presents

FRI, APRIL 9, 16 7:00 PM SAT, APRIL 10, 17, 24 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM

SUN, APRIL 11, 18 2:00 PM Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum

Thank you to our Sponsor:

A Note from the Director

Even though A Bad Year for Tomatoes may not be well known to many audience members, its playwright surely is. John Patrick is best known for authoring The Curious Savage and Teahouse of the August Moon; the latter won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as a Tony Award for Drama. The bulk of his career, however, was spent writing screenplays for Hollywood. However, to theatre-goers, it is the aforementioned productions for which he is best remembered. We are hoping you remember this production for the talented performers bringing it to life for you today.

Jamie Bierchen, Director

CAST & CREW

Crew:

Director ..…………………………………..….....Jamie Bierchen Stage Manager ………………………....…......Madisen Kilraine

Set Construction ..…...….…..Alan S. Rosenthal, Kirk Johnson Prop Construction ...….Alan S. Rosenthal, Suzanne Mayberry Additional Props …………..…...Liz Brawner, Laura Carpenter, Alicia Jiracek, Alan S. Rosenthal Brother Leviticus Artwork ………………….………..Eric Weber

Cast:

A Bad Year for Tomatoes is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

Myra Marlowe, Myrtle Durtle, Sister Sadie .…........…….………....Liz Brawner Tom Lamont .………………………….….….Alan S. Rosenthal Reba Harper .…..……………………..………..Laura Carpenter

Cora Gump .……………………………....…..…...Alicia Jiracek

Piney .………….………………………….…………..Eric Weber

Willa Mae Wilcox ………………….……..……...Velda Gauthier

Sheriff ………………………………………..….....Danielle Abell

Jamie Bierchen, Director Jamie has directed and performed in over 100 shows. He has performed in everything from dinner theatre to children’s theatre to comedies to dramas to musicals to opera. He has won numerous STAR awards through the years; his

latest was for the sold out run of Mamma Mia at St. Petersburg City Theatre which he directed and choregraphed. He was last seen on stage as Scrooge in St. Petersburg City Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol and last seen on the Tarpon Arts stage in Mama Won’t Fly.

Madisen Kilraine, Stage Manager Madisen is beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to stage manage this absolutely hilarious production. It is her first time. She hopes that everyone enjoys the show just as much as she did while helping to bring it together. She

especially wants to thank Liz Brawner and Jamie Bierchen for helping her along the way and always encouraging her. She participated in shows such as Kiss Me, Kate, The Mikado, Iolanthe, Charlie’s Aunt, etc. Her father, Tim, has always been a huge influence on her throughout her life. Singing and acting is her passion and she hopes to continue pursuing it in the future!

Liz Brawner as Myra Marlowe, Myrtle Durtle and Sister Sadie Liz feels honored to be working with the amazing group of talented actors you see on this stage. She has ‘organized the troops’ as stage manager for several Tarpon Arts productions. But most

recently, she was St. Petersburg City Theatre’s stage manager for Mamma Mia. On stage, she has appeared at Tarpon Arts as Olivia St. Cloud in Love, Lies, and the Doctors Dilema, as well as Madge Geisel in The Game’s Afoot, Maria Morelli in Lend Me A Tenor and Charlotte Bartholdi in the debut of Libertaire. Liz’s love of theatre started while growing up in GA & SC. She now calls FL home, spending time on the beach or in her Jeep (doors off and top down, of course!).

Alan S. Rosenthal as Tom Lamont Alan has been involved in musical and theatrical arts for over 35 years. Some of the productions Alan has been involved in as an actor are Dark Dimensions, The Lady Without Substance, Tidbits of Terror II, Funny Money, and he has

played many characters in several productions of A Christmas Carol. Alan not only works on the stage, but behind the scenes as well, including set building and props creation. Alan has also played in the orchestral pit as the principal Bassoonist in several musical productions and operas. Alan owns his own law firm and outside of his professional foray he is an avid woodworker, musician, martial artist and philanthropist. He dedicates his performance in this production to his loving family.

Laura Carpenter as Reba Harper Laura has had her fair share of helpful neighbors throughout the 8 states she has lived in. Most recently her neighbors in Aylesford have supported her by coming to see her recent roles as Rosie in Mamma Mia with St. Petersburg City

Theatre and Joan in Love, Lies and the Doctors Dilemma with Tarpon Arts. Thanks to Jamie and the cast for making each rehearsal so fun and to Scott and Keslyn for putting up with her Reba voice at home. After the show, she’d love to hear one of your stories about your favorite neighbor!

