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JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
6400 AIRLINE DRIVE | METAIRIE, LA
Written by Agatha Christie
Directed by Kris Shaw
A three-act murder mystery set onboard a river cruiser, adapted from Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile.
Kay Ridgeway has led a charmed life. Blessed with beauty, enormous wealth, and a new husband, she embarks on a honeymoon voyage down the Nile. Fatal circumstances await when the idyllic surroundings are shattered by a shocking and brutal murder. Under scrutiny is a multitude of memorable passengers, all with a reason to kill. The tension and claustrophobia builds, as a shocking and audacious conspiracy is laid bare.
Kris Shaw, Director
Lauren Sparacello, Stage Manager
Eric Porter, Scenic Designer
Kage Laney, Sound Engineer / A1
Olivia Winter, Props Designer
Grant Vicknair, Lighting Designer
Antoinette de Alteriis, Costume Designer
Heidi Bayer, Asst. Costume Designer
Kasey Smith, Hair & Makeup Designer
Click headshot for bio
JONATHAN MARES (Simon Mostyn) is ecstatic to be back in another JPA production. Most recently, Jonathan was seen as Garry Lejeune in Noises Off. Notable credits include: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Brick Pollitt), The Normal Heart (Bruce Niles), Talk Radio (Barry Champlain), Touch (Kyle Kalke), Les Miserables (Jean Valjean), The Exonerated, The Mercy Seat (Ben Harcourt), Hair (Berger), Three Sisters (Kulygin), and Metamorphoses (Erysichthon). Next up, Jonathan can be seen as Joe DiMaggio in Joe and Marilyn with JPA. In addition to being nominated for two Big Easy Awards, three Marquee Awards and a Storer Boone Award for acting, Jonathan has produced the New Orleans premieres of Killer Joe, Bug, Closer, and Becky Shaw. Countless thanks and all of my love to Elizabeth, I wouldn’t be here without you babe! Love and eternal gratitude to Mary Mares. This performance is dedicated to Rene Mares.
Simon Mostyn
Jimmy Murphy made his acting debut at the age of 7 in the title role of THE LITTLEST ANGEL at Le Petit Theatre. After college he studied and performed for 13 years in Los Angeles. Some local favorites: JPAS – MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (Colonel Arbuthnot/Samuel Ratchett), PETER PAN (Captain Hook), CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (Hanratty). Le Petit Theatre – BARNUM (P.T. Barnum), ASSASINS (John Wilkes Booth), FALSETTOS (Marvin), CITY OF ANGELS (Stine), ANTHING GOES (Billy Crocker), PAGEANT (Miss Great Plains). Rivertown Theaters – 1776 (Dickinson), NOISES OFF (Freddy). BB Presents – A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD (Frog). Tulane Summer Lyric – WILL ROGERS FOLLIES (Will Rogers). National World War II Museum’s Stage Door Canteen – LET FREEDOM SWING (Tommy Di Angelo), STAGE DOOR IDOL (MC).
Canon Pennefather
Leon Contavesprie (Smith) – Leon has appeared in several shows on the JPAC stage, including Noises Off, Murder on the Orient Express, and Arsenic and Old Lace. He has performed locally and regionally, including Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, Mill Mountain Theater, New Stage, Southern Rep, Rivertown Theater for the Performing Arts, Tulane Summer Lyric, Roxy Regional Theater, and many others. Favorite credits include Act of God, The Pillowman, Mame, Becky Shaw, Fat Pig, and The Glass Menagerie. He received an MFA in performance from the University of Southern Mississippi.
William Smith
Adriel Aviles is once again blessed to join JPAS on stage. Last seen in Jekyll and Hyde (Bishop of Basingstoke), Aviles has had the privilege of performing with JPAS on many other productions, including Jesus Christ Superstar, Young Frankenstein, In the Heights, Shrek the Musical, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Other credits include The Night of the Iguana (TWTC) and The Little Mermaid (Rivertown Theater). Adriel is grateful for the many opportunities JPAS has given him, and is thankful for the support and encouragement from friends and family over the years. Thank you to all, and enjoy the show!
Dr. Ludwig Bessner
Paul Bello, a native New Orleanian, joins Murder on the Nile after most recently appearing in JPA’s Jekyll and Hyde, last Passiontide’s production Jesus Christ Superstar and Ballet on Broadway. Well known to JPA patrons, over the years he's appeared as Kevin in In the Heights, Shrek the Musical as a Three Little Pig, and Arsenic and Old Lace as Officer Klein, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as Chief Bromden, in Caroline, or Change as Mr. Stopnick, as Snipes in Tarzan the Musical. and has appeared in JPAS productions of Funny Girl, Mary Poppins, Sister Act, the opera Rigoletto, Light in the Piazza, My Fair Lady, in the roles of Gonzorgo in Babes in Toyland, Dick Deadeye in H.M.S. Pinafore, Pilate in an earlier Jesus Christ Superstar, Pawnee Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, The Duke/Dr. Carrasco in Man of La Mancha, Yussel in Fiddler on the Roof, and as Reg Willoughby in The Full Monty. Look for Paul in the fantasy noir thriller, “Savage”, opposite Bridget Regan, streaming soon! He could not be prouder to be sharing the stage with his son Gabriel, who is making his professional debut in this JPA production of Murder on the Nile! Break a leg, son!
