Opens Sept. 6 at Studio Theatre in Carmel
Actors Theatre of Indiana has announced the cast for the upcoming Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which opens Friday, Sept. 6 at the Studio Theatre in Carmel.
Based on the popular 1988 MGM film, this musical comedy takes show goers to the French Riviera for high jinx and hilarity. Lawrence Jameson makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. Freddy Benson more humbly swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother’s failing health.
After meeting on a train, they attempt to work together, only to find that this small French town isn’t big enough for the two of them. They agree on a settlement: the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female target, heiress Christine Colgate, wins, and the other must leave town. A hilarious battle of cons ensues that will keep audiences laughing, humming and guessing to the end. Sophisticated and suave with a good dash of mischief, this hysterical comedy features a delightfully jazzy score and was nominated for a staggering 11 Tony Awards.
Tickets are on sale at the Box Office, by calling (317) 843-3800 or by purchasing online at ATIStage.org.
Meet the Cast
Tony Carter is making his Actors Theatre of Indiana debut. His credits include acting as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, An American in Paris, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Saturday Night Fever, all in Chicago. He was Kowalski in Madagascar at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and was Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lucentio in Shrew’d (First Folio Theatre); Hilaire in Can Can (Porchlight Music Theatre); Carl in Ghost the Musical, Cabaret and Nice Work If You Can Get It (Theatre at the Center). Further credits include playing Ian in High Fidelity (Refuge Theatre Project), 35MM (Circle Theatre), and Guys & Dolls (Music Theatre Works), all of these also in Chicago. As for regional experience, he took part in the Utah Shakespeare Festival, PCPA: Pacific Conservatory Theatre, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Utah Festival Opera and Pickleville Playhouse. Tony has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in music theatre from Southern Utah University.
Don Farrell has more than 32 years working as a professional singer, dancer, actor, director, choreographer and producer with credits that include Off-Broadway, International and National Tours, Las Vegas, Regional productions and guest soloist concerts with major national symphonies. A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1992, Don’s credits include five world premieres and over 90 different regional productions. As an accomplished Director and Choreographer, Don has over 30 different production credits including such reputable theatres as The Frederick Loewe Theatre, Springer Opera House, Pennsylvania Centre Stage, Florida Studio Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Birmingham Theatre and Westchester Broadway Theatre among others. On the concert stage Don has worked with the late Maestro Erich Kunzel, Keith Lockhart, Jack Everly, Alfred Savia, Crafton Beck, Adrian Gnam, John Morris Russell, Robert Moody and Janna Hymes. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (BFA Music Theatre, ‘91) Don is a Co-Founder and the Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Indiana. He currently resides in Westfield and is a proud father of his talented daughter, Elizabeth.
Judy Fitzgerald is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Credits Include: Radio City Music Hall w/ Glenn Close, Madison Square Garden w/ Liza Minnelli & Danny Burstein (conducted by Marvin Hamlisch). National Tour w/ Debbie Reynolds, Shirley Jones & Omar Sharif. Off-Broadway: Swingtime Canteen w/ Tony Award-winner, Charles Busch (Blue Angel); Placido Domingo’s operetta VLAD (Lamb’s Theatre); Dodsworth w/ John Collum, George Lee Andrews, Dee Hoty (York Theatre, John Houseman Theatre); Irene (Sylvia & Danny Kaye Playhouse); Face the Music, That’s The Ticket! w/ Tony Award-winner George S. Irving (Musicals Tonight! Series). Other credits include Regional Theatre, Summer Stock, Dinner Theatre, Cabaret, Industrials all across the country. As a Co-Founder of Actors Theatre of Indiana, Judy was last seen on the ATI stage as Judy/ Ginger in RUTHLESS! A native of Indiana and long-time resident of New York City, Judy currently resides in Carmel.
Michael Hassel is very excited to be making his equity debut at ATI. He is no stranger to the Carmel area, where he was last seen as Seaweed in Hairspray at Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre. He is a senior at Ball State University pursing a BFA in Musical Theatre. He also is the music director of Sedoctave, Ball State’s award-winning a cappella group. Some of his favorite roles include: Tulsa (Gypsy), Hud (Hair), and Richie (A Chorus Line). Micheal would like to thank ATI, Carol Worcel, Michael Elliot, Goof Balls, and the DoTD for their endless support. This performance is dedicated to his mother, the late Crystal Shackelford.
