BUCK CREEK PLAYERS | Providing Quality Community Theatre for Over 40 Years!

CAST ANNOUNCEMENT

Buck Creek Players, Directors Mel DeVito and Ben Jones are excited to announce full casting for their upcoming production of PYGMALION: A ROMANCE IN FIVE ACTS by George Bernard Shaw.

Buck Creek Players is pleased to offer live entertainment this fall, in a safe, and socially distanced outdoor event. Join us for an outdoor staged reading of the comedy PYGMALION, the classic tale of Eliza Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins, Saturday, October 10th at 4:30 PM, and Sunday, October 11th at 2:30 PM.
Please note this is a staged reading, with limited costuming and props; actors and audience will be socially distanced.

PYGMALION: A ROMANCE IN FIVE ACTS by George Bernard Shaw
Best known in popular culture as MY FAIR LADY and rooted in ancient Greek mythology, PYGMALION is a classic tale of nobility meeting poverty. Phonetics specialist Professor Henry Higgins, along with colleague Colonel Pickering, bets he can transform flower salesgirl Eliza Doolittle into a socialite and “proper” lady merely by eliminating the cockney accent that signals her “inferior” social status. In this comedic collision of “different worlds,” these intelligent and determined characters wrestle with social norms and wind up forming a unique, heartwarming bond.

Tickets are available now!

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CAST

ROSIE ALLENSON

JEFF WILSON

JAY HEMPHILL

TOM SMITH

TIFFANY D. WILSON

CARI PALMER-WARREN

GLORIA BRAY

KIRSTEN CUTSHALL

MATT SPURLOCK

ROSIE ALLENSON (Elisa Doolittle) is delighted to be coming back to the Buck Creek stage in a safe and responsible way! A life-long theatre lover, Rosie has been extremely privileged to have acted in many productions around the community. Some of her favorite performances include Millie in PICNIC, Sr. Mary Leo in NUNSENSE II: THE SECOND COMING, Mary Warren in THE CRUCIBLE, and Olive in SPELLING BEE. Most recently, she enjoyed dabbling in the other side of theatre, serving as Assistant Director for Westfield Playhouse's production of HEDDA GABLER. She would like to thank Mel DeVito and Ben Jones for the opportunity, and her fellow cast mates for continuing to bring life to the stage despite these trying times. Love to Mom, Dad, and the BAA family. Wear a mask!

JEFF WILSON (Henry Higgins) has the bizarre distinction of only doing one previous Buck Creek show, yet having done over a dozen roles for BCP, with his appearance in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY, a performance he will reprise with Shelby County Players this December. Jeff has taught pre-calculus, calculus, and drama at Triton Central the past three decades, in addition to announcing home sports events and coordinating the school’s weekly Bible study. Happily married to Tiffany and missing his Hungarian daughter Fióna, Jeff has enjoyed visiting all fifty states, twenty countries, and nearly 400 National Park sites, as well as re-visiting all 24 Indiana state parks this spring for some inspiring hikes. His greatest stage joy is watching his TC drama students perform and fall in love with more than sixty classic productions over the years.

JAY HEMPHILL (Colonel Pickering) is happy to be returning to the Buck Creek Playhouse, having previously appeared as Ross in A FEW GOOD MEN, Charlie in DIRTY BLONDE, and Ado Annie in OKLAHOMA. Jay recently graduated from Indiana University with a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre and Drama. Some of his favorite roles include Nick in THE GREAT GATSBY, Jack in VINEGAR TOM, Michael in ROUNDING THIRD, Martin in THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA?, Doc Gibbs in OUR TOWN, Vice Principal Panch in 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Prince John in ROBIN HOOD, Yonaguska in UNTO THESE HILLS, Jack in THE OPEN HAND, and Tony in DIAL M FOR MURDER. Offstage, Jay teaches public speaking at Martin University. A self-proclaimed "history nerd", Jay is also a historical interpreter at the Indiana Historical Society.

MATTHEW BLANDFORD (Freddie Eynsford-Hill)

Coming Soon

TOM SMITH (Alfred Doolittle) is very happy to be returning to Buck Creek in this portrayal of Alfred Doolittle in PYGMALION. Tom previously performed at Buck Creek in THE MATCHMAKER, portraying Joe the Cabman, and particularly enjoyed the role of Grandpa Jack as the lead in "THE UNEXPECTED GIFT". Tom has recently portrayed Sir Claud in BLACK COFFEE at Lebanon's Center Stage Theater, and, in February, portrayed Saunders in the Carmel Community Players ambitious production of LEND ME A TENOR, which barely was able to be completed before the COVID shutdown. A special treat for Tom in this production is the opportunity to perform with his adopted granddaughter Rosie Allenson. Tom is a member of the board at the Westfield Playhouse. He is retired from the FBI and resides in downtown Westfield.

