first production with Old Academy Players. She read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime in high school, and is incredibly excited to be able to portray Siobhan in her first community play!
Laura Young as Voice 4
Laura Young is excited for her Old Academy Players debut in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time! Some of her favorite past roles have included Florence in Odd Couple (Female Version), Glinda in Wizard of Oz, Angie in Breaking Legs, Sammy Jo in Southern Fried Funeral, Pitti Sing in The Mikado, and the Quartet Soprano in City of Angels. When not on stage she can typically be found going on adventures with her husband James, reading, playing with her cat, or gardening. As always, she thanks James for being her person and supporting her love of theater. “It’s still magic even if you know how it’s done.” — Terry Pratchett
Matt Johnston as Christopher
Matt Johnston (he/him) is positively thrilled to be making his OAP debut as Christopher! His favorite past roles include the Emcee (Cabaret), Mr. Collins (Pride and Prejudice), Trinculo (The Tempest), and the Professor (Skerryvore: a Tale of Terror). Being a neurodivergent actor himself, Matt is endlessly grateful for the opportunity to tell Christopher’s story and help others like him feel empowered and thoughtfully represented. Special thanks to all the cast and crew for welcoming him and making the process incredible from start to finish. Enjoy the show!
Michelle M. Charles as Voice 1
This is Michelle’s first performance with Old Academy Players. She has been a member of Playhouse West — Philadelphia since May, 2024 which she joined not long after her return from her 16-year journey as an expat in Germany. Michelle’s primary acting experience has been in film and television projects. She’s excited to now be a part of this extraordinary theater production.
Nuri Muhammad as Voice 6
Nuri Muhammad is an actor, singer, and costume designer based in Philadelphia. This is Nuri’s first show with Old Academy Players. Her recent projects include Sister Act (Willow Manor Players), Freaky Friday (ASH Theatre Co.), and From Okra to Greens(Temple University). Curious Incident is an old favorite of Nuri’s, which she holds near and dear to her heart. As the younger sister to a brother with ASD, Nuri is honored to dedicate this performance to her awesome brother, Abdul. She is eager to tell this incredible story, encourage others to engage with neurodivergent people with patience and compassion, and recognize each individual beyond their diagnosis.
Samantha Stec as Voice 5
Samantha is so excited to be apart of her first production at OAP! She was recently performing at The Grand Majestic Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, but is so happy to be performing back home! She would like to thank Josh for this opportunity, and her family for all the support! She hopes you enjoy the show!
Tom Stone as Ed
Tom is excited to be working with Josh Tull and the talented group of actors in “Curious Incident” at Old Academy. Some of his recent shows have included Next To Normal, Jesus Christ Superstar, Company, Urinetown, and Bright Star.
Victor Trujillo as Voice 3
Victor is pleasantly surprised to be returning to the stage after a thirty-some year absence, having last appeared in a disremembered middle-school production. He has spent at least some of his time behind the scenes as a carpenter, set designer and technical director. He is honored to be working with Old Academy Players and would like to thank the rest of the cast and crew for the wonderful, inspiring experience. He owes a special debt of gratitude to his wife, Galadriel, and his daughter, Faye, for their love, support, and persuasion. He wouldn’t be here without them.
Josh Tull (Director)
Josh is excited to be returning to Old Academy Players for another season as a Director. Other recent directing credits include Mean Girls and Next to Normal. Previously, Josh could be seen in OAP’s production’s of The Broken Hollow Banshee, Company and The Fantasticks. Josh holds an M.Ed. in Secondary Education as well as an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies for Stage Direction and Vocal Performance.
Christopher Wunder (Producer)
Chris is thrilled to be working with Josh Tull on the production The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Last season Chris directed The Weir for Old Academy. Chris has been an actor, stage manager, lighting operator and producer as well. Some shows to his credit include Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof, Hotel d’Amour, Carnival, The Mousetrap, Fools, Beau Jest, Here on the Flight Path, Bad Seed, Move Over Mrs Markham, Doubt and Rabbit Hole just to name a few.
Brielle Lewandowski (Dialect Coach)
Brielle is a very multifaceted artist. She wears many hats in the theatre as an actor, director, assistant director, dialect coach, stage manager, and line producer. A graduate of DeSales University and former performer at Walt Disney World, she is excited to be sharing her art back in the Philadelphia area! She would like to thank Josh Tull for the opportunity to come work on her first show with Old Academy Players.
Hannah Leifheit (Light & Sound Technician)
Hannah Leifheit thoroughly enjoyed theater as a young person and, after playing a horrible boss in the summer One Acts, still does as an adult! Much appreciation to the people whose energy and passion make community theater an absolute joy. Love to Brahm, the Moffaman.
Matt Friedman (Original Music)
Matt Friedman is a composer, filmmaker, and writer/director in Virginia. He helped found the film program at The Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, teaches screenwriting at the Muse Writer’s Center, and volunteers as an advocate for victims of domestic violence & SA. Follow the adventures of his traveling pig Jam-Jam on Instagram and Bluesky @filmtraveler. www.curiousincident.show
Rob Rosiello (Dramaturg)
Rob Rosiello (Playwright/Director) directing credits include: Agnes of God, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, The Children’s Hour, A Song I Forgot to Sing, The Laramie Project, Suddenly Last Summer, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe and Love! Valour! Compassion! As a playwright, his stage productions include: A Song I Forgot to Sing, Vernal Rites, Cold Stun, and short plays that include Love Between the Dryer Sheets and Honky Tonk Queen. His play Priceless was adapted as a radio thriller for R5 Productions Fall of 2020. Rob was a member of the Barrymore Award winning ensemble of Angels in America, teaches theatre and film at Montgomery County Community College and served as a teaching assistant in playwriting at Primary Stage Off-Broadway Theater in NYC. While living in NYC, he also had the great fortune of producing the National Tour for the Winner of the first five seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race on behalf of Logo TV and Absolut Vodka. www.RobRosiello.com
Steve Hnatko (Lighting Design)
Steve is absolutely beyond words to once again working on a production at Old Academy. Steve has produced such OAP productions as Godspell, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Fourth Wall, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Ordinary Days, the 2019 Summer One Act Festival, The Fantasticks, Sweat, Company, the 2023 Summer One Act Festival, The Broken Hollow Banshee, and Next to Normal. This past summer Steve could be seen in the Summer One Act Festival. Steve has also produced 42nd Street and Annie Hnatko for the Philadelphia Recreation Center’s Star Players.