Steward
Kendall Berry (Kay Ridgeway Mostyn) is so excited to be back performing with JPA for Murder on the Nile. She was last seen in Clue as Miss Scarlet with JPA and is excited for a different take on a murder mystery. She graduated from LSU in 2022 majoring in Theatre Performance and minoring in Social Work. Some of her favorite productions have been Sister Act (Sister Mary Robert u/s, Ensemble), The Play That Goes Wrong (Sandra u/s, “Crew”) and Godspell (Day by Day Soloist). IG: kendallaberry
Kay Ridgeway-Mostyn
Gabriella Santalla (Jacqueline de Severac) is a Cuban-American actress originally from New Jersey. She is a recent graduate from Loyola University New Orleans with a BA in Musical Theatre. Her recent credits include: Sweeney Todd at Tulane Summer Lyric (Ensemble), Jekyll & Hyde (Ensemble), Jesus Christ Superstar (Ensemble), Urinetown: The Musical (Hope Cladwell), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Snout/Cobweb), Head Over Heels (Gynecia), Intimate Apparel (Mrs. Van Buren), and The Fantasticks (Luisa). She’s overjoyed and honored to be working with JPA again! Special thanks to her friends and family for always supporting her and her crazy dreams! (IG: @gabriellasantalla)
Jacqueline de Severac
Janet Shea is the recipient of the first Legacy Award presented by JPA. Her legacy includes JPA performances in STEEL MAGNOLIAS, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS, SHEAR MADNESS, SISTER ACT, two productions of CABARET, two productions of DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, WILD MUSHROOMS, and OLIVER ! She has sung in the chorus of JPAS operas, TOSCA, MADAME BUTTERFLY, and LA BOHEME. Our productions directed by Janet include LOOPED, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, A CHRISTMAS STORY, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, and the award-winning AMADEUS; Summer youth shows HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, NEWSIES, LEGALLY BLONDE, and HAIRSPRAY. Janet has been a presence on local stages for the past 69 years and has been honored with several Big Easys, Boonies, and Marquee awards, including two for Lifetime Achievement, and was selected in 2000 as one of CityBusiness's Women of the Year. She has taught at NOCCA, Loyola, and UNO. Presently, she is a dialect and acting coach for private students. This season she will appear in MURDER ONTHE NILE and direct JOE AND MARILYN. Janet wishes to thank Dennis, JPA, and the N.O. theater community for all of the opportunities. God bless!
Helen Ffolio-Ffoulkes
Sarah Colbert Cutrer- is excited to make her JPA debut as Christina Grant in the production of Murder On The Nile. Sarah made her acting debut, at the age of 12, in the film Vampires Suck where she then went on to star in the television series Downtown Six and Moon. She joins the New Orleans theater community after graduating from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts(New York) and the London International School Of Performing Arts. Her favorite productions that she has been a part of include, Henry VI Part 3, The Wolves, and The Young and Fair. She looks forward to continuing her work with JPA as Marilyn Monroe in the upcoming production of Marilyn & Joe.
Christina Grant
Jane is an actor, dancer, and singer. She’s studied at schools such as theNew Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The roles she’s most enjoyed playing are Millie in Picnic and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Most recently she was in the chorus of Singin’ in the Rain at Rivertown. She is excited to return to JPAS and work with Kris Shaw again after working with him in JPAS’ My Fair Lady and Sister Act.
Louise
Jimmy deMontluzin (McNaught, ship manager) - Jimmy is proud to be a long time veteran of the New Orleans stage community for over 20 years, performing in theaters all over town and the region, including JPAS, Rivertown, Le Petit, Tulane Summer Lyric, and many, many others. Some favorite recent performances include Shrek, The Musical, Annie, South Pacific, White Christmas, The Music Man, Tuck Everlasting, Guys and Dolls, Mary Poppins, Sister Act, Funny Girl, and My Fair Lady, also Young Frankenstein, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Harvey, Hairspray, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Curtains, Best Little Whorehouse, Damn Yankees, Evita, Pajama Game, Oliver, Pal Joey, Man of LaMancha, Sweet Charity, and many, many others. He would like to thank Kris, Dennis, and Lauren, and this fabulously talented cast that makes this mystery show so much fun.. He would also like to thank his wife, family and friends for their continuous support over all these years. Laughter can cure a million sorrows.
Mcnaught
Gabriel is very excited to be making his professional stage debut in this JPA production of Murder on the Nile, fulfilling a dream he's had since his avid participation in many productions at his Alma Mater, Holy Cross.
Beadseller #1/Egyptian Officer
Peter Gabb, character actor, is glad to be working again with JPAS. He was last seen in "Arsenic & Old Lace" as Rev. Harper and Mr. Gibbs, and one of the card playing residents in "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest". Earlier he has played a variety of characters such as Herr Zeller in "Sound of Music" and in "My Fair Lady" one of Alfred Doolittle's drinking buddies. He has also appeared in some film and TV, most well known the pawnshop owner in "Green Book". Besides that he performs mime and one performance is on Youtube -- "The Fishing Guilt Trip".
Beadseller #2
