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Jan. 31 - Feb. 9, 2020
Jefferson Performing Arts Center (JPAC)
by Agatha Christie
A group of strangers is stranded in a boarding house during a snow storm, one of whom is a murderer. The suspects include the newly married couple who run the house. Others are a spinster with a curious background, an architect who seems better equipped to be a chef, a retired Army major, a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift, and a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone. Into their midst comes a policeman, traveling on skis. He no sooner arrives, when the jurist is killed. To get to the rationale of the murderer’s pattern, the policeman probes the background of everyone present and rattles a lot of skeletons. The WORLD’S longest running play!
Maria has been involved in the performing arts since she was very young, beginning voice and piano studies as early as the age of eight. After two years of opera and music theatre studies at NSULA in northern Louisiana, María has returned to her roots in the New Orleans area to pursue private studies with local professionals. Other shows in which you may have seen her include this last Christmas’ production of Annie (Grace Farrell), the premier of How To Kill A Diva (Lucia Fartoli u/s), as well as her 2018 JPAS debut in White Christmas (Martha Watson); Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife) with Rivertown Theaters; some Northshore theatrical productions include Mary Poppins (Winnifred Banks), Macbeth (Lady MacDuff), and Doubt (Sister James). She sends a huge thank you out to friends, family, and the Big Man Upstairs. Thank you for your unwavering support and faithful encouragement throughout the years.
Owen Daffyd JonesOwen has been a professional Actor in the U.K. for eight years. He has performed mainly in theatre and credits include Glengarry Glenn Ross, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Cherry Orchard, Sweet Bird of Youth, and The Full Monty. As well as theatre, Owen has recently gravitated into short films, online promotions and site specific work. His first short film ‘In Our Flesh’ was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Berlin Film Festival last year. He studied acting & performance in the city of Sheffield and covered a wide range of subjects including Shakespeare, Immersive Theatre, Naturalism and acting for camera and radio. This will be Owens first production with Jefferson Performing Arts Society and hopes to perform with them again in the future.
Samuel ThomasSamuel trained at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London; graduating in 2016. Samuel has worked in some of the most famous West End theatres in London and is very excited to be making his American stage debut with The Mousetrap! Theatre credits include Man of La Mancha (London Coliseum- ENO), The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (Criterion Theatre- West End), 35mm (The Other Palace), The Last Five Years (The Other Palace); Honeymoon in Vegas (London Musical Theatre Orchestra at the London Palladium) Death Takes A Holiday (Charing Cross Theatre); Floyd Collins (Wilton’s Music Hall); Allegro (Southwark Playhouse); A Feast With The Gods (Almeida Theatre). Television includes Oklahoma! (BBC Proms - Royal Albert Hall). Samuel won the ‘Stage Debut Award’ for Best Actor, for his performance in Allegro at the Southwark Playhouse in London in 2016. Follow him on Twitter: @UKSamuelThomas.
Helen BlankeHelen has performed on local stages since her teens and is making her third appearance at JPAS. Some of her most memorable shows have been: Blithe Spirit (Big Easy Award), Annie Get Your Gun, Harvey, Bye Bye Birdie, The Golden Age, and Music Man. As a fan of British mysteries and Dame Agatha Christie, this play is a dream come true.
Joey DowdallWhen asked how many shows he has done since 1965, Joey has to admit he can’t count that high. This year he has been seen as the handsome Commander Mitchner in South Pacific and handsome Franz in The Sound of Music. Joey’s all-time favorite roles include Arturo Ui, Macbeth, and Willie Loman. Next up: directing the psych drama Good People at Playmakers in Covington in May. Don’t miss it!
Cammie WestCammie is a two-time Big Easy Award-winner, she has been involved in theatre in New Orleans for almost twenty years. Recent roles include Mrs. Fezziwig/Holly in A Christmas Carol, Lady Macduff/Witch 2 in Macbeth, and Olive Madison in The Odd Couple (Female Version). When she’s not performing, she can be found in the classroom at Young Audiences Charter School, where she teaches Drama. She is also the Artistic Director of Gretna Kids Playhouse, a summer theatre program, on the Westbank.
Michael is a former Yankee, he has recently moved to New Orleans from Iowa City, Iowa where he has portrayed a wide variety of roles, among his favorites are Ben Franklin in 1776, Albin in La Cage aux Folles and Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. In addition to his on stage work, Michael is an accomplished and prolific director and choreographer with over 40 productions to his credit. Some favorites include, Cabaret, RENT, Fiddler on the Roof, Man of La Mancha, Bat Boy: The Musical and Chicago.
Dominic Giardinais a New Orleans local who is excited to be making his first appearance on the JPAS stage. He has appeared in the regional premiere of Reefer Madness! The Musical at Mid City Theatre, in Rockfire Productions’ Failure: A Love Story, and most recently as “Tim” in Le Petit’s production of Noises Off. When not on stage, he slings scoops at Uptown’s Creole Creamery, where he has probably made you a milkshake.