Deborah Mae Hill is excited to be making her ATI debut. Deborah has performed with various theatres in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Oregon. Past roles include: Grace Farrell in Annie (The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and Clackamas Rep.), Ellie May in Show Boat (Kentucky Opera), Clara in Passion (Pandora Productions), Wednesday in Addams Family and Susan/Karessa in Tick,tick…BOOM! (Acting Against Cancer), Martha in The Secret Garden (Opera Bend), Miss Shields in A Christmas Story (Elsinore), Yellow Girl in SHOUT! The Mod Musical (Enlightened Theatrics), and Alyson in A Grand Night For Singing (The Broadway Rose). Deborah is also a private voice instructor and audition coach. Originally from Lafayette, she now lives in Dayton, Ohio, with her husband and daughter. All my love to M&LM.
TJ Lancaster returns to ATI after having played The Chairman in The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 2018. Recent credits include the St. Louis premiere of Indecent (Max & Louie Productions), West Side Story (Lyric Opera of Kansas City), Hairspray (Starlight Theatre), The Normal Heart (Relevance Productions), Sunday in the Park with George (Kansas City Repertory Theatre), Into the Woods, Kiss Me Kate, Evita and The Music Man (Musical Theater Heritage), and My Fair Lady and Fiddler on the Roof (Tent Theatre).
Tim Hunt has performed with ATI, American Cabaret Theatre, Edyvean Repertory, Zach & Zack, and many others. His favorite credits include: The Rocky Horror Show (Brad), Forever Plaid (Sparky), CHICAGO (Fred Casely), Big River (Tom Sawyer/Encore Award), Damn Yankees (Smokey), A Chorus Line (Paul), Gregory Hancock’s Emmy Award winning production of La Casa Azul (Trotzky’s Assassin), J. Eyre (Edward Rochester), and the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, for which he was honored by BroadwayWorld.com as the region’s 2018 Best Professional Actor in a Musical. He has voiced roles for Hal Leonard Publishing (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and others) and MTI’s Broadway Junior Collection (Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls).
Brynn Lucas is elated to be returning to the ATI stage. Patrons may remember her from her appearance as Tatiana Racon in Comedy of Tenors. Her favorite performances include Into the Woods (Witch), Falsettos (Trina), Heathers the Musical (Heather Chandler), and Cabaret (Sally Bowles). Brynn has toured nationally with ArtsPower and NETworks productions and performed regionally with Geva Theatre Center and Playhouse on Park. Please check out her upcoming performance with Magic Thread Cabaret at the Cat Theater, right here in Carmel, for Singing Streisand: An Evening with Brynn Tyszka (Oct. 11, 12 and 13).
Annalee Traeger is thrilled to be back at Actors Theatre of Indiana after last being seen in A Grand Night for Singing. Other recent credits: Lorraine Flemming (42nd Street), Zelda Zanders (Singin’ in the Rain), Velma (West Side Story), Gingy/Sugar Plum (Shrek the Musical). Thanks to Michael, Carol, Don, Cindy, Judy, and Kevin for this opportunity.
Sabra Michelle is thrilled to be reunited with director Michael Blatt. Her favorite credits include Lola from Damn Yankees, Cassie from A Chorus Line, Roxie from Chicago, and Morticia in The Addams Family. She performed in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, and was part of The Pajama Game National Tour. Sabra performed at President Clinton’s Inauguration/George Faison’s King! A Musical Testimony with Maya Angelou. She was part of a three seasons world tour with Bear in the Big Blue House Live! (VEE/Jim Henson/Columbia Tristar). In Madison, Wis.: Tessie Tura/Gypsy, Lucy Schmeeler/On the Town (CCT); Sabra has done extensive teaching and choreography (CTM). She spent a decade in New York City devoted to philanthropic work for Broadway Cares (twice performing in Broadway Bares) and founded THE COUGAR BALL, a gala fundraiser for The Actors Fund/ Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative. SabraMichelle.com
Meet the Director
Michael Blatt is a New York City based director. Directing credits include the Norwegian translation of The Sound of Music in Bergen, Norway, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at The Actors Theatre of Indiana, Curtains and By Jupiter at The Village Light Opera, Godspell in which he directed and choreographed at St. Bart’s Players, Prom Queen the Musical, Rent, On the Town, My Name is Alice, Guys and Dolls, Meet Me in St Louis, Hello Dolly and Brigadoon at Stagedoor Manor. Michael received the Best Director Award (Strawberry Festival) for Opportunity a new play by Stanley Martin and Best Director Award (Mid-Town International Festival) for Wimberley a new play by Julia Rae Maldonado. He has instructed the PDW Workshop at The Actors Studio, and is an adjunct Professor at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. His future projects include All Kinds of People, a tour for Inside Broadway, and Hello Again at The Producers Club in NYC. Michael holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Directing from the Actors Studio Drama School.