Alicia Jiracek as Cora Gump Alicia is thrilled to come out of quarantine to be part of A Bad Year for Tomatoes -- her tenth production in Tarpon Springs. She has had so much fun laughing and creating with this talented cast. The past two years she has been involved

with SAGES, who use “Plays with Purpose” to educate seniors. She also spent 13 years working in Mystery Dinner Theaters and plays Mrs. Claus at Busch Gardens at Christmas. She’d like to thank her friends and family who support her passion for performing.

Eric Weber as Piney Eric is so excited to be returning to the Tarpon Arts stage in a production with so many of his friends. Eric is honored to be included in a group of such terrific thespians and sincerely hopes you enjoy the show as much as they have enjoyed

putting it together.

Velda Gauthier as Willa Mae Wilcox Velda is a local theatre actress who has received two STAR Awards from The Theatre Grapevine, six Michael Awards from St. Petersburg City Theatre and 3 Cathy Awards from Gulfport Players. Some of her favorite roles include: Dr.

Martha Livingston in Agnes of God, Fiona in The Sensuous Senator, both Vernadette and Lexi in Dixie Swim Club, Myrah in In The Restroom at Rosenbloom’s, Daria Chase in The Game’s Afoot, Estelle Lapointe in Sherlock Holmes and the Spinsters of Blackmead, June in A Corset Line (SAGES), Jean Perkins in Funny Money, Mrs. Dilber in A Christmas Carol, in Mama Won’t Fly at both Tarpon Arts and the Early Bird Dinner Theatre, and in Bird of a Feather with Director Patrick Brafford. Velda is happy to work with this cast, crew and Director Jamie Bierchen. She sends her love to her babies and the artist.

Danielle Abell as the Sheriff Danielle received a Theatre Minor from Liberty University in 2011. While pursuing the Theatre Minor, she was part of the stage crew for A Christmas Carol and helped build the stage/set for Phantom of the Opera. Since then, she has been

on the stage crew for Wedding Secrets and appeared in Urinetown, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Legally Blonde. She is currently in pre-production for Final Bow and It’s All Greek films. In 1995, she received a Drama Club Award for Excellence in Creative Expression for Land of a Million Wishes. She was last seen on the Tarpon Arts stage as Dot in The Gift of the Magi.

Fran Arfaras Nicole Arfaras Kerr Carol Atwood-Lyon Clark Beurlen Bonnie Bogner Sherry Carlson Caroline Caswell Pat Chapman Bruce Chimento Marlene Chimento Annette DeBroka Faith Del Percio Julie Everett Patty Farrell Nancy Ferguson Tashina Fisher Lori Gerstein Stu Gerstein

Sara Gibson Jeffrey Goodman Trish Gregory Michele Henning Suzan Hollern Sandra Holubar Susan Housewright Margit Hristova Deborah Kinsley Paul Kinsley Debbie Koeppen Debbie Macks Ginger Matyko Bruce Miller Marilyn Mueller Debbie Pearn Helen Penny Susan Pisano

Diane Porter Peggy Pugh Toula Ronningen Ree Rost Ellen Scheible Michael Steinberger Michelle Steinberger Susan Stokely Betty Todino Cynthia Ward Debbie Whelan Eve White Barbara Wood

We appreciate you! Thank you for supporting the

arts in Tarpon Springs!

Volunteers make all the difference!

We are grateful to the following individuals who give their time to make the arts come alive for our audiences.

BECOME A MEMBER!

Don’t miss a minute of the fun! Join our Tarpon Arts family today and receive up to 15% off all ticket

purchases, invites to special members-only events, give-away drawings at select shows, and more!

Learn more at TarponArts.org/membership, call us at 727.942.5605, or pick up your membership form at the

Ticket Office before you leave!

Thank You to our Current Members!

PLATINUM ($750) Jerold Kaufer, In Memory

of Dorothy P. Kaufer

Jerold Kaufer, In Memory

of Augusta and Sidney

Kaufer

Dr. Stephen &

Mrs. Yolanda Mihalek

Brian Orlick

GOLD ($500) Donald John Adams

Dee O’Brien

Paul & Frances Petervary

Captain & Mrs. J. Basil

Read

Dr. Deb Whitehouse

Dave & Carolyn Wladaver SILVER ($250) Dale & Martha Gray

Mr. & Mrs. Edward

Hoffman

Jerri & Bob Litt

Ann Samarkos,

The 1910 Inn

BRONZE ($150) Jack & Jan Brouhard

Sherry & Arlen Carlson

Don & Tanya Carney

Paul Chapman

Dean Chatlain

Jeffrey & Sharon

Goodman

Ken & Gail Gruebel

Robert & Jan Grupp

Rachel Herman & Roy L.

