Meet the cast
Maria Barry ("Eudora Featherstone") is thrilled to be back in front of an audience again here at Milford. She has been doing theatre in the area for over twenty-five years and thinks that maybe she's starting to get it down. You might have seen her in some of her favorite roles such as "Lexie" (The Nerd), "Miss Abby" (Arsenic and Old Lace) or of course "Ethel Savage" (The Curious Savage) to name just a few. She'd like to thank her family, friends, and FWA for all their support. This one's for Neal, Vick, and Danielle.
Jenna C. Carr ("Sherlock Holmes") is ecstatic and humbled to be back on the MAP stage playing such an iconic character with this fabulously talented and dedicated cast and crew. Miss Holmes also marks the end of a 30-year span when she last shared the stage with her mum, Mary Fraser ("Mrs. Hudson"). Her favorite roles include "Rosalind" (As You Like It), "Puck" (Shakespeare in Hollywood), "Sarah" (The Norman Conquests), and "Elinor" (Sense & Sensibility). Huge thanks to Vicky for trusting me to take on an established role like Holmes with the added twist of being a woman in Victorian London. Now, let us proceed: the game is afoot!
Mary Fraser ("Mrs. Hudson") Miss Holmes marks Mary’s first appearance on the MAP stage, and she is thrilled to be sharing it with such a fun and talented cast. Her theater background spans three states and too many years to count, and after 30+ years she is finally sharing a stage again with her daughter, Jenna -- their last appearance together was in 1993 with Actors' Circle Theatre in Annie Get Your Gun. Mary has performed locally with a number of local organizations, including Bedford Off Broadway, Majestic Theatre, Windham Actors’ Guild, Lend Me a Theatre, and the Hatbox. Favorite roles include "Mrs. Plath" (The Bell Jar), "Chris Gorman" (Rumors), "Aunt Abby" (Arsenic and Old Lace), "Julia Leverett" (Lend Me a Tenor), "Ethel Thayer" (On Golden Pond) and "Gingy" (Love, Loss, and What I Wore). Now, hang up your things properly, and don’t make a mess on the nice, clean floor!
Katie Hammes ("Lizzie Chapman," "Peggy the Maid") is beyond excited to be playing not one, but TWO characters in her first foray back onstage since 2019! Her most recent roles were "Marianne" (Sense and Sensibility) in 2019, "Simeon" (Joseph) in 2018 and "Annie" in (The Norman Conquests) in 2017. As her first post-Covid project, she and her cast mate Larry co-directed Cinderella for the Amherst PTA last summer; other highlights include directing Beauty and the Beast and Fiddler on the Roof (Friends of the Amato) and The Tempest (RYC). Katie is secretary on the MAP board and spends her days doing graphic design and her evenings hangin' with her favorite people and also her awesome supportive fiancé (hi Josh!). Enormous thanks to Vicky, Roy, Val, Betsey and this amazing cast for making this an experience for the books!
Hannah Heckman-McKenna ("Superintendent," "Edwin Greener") is excited to be returning to the stage after a three year hiatus. Hannah was fortunate enough to study theatre in New York City for two years and came back just in time for a global pandemic. Some of their favorite previous productions include Much Ado About Nothing with Headtrick Theatre in Providence, RI in which they played "Benedick" and Avenue Q with Northern Essex Community College in which they played "Kate Monster." Hannah is thrilled to make their debut performance with Milford Area Players and very grateful to get to work alongside such an exceptional cast and crew which includes their spouse, Elliot Owens, with whom they are working on stage for the very first time.
Kevin Linkroum ("Mycroft Holmes") is downright chuffed to be back performing in his 10th Milford Area Players production, and has been performing and directing for MAP for over a decade. Some recent credits include playing "Gary/Roger" (Noises Off), "Daniel Kaffee" (A Few Good Men), and "Happy Loman" (Death of a Salesman) as well as directing the trilogy The Norman Conquests. Kevin is an admitted Anglophile being drawn to all things British including his lovely and talented (half-Brit) wife, Sophie. He is rather proud to be performing on stage with her in a play for the first time since MAP's 2011 production of And Then There Were None. It was worth the wait. Kevin wishes to thank his friends and family for their continued love and support, especially those who not only attend the show, but also tend to his delightfully cheeky children, Adam and Emmy. Cheers, and enjoy the show!
