The Naples Players Present "Something’s Afoot"

NAPLES, Fla. - Sept. 15, 2015 - PRLog -- NAPLES, FL- The Naples Players will present Something's Afoot (based on the book by James McDonald, David Vos and Robert Gerlach) October 14 – November 8, in Blackburn Hall at Sugden Community Theatre in downtown Naples.  Dawn Lebrecht Fornara will direct and choreograph and Charles Fornara serves as musical director.

         This murder mystery musical is a zany sendup to the classic whodunits. Ten strangers stranded in an isolated English mansion during a raging storm find themselves in peril when one by one, each is picked off by cleverly fiendish devices. As the survivors attempt to gather clues to identify the perpetrator, they find themselves in precarious and hilarious situations making them realize that something’s afoot.

         Beverly Canell will star as Miss Tweed, the self-appointed leader of the survivors and amateur detective, set on discovering who the killer is. This will be Beverly’s twenty-fifth show in her acting career. Her most recent credits with The Naples Players include the role of Ernestina Moneyin Hello Dolly, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (ensemble)and A Christmas Carol (Caroler).

         Randall Jones plays black sheep nephew, Nigel Rancour.   Jones, no stranger to The Players stage, most recently starred in this summer’s production of Legally Blonde as Professor Callahan and in fall 2014 as Norbert in The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Filling the shoes of retired military Colonel Gillweather is Kevin Kenneally who last appeared with the Players as Underling in The Drowsy Chaperone.

         Making his Naples Players debut is Brent Nicholas as Clive, the Butler. Brent studied music at the West Virginia Institute of Technology and was a high school musical director in Morgantown, WV prior to joining The Players.  Dr. Grayburn, the family doctor, will be played by Matt O’ Hare who was last seen in The Naples Players production of Oklahoma! as well as in The Drowsy Chaperone and Gypsy.

         Les Prebble will play Flint, the caretaker. Les, a Naples Players veteran, last played Duncan in The Naples Players production of Leading Ladies. Brigid Wallace takes the stage as Hope Langdon, the Ingénue. Wallace has had a busy year with the Players, last performing in the summer production of Legally Blonde, and shortly before as winsome farm girl, Laurey, in Oklahoma!

         Three Naples Players KidzAct alums will perform in Something’s Afoot.  Mary Mitchell, who starred in the KidzAct production of 42^nd Street as Dorothy Brock and Cats as Grizabella will play Lettie, the saucy maid; Michael Pineda who last performed in the KidzAct production of Lollapalooza will play Geoffrey, a college student who becomes entangled in the web of mystery surrounding the murder; and Michelle Ritter will be playing Lady Grace Manley-Prowe. Ritter, who has been acting since the age of 8, appeared in the summer 2015 production of Legally Blonde as Enid Hoopes and previously in the KidzAct productions of 42nd Street and Cats. Ritter is a 2013 graduate of The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.

         The Naples Players have a new Wednesday performance start time of 7:30 p.m. this year.  Thursday through Saturday performances will be at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays are at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for students 21 and under, and can be purchased at the box office, by calling 239-263-7990, or by visiting www.naplesplayers.org. Sugden Community Theatre is located at 701 5th Avenue South, Naples.

Cutline:

Group 1 Shot:  From left to right, Geoffrey (played by Michael Pineda), Miss Tweed (played by Beverly Canell), and Hope Landon (played by Brigid Wallace) in The Naples Players production of the murder, mystery, musical Something’s Afoot, October 14 - November 8 in Blackburn Hall at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 5^th Avenue South, Naples.