Herman, Jr.

Peggy & Terry Johnston

Roger & Nina Keller

Ann & Jim Larsen

Richard & Marion Linkh

George & Nancy Miller

Kimen & Charles

Mitchell

Anna Maria Morales

Rano Mueller

Gene Musselman

Judy Patton

James Petty

Louis & Paulette

Piccininno

George & Nancy Pratt

Martha & Larry Schweizer PATRON ($75) Betty Abshire

Robert Alderman

Mary Lou Argow

Carol Atwood-Lyon

John & Lois Balsanek

Barbara & Pat Barry

Judith Bartlett

Sue Bartlett

Rick & Margaret Becker

Robert & Kim Bennett

Barbara Boos

Sherry Branch

Linda Bremer

Ms. Jo Ellen Bryant

Susan Bucci & George

Springer

Gregory Cardinal

Frank & Harriet Champi

Brian & Dana Chase

Pat Coughlin

Patricia Crowley

Louisa Cunneen

Frank & Theresa

Cuttone

Dolores & Kenneth

Dambrosio

William & Mary

Darnell

Margaret Darraugh

Linda & Tony

DeCesare

Carl Demotses

Bertram Devorsetz

Dr. Patricia Donohue

Timothy & Josephine

Drawbridge

Carol Drummond

Rich Ebert

Mary & Mike Eggleston

Mark Finnan & Patricia

Ramondetta

Dorothy Fitchett

Mel Funk

Gay & Tom Gagnon

Terry Gedan

Tim & Regina Gibson

Dana & Bjorn

Gulbrandsen

Bonnie Gundeck

Ron & Patricia Haddad

Bob & Janet Helms

Joann Hernandez

Michael & Sandra

Holubar

Mark & Kathy Hopkins

Matthew Iwanski

Joan Jennings

Roger & Jean Jester

Lewis & Jo-Ann Jones

Rick Kastel

Timothy Keevers

Karen A Kennedy

Marie Knabbe

Michael & Sanne

Kure-Jensen Konrad

Esther Kontos

Philip & Lynn Kopala

John LaMantia

Lauritz & Betty Joe

Larsen

Patricia & Howard

Lorenz

Susan Marino

Mr. Clair McCloy

Shelly & Scott McLarnon

Dieter & Hedvig Meister

Gerald Mellon

Maryann & Carl Mitchell

Kathleen Monahan &

James McNeely

Charles & Marcia Moore

Bob & Linda Murphy

Ken & Christine

Neighbors

Steven & Shirley

Ogle

Sherri Patterson

Deborah Pearn

Fred Pflueger, Jr.

Patricia Pochurek

John & Nancy Purchase

Joanne Reich

Karen Lee Ritzel

Leora & Richard Roll

Dudley Salley

John Sammel

Lawrence & Marie

Sasso

Lee & Walter Schneider

Paul Schroder

Frank Sevick

Joann Sinatra

Howard L. Smith

Wilbur & Caralee

Smith

Bonnie V. Stanaitis

Linda Stanko

Karen Thompson-Brown

Thomas Thorpe

Julie Wade

Michael Walbolt

Joe & Kathleen Ward

Dr. Lee Weaver

R. Lynn Whitelaw

Manny & Rita

Widman

Dr. Tod & Phyllis

Williams

Edgar Worster

Dane Woytek

Knowledge & Nibbles The History & Mystery

of the Sponge TUES, MAY 18

10:00 AM & 2:00 PM Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum

Join us for a fascinating talk on sponges and the sponge industry. For many years, the sponge industry was the largest maritime industry in Florida, and Tarpon Springs was and still is known as “The Sponge Capital of the World.”

Steel Magnolias FRI, JUNE 4,11 • 7:00 PM

SAT, JUNE 5,12,19 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM

SUN, JUNE 6,13 • 2:00 PM Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum

Welcome to Truvy’s beauty salon where anyone who is anybody has their hair done. A group of friends draw on strength and love while facing mortality – making them marvelous company in good times and bad.

727.942.5605 or TarponArts.org

Victorian Garden Party with Dr. Mary Jane Safford

SAT, MAY 1 • 2:00 PM Safford House Museum

Join us to celebrate May Day at a Victorian-themed Garden Party with your hostess, Dr. Mary Jane Safford. Partake in some cold lemonade, an assortment of delectable confections, and spend a memorable afternoon as Dr. Safford shares stories about her fascinating life.