Sophie Linkroum ("Dorothy Watson") typically plays colorful characters like "Ariel" (The Little Mermaid), "Gertrude" (Seussical) and most recently "Cinderella" (Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella); characters who all sing and dance their way through life. So playing a strong independent woman doctor, who doesn’t so much as hum, was going to be a challenge. Sophie is so glad both she and Vicky took the risk. Being back onstage with her talented husband and lovely friends has been the icing on the hot cross bun! Sophie would like to thank her incredible family and friends for their support—especially for all the babysitting! —We couldn’t have done any of this without you. Thank you all for supporting live theater!
Elliot Owens ("Geoffrey Lestrade") is very happy to make his return to the stage and hopes you will enjoy this adaptation of a well-known character. Many thanks to Vicky for the opportunity, as well as to all the cast and crew. Elliot would like to give special thanks to his wife Hannah for her love and support and hopes they will share the stage for years to come.
Eric Petit ("Orderly") My name is Eric Petit and I am 23 years old. This is my first show with the Milford Area Players. I have had a love of acting ever since middle school. In the past, I have performed in musicals such as Suessical and Guys and Dolls and in high school performed in Henry V, Macbeth, A Play About a Dragon, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Mouse That Roared and Almost Maine. This past year, I co-directed Peter Pan through the Y-Players. I recently moved to the area and am thrilled to be a part of this amazing cast doing something that I love.
Stephen Post ("Thomas Chapman," "Distinguished Gentleman") is thrilled to be able to work with so many wonderful people in this production of Miss Holmes! This is Steve's fifth show with MAP and his fourth show directed by Vicky. If you can guess the other three Vicky-directed shows correctly, let him know after the play for a high-five! Steve thanks his wife, Jen, and his children, Lydia and Logan, for putting up with his love of the theater.
Melanie Rodrigue ("Dr. Elizabeth Anderson") has a last name that is very hard to pronounce, so don’t feel bad if you can’t figure it out. She enjoys acting on a daily basis. You can never trust what she says - as you never know if she's in or out of character. She keeps bees in her backyard. On purpose. So, that doesn't say much for her mental state. She has a lot of cats (3) who she loves just as much as her dogs (2), but not as much as her wife, Laura. It has been a while since she has graced be boards here in Milford and is very grateful for the opportunity to work with such an amazing cast, crew and director.
Larry Watson ("Michael Stamford," "Reginald") is incredibly excited to be performing in another show with his MAP family. Previous roles include "Tom" (The Norman Conquests, Milford Area Players), "Colonel Brandon" (Sense and Sensibility, Nashua Theater Guild), "Cogsworth" (Beauty and The Beast, Friends of Amato), and "Chris/Inspector Carter" (The Play That Goes Wrong, Manchester Community Theater Players). He recently co-directed Cinderella for Amherst PTA with fellow cast member Katie Hammes. He thanks his family John, Nevaeh, and Ruby for their love and support. Enjoy the show!
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Meet the Crew
Dave Agans (Producer) Dave is a founder of the Milford Area Players and produces many of MAP’s shows. He writes the themed curtain speech skit before each show and wrote the book and lyrics for Hot Buttons, the robot musical staged by MAP in 2009. In his spare time, Dave writes funny books: Debugging, the classic guide to figuring out what’s wrong with stuff, quick; and The Urban Legion and Bikini Cowgirls of the Urban Legion, books one and two of a conspiracy and urban legend comedy trilogy inspired by Men in Black. Book three is coming, after he gets done with this theatre stuff.
Craig Brennan (Lighting Designer) Craig is pleased to be returning to the Lighting Designer role for MAP for Miss Holmes. Most recent MAP shows include The Philadelphia Story, 12 Angry Jurors, November, Hamlet, A Few Good Men, Frankenstein, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Craig is a three-time winner of the NH Theater Award for Best Lighting Design for Actorsingers and the Peacock Players. Craig has been extensively involved in lighting for all the local theatre groups including Manchester Community Theatre Players and Actorsingers. Other community credits include Beauty and the Beast and 42nd Street for ACTORS, Inc. in Massachusetts and productions for Ghostlight Productions and Nashua Theatre Guild.
Elizabeth O’Hare (Sound Designer/Program Design) is back at the control board for the third time after a long hiatus and truly thankful to be part of this production. I wish all great health and joy.
Betsey Martel (Costume Designer) Betsey has been costuming shows around Southern New Hampshire for several years now. She has costumed Death of a Salesman and Hamlet for MAP. Other groups include Nashua Theatre Guild, Friends of the Amato, Amherst PTA, RGC Theatre, and Majestic Theatre. When she's not playing dress up with cast members, she's working for SNHU from her living room.