TIFFANY D. WILSON (Mrs. Eynsford Hill) is honored to be appearing in her fifth production with Buck Creek Players. She was first seen in 2012 in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE playing Kitty. She has also appeared as Actor 5 in VINTAGE HITCHCOCK: A LIVE RADIO PLAY, she lent her voice to Ethel Milne in THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS GARLAND and she portrayed Sally Applewhite in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY. Tiffany has also been involved with Shelby County Players since 1999. Her favorite roles include Audrey in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Lizzie in THE RAINMAKER, Elizabeth Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE, Agnes in I DO! I DO!, and Nurse Ratched in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST. In 2019, she won an Encore Award for Best Costumes for a Comedy for Shelby County Players’ BLITHE SPIRIT. Tiffany holds a Bachelors Degree in English and Theatre from Franklin College and a Masters of Library Science from Indiana University. She serves as the Branch Manager at the Franklin Branch of the Johnson County Public Library.

CARI PALMER-WARREN (Clara Eynsford Hill) is honored to be making her Buck Creek Players debut in the stage reading of Pygmalion. Earlier this year, Cari was cast as Rosie in ROSIE THE RIVETER at BCP that had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An Indiana University grad, her previous credits include Cinderella’s Stepmother in INTO THE WOODS and Abigail Williams in THE CRUCIBLE. More recently, she was the lead female singer for Southern Crossfire, a local band. When she isn’t on stage, she enjoys gardening, reading, and hanging out with her husband and two pups. “I am so thrilled to be a part of this production and the Buck Creek Players. I hope that everyone enjoys the show and can take a night off from the pandemic to remember what is so great about theater—the joy that it can make us feel.”

GLORIA BRAY (Mrs. Higgins)

Coming Soon

KIRSTEN CUTSHALL (Mrs. Pearse & Parlor Maid)

Coming Soon

MATT SPURLOCK (Bystander/Sound Design & Operation) makes his return for another Buck Creek Players performance behind the scenes with Sound Design and Operation. Matt has been seen on stage at BCP in performances of THE MATCHMAKER, THE RAINMAKER, and MAKING GOD LAUGH. Other non-BCP performances include MISSING LINK and CLUE. Matt has designed sound for numerous BCP performances such as DISASTER THE MUSICAL, TRAP, FOUR OLD BROADS, among several others over the years. Thanks to Mel DeVito, Ben Jones, and Cathy Cutshall for giving me an opportunity to get back in my element. A huge thank you to Aaron Bailey for locating the Holy Grail of tailgate sound pieces! A very special thank you to the audience for continuing to support live theatre as we do our best to be creative and bring you live entertainment during these not so ordinary times.

PRODUCTION STAFF

CATHY CUTSHALL

CATHY CUTSHALL (Producer) is very excited to be in the producer’s seat for this show! Cathy has had the pleasure of directing MAKING GOD LAUGH, along with IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY, and TRAP! at Buck Creek Players, and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST at Shelby County Players. Whether working as a director or costumer, on stage or behind-the-scenes, she has had the pleasure of working in theaters throughout Indiana and New Mexico at Albuquerque Civic Light Opera Association, and Albuquerque Little Theater. Favorite productions include SWEENEY TODD, PARADE, HONK!, CHICAGO, CITY OF ANGELS, ON THE TOWN, HELLO DOLLY, ANYTHING GOES, SINGING IN THE RAIN, SHENANDOAH, THE WIZARD OF OZ, SOUTH PACIFIC, and GYPSY. Cathy is an Encore winner for best costumes for DIRTY BLONDE and BONNIE & CLYDE: THE MUSICAL. In her free time Cathy enjoys reading, sewing, antique shopping, and spending time with family.

MELISSA DEVITO

MELISSA DEVITO (Co-Director) has a long history with Buck Creek Players. Along with being a board member, she has been a director, actor, producer, properties, set designer and decorator, among other things. Her latest project, directing ROSIE THE RIVETER, on hold due to the pandemic, so she was very excited to direct this dramatic reading of PYGMALION with Ben Jones. Besides enjoying all things community theater, Mel also enjoys camping, drag racing, sewing, and spending time with her family.

BEN JONES

BEN JONES (Co-Director) is so excited to make his Buck Creek Players directorial debut with Mel! Some of his past favorite roles include Eilert Loveborg in HEDDA GABLER, Professor Plumb in CLUE, Cornelius Hackel in THE MATCHMAKER, Thomas in MAKING GOD LAUGH, The Jester in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, and Christopher Wren in THE MOUSETRAP. Ben is also a proud board member here at BCP. Ben would like to thank his parents, grandmother, and family for all of their love and support.

PRODUCTION CREW

Sound Design & Operation
MATT SPURLOCK

Media & Communications Committee Chairperson
GLORIA BRAY

Website Management
ROCCO FLORES & AARON BAILEY

Production Photographer
GARY W. NELSON | www.photoGary.net

Box Office Management
CHERYL KERN & AARON BAILEY