Meet the Choreographer
Carol Worcel played in the National Broadway Tours of 42nd Street (lead dancer) and Anything Goes starring Leslie Uggams (Virtue). Regional credits include A Chorus Line (Cassie and Val); Annie (Lilly St. Regis); Godspell (Player); Hairspray (Velma Von Tussle); Swing! (principal singer); The ISO’s Yuletide Celebration (singer/dancer); and The Kings Six USO Show (European Tour). ATI credits include Chicago (Go-to-Hell Kitty/Co-Choreographer); Gypsy (Electra/Director/Choreographer); Cole (singer/dancer/Choreographer) and I Love a Piano (Co-Director/Choreographer). Carol co-owns Worcel Shepard Productions with directing/choreography credits including Sandi Patty’s Le Voyage, the NBA Pacer’s Pacemates, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Circle of Lights, IndyFringe, Beef and Boards, Actors Theatre of Indiana, The Indy 500, as well as regional theatres, tours and opening ceremonies for national clients. As an educator, she has worked with iTheatrics, Ball State University, Anderson University, Palladium’s Dance Discovery and many private studios across the United States.
Meet the Music Director
Bob Bohon lives in Columbia, Mo. After a distinguished career as a music educator, he has toured as a performer in 41 states and internationally. Bob holds a Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri and has been recognized as an outstanding educator with Columbia Public Schools in 2000 as well as the Hall of Leaders Award in 2011. During his tenure at Rock Bridge Senior High School he served as music director/conductor for over 50 musicals, established the Tech Theatre classes, designed and supervised set building, established the Musical Theatre class, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Women’s Chamber Choir, three competition show choirs (City Lights, Satin ‘n Lace, Green Machine), and initiated the Rock Bridge Show Choir Festival. In addition to his duties at Rock Bridge, Bob has directed and performed in numerous musicals for local community theatre, TRYPS Children’s Theatre, Stephens College, Columbia College, and the Swinney Conservatory of Music. He has been a performer and musical director regionally at the Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock, the Maples Repertory Theatre in Macon and the Sandbox Theatre in upstate New York. A few of his roles include Nicely in Guys and Dolls, Neal Tildon in 1940’s Radio Hour, Sancho in Man of La Mancha, Emile in South Pacific, John Adams in 1776, Harold in The Music Man, Beadle Banford in the national tour of Sweeney Todd , Old Deuteronomy in Cats at the Arizona Broadway Theatre in Phoenix, and Scrooge, Fezziwig, and Ghost of Christmas Present in three consecutive national tours of Scrooge in Concert with New York Stage Originals, and The Police Commissioner in the Ivan Jacobs production of Phantom of the Opera in Jakarta, Indonesia, and most recently Hipockets Duncan in the Laguna Beach Playhouse production of The Buddy Holly Musical, Marcus Lycus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Teddy in Arsenic and Old Lace.
About Actors Theatre of Indiana
Actors Theatre of Indiana was co-founded in 2005 by Cynthia Collins, Don Farrell and Judy Fitzgerald with a mission to celebrate the power of theatre and contribute to life in Central Indiana by offering high quality professional theatre performances and programs that engage, inspire, educate and entertain. One of only four Equity Theatre companies in Central Indiana, Actors Theatre of Indiana is the resident professional theatre company of The Studio Theater at The Center for the Professional Arts in Carmel, Indiana and has provided 14 seasons of high-powered musical theater productions, world premieres and innovative community works.
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