'Arsenic and Old Lace' to be first theatre production at Northwestern Oct. 3-5

September 18, 2019

Dakota Retherford is portraying Mortimer Brewster in the Northwestern theatre production of the dark comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” set for Oct. 3-4 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. in Herod Hall Auditorium.

Members of Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Fine Arts Department will present “Arsenic and Old Lace” as their first theatrical performance of the year Oct. 3-4 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. in Herod Hall Auditorium on the Alva campus.

General admission tickets to see the dark comedy are $10. Admission for Northwestern employees is $5 with a valid university ID, and student admission is $3 with Northwestern ID.

Mickey Jordan, director of technical theater and Herod Hall facilities manager, is the director of the production that will serve as his master’s capstone to fulfill requirements for a master’s degree.

Jordan said the production is full of family secrets and will leave spectators on the edge of their seats.

This production’s plot follows the Brewster family living their day-to-day life in their large 1940s Victorian house in Brooklyn, New York. The family consists of two sweet, old sisters – Martha Brewster, portrayed by Dr. Dena Walker, associate professor of mathematics, and Abby Brewster, portrayed by Erin Lehr, Northwestern speech/theatre alumna -- along with their three nephews -- Dakota Retherford, Cushing sophomore majoring in vocal music education, who is playing Mortimer Brewster; Zedan Borrie, Anaheim, California, junior majoring in speech/theatre, as Teddy Brewster; and Jonathan Brewster, Buffalo sophomore majoring in mass communication, as Jonathan Brewster.

Jordan said even though the family’s day-to-day life seems to be very natural and unassuming at first, it quickly turns into an in-depth plot of mystery, suspense and intrigue leaving the audience wondering what is going to happen next.

Additional cast members in the production, their hometowns, classifications, majors and the characters they are portraying include:

Adria Lujan, Altus freshman, nursing, as Elaine Harper; Jon White, Sayre freshman, general studies, as Dr. Einstein; Peyton Lucas, Fairview junior, psychology, as Dr. Harper; Brenner Clark, Amorita freshman, nursing, as Officer Brophy; Michael Day, Okeene junior, vocal music, as Officer Klein; Justin Meyer, Alva freshman, business administration, as Officer O’Hara; Christopher Chauncey, Cordell sophomore, math, as Mr. Gibbs; Duncan Brown, Laverne junior, chemistry, as Lieutenant Rooney; and Jacob Ervin, Alva freshman, political science, as Mr. Witherspoon.

Serving as the production’s stage manager is Michelle Willson, Conway Springs, Kansas, junior majoring in mass communication, and the assistant stage manager is Rylee Johnson, Amarillo, Texas, sophomore majoring in speech/theatre.

For additional information on this production or the theatre program, contact Jordan at (580) 327-8458 or mojordan@nwosu.edu or Kimberly Weast, professor of theatre arts, at (580) 327-8462 or kkweast@nwosu.edu.

-NW-