Paul Sandin (Set Designer) supports his wife's theater hobby any way he can, either by designing and building sets, running lights and/or by going out late at night to buy her a bottle of wine after a particularly stressful tech week.
Vicky Sandin (Director) thanks this amazing cast and crew for all their hard in work bringing her love project Miss Holmes to the stage. When she is not being bossy directing plays with her rather cryptic stage directions ("look older"), she's happily bossy at work as an IT librarian or lounging at home with her hubs Paul and their two beloved miniature dachshunds Coney and Olive re-watching episodes of Schitt's Creek. Love to Conor James, Alex William, Carla Alexandra and Kelly María Luisa Colleen.
Roy Swonger (Asst Dir/SM/Props) has had great fun assisting with the production of "Miss Holmes," which is the first time he has worked with Milford Area Players. He would like to thank Vicky and Val for being so welcoming and for their guidance, and the cast for being so much fun to work with. Roy previously stage managed and assisted directors on Love, Sex and the I.R.S., Over the River and Through the Woods and Funny Little Thing Called Love with the Majestic Theatre in Manchester. Prior to figuring out that he is better suited to backstage roles, Roy appeared in community productions including The Altos, While The Lights Went Out, Miracle on 34th St., The Good Doctor and 'Til Beth Do Us Part. Roy would like to especially thank his wife Trisha for continuing to indulge his theatre habit.
Val Wisneski (Stage Manager) is an awesome stage manager, floral designer, tango instructor, wrestling coach, bird watcher, financial advisor and loves any movie starring Mary Martin, Keanu Reeves or Boss Baby. Thanks for coming, and enjoy the show.
Craig Brennan (Lighting Designer) Craig is pleased to be returning to the Lighting Designer role for MAP for Miss Holmes. Most recent MAP shows include The Philadelphia Story, 12 Angry Jurors, November, Hamlet, A Few Good Men, Frankenstein, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Craig is a three-time winner of the NH Theater Award for Best Lighting Design for Actorsingers and the Peacock Players. Craig has been extensively involved in lighting for all the local theatre groups including Manchester Community Theatre Players and Actorsingers. Other community credits include Beauty and the Beast and 42nd Street for ACTORS, Inc. in Massachusetts and productions for Ghostlight Productions and Nashua Theatre Guild.
Elizabeth O’Hare (Sound Designer/Program Design) is back at the control board for the third time after a long hiatus and truly thankful to be part of this production. I wish all great health and joy.
Betsey Martel (Costume Designer) Betsey has been costuming shows around Southern New Hampshire for several years now. She has costumed Death of a Salesman and Hamlet for MAP. Other groups include Nashua Theatre Guild, Friends of the Amato, Amherst PTA, RGC Theatre, and Majestic Theatre. When she's not playing dress up with cast members, she's working for SNHU from her living room.
Paul Sandin (Set Designer) supports his wife's theater hobby any way he can, either by designing and building sets, running lights and/or by going out late at night to buy her a bottle of wine after a particularly stressful tech week.
Vicky Sandin (Director) thanks this amazing cast and crew for all their hard in work bringing her love project Miss Holmes to the stage. When she is not being bossy directing plays with her rather cryptic stage directions ("look older"), she's happily bossy at work as an IT librarian or lounging at home with her hubs Paul and their two beloved miniature dachshunds Coney and Olive re-watching episodes of Schitt's Creek. Love to Conor James, Alex William, Carla Alexandra and Kelly María Luisa Colleen.
Roy Swonger (Asst Dir/SM/Props) has had great fun assisting with the production of "Miss Holmes," which is the first time he has worked with Milford Area Players. He would like to thank Vicky and Val for being so welcoming and for their guidance, and the cast for being so much fun to work with. Roy previously stage managed and assisted directors on Love, Sex and the I.R.S., Over the River and Through the Woods and Funny Little Thing Called Love with the Majestic Theatre in Manchester. Prior to figuring out that he is better suited to backstage roles, Roy appeared in community productions including The Altos, While The Lights Went Out, Miracle on 34th St., The Good Doctor and 'Til Beth Do Us Part. Roy would like to especially thank his wife Trisha for continuing to indulge his theatre habit.
Val Wisneski (Stage Manager) is an awesome stage manager, floral designer, tango instructor, wrestling coach, bird watcher, financial advisor and loves any movie starring Mary Martin, Keanu Reeves or Boss Baby. Thanks for coming, and enjoy the show.