Welcome to the Portland Community Theater
Home of the Portland Civic Players
Breaking Legs Since 1955
A Note from the Director:
Another new show brings another round of gratitude for everyone that helps put a production together. It takes a small army to pull these shows off and I am forever grateful to the small army I have to help this show come to life.
I have been a part of this organization since I was young. It’s never really occurred to me to do anything else. I love the people here. For a small town, we have incredible talent and I am always amazed at what we can pull off with our limited space and resources. We may not have all the bells and whistles but we have the heart and the creativity!
A huge thank you to my family, who enables the crazy and even joins in! My husband, my kiddos, my parents (this is all their fault) and my tribe. I love you all and couldn’t do it without you. Thanks for visiting our little theater home and I hope you enjoy the show!
A Note from the Assistant Director:
I would like to thank everyone who came out to see our production of “Murder on the Orient Express”. I hope you will enjoy the show.
I also wanted to thank my best friend, Mary Teachout, for giving me the opportunity to be her Assistant Director for this amazing show. I have been involved in several shows she has directed but as a Stage Manager and prop person. It has been an honor to work beside her on this show and gain a better understanding of the work a director does.
Being back on stage in 2017, in a Portland Civic Players production, brought back all the wonderful memories I had from being on stage at a younger age. And I only did it so my daughter would give theater a chance. I quickly got more involved in behind-the-scenes roles, became a voting member and then joined the Portland Civic Players board. I am currently serving as the Secretary for the Board.
I was able to do all of this with the support of my family, who also got involved in their own ways. The best memories have been the two productions that my two children were involved in as well.
Again, thanks for attending our show and we hope to see you at future productions.
In Memoriam
It is with grateful hearts and warm affection we remember that little group of talented men and women who had a dream of performing live theatre in Portland over 60 years ago. We also remember those who helped keep the dream alive. Because of their dedication to that dream, we pause for a moment to think of those who worked so hard to establish a firm foundation that has lasted to this very day.
Listed here (in alphabetical order) are those who have passed. They represent steadfast devotion to the Portland Civic Players in every way. We truly hope that all have been remembered here.
Richard & Betty Anesi
Dale Barnard Denise (Frye) Bandfield
Tom & Marilyn Bandfield
Rex Bennett
Ruth Callihan
Tom & Marie Cook
William & Anne Eddy
Olive Fitzpatrick
George & Pearle Frye
Shirley Habegger
William J. Hill
Winfield & Lora Hubbell
Mel & Fram Huhn
Vada Hummel
Tom & Pauline Jordan
Alvin & Catherine Kelly
William & Jennie Koster
Dr. Martin J. Kozachik
Alan Lazette
Barbara W. Longstreth
Herb & Verena Miller
Cree Peake
David Peake
Lillian Phillips
Brenda Pung
Chris Rainey
Adam Reeves
Floyd Rice, Jr.
Joe & Caroline (Snooks) Rich
Donald Rogers
Margaret Schrauben
Marilyn Shaw
Laban & Marge Smith
Tony & Catherine Snitgen
Mary Lou Tannery
Richard & Sydell Teachout
Particia Thelen
Tommy & Martha (Bea) Thompson
Marvin & Mary Thrasher
Jerry Tiemann
Jim Trierweiler
Willa Utterback
Sally VanPoperin
Don Webert
David & Brenda Whitaker
About the Show
Murder on the Orient Express is a classic Agatha Christie whodunnit with the added bonus of Ken Ludwig comedy.
Set on the luxury train in 1934, the Orient Express, leaving out of Istanbul, our well-known detective Hercule Poirot, is just trying to have a bit of a vacation but it is not in the cards. When an avalanche strikes, so does the murderer! With a train full of suspects and each one with an alibi how will Poirot figure it out?
Scenes
Act 1
- Somewhere in the Past
- Tukatlian Hotel, Istanbul
- Orient Express Platform
- Dining Car
- Sleeping Car
- Radio Room
- Sleeping Car Hallway
- Sleeping Car
- Dining Car
- Sleeping Car
There will be a 15-minute intermission.
Concessions will be available in our lobby.
Act 2
- Sleeping Car
- Radio Room
- Dining Car
- Radio Room
- Dining Car
Murder on the Orient Express is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. concordtheatricals.com
Meet our Cast and Crew!
CAST
Jay Bell: Jay is from Mulliken and this is his first musical! He was in years of school choirs. He works for McDonalds in their manager training program. He is excited to take on this role of Doug because he says he was a geek in school as well.
Natalie Bengel: Natalie is a junior at Pewamo-Westpahlia High School where she was recently seen as Catherine in The Great Gatsby. She has loved working with the cast of the Descendants and bringing energy to the stage with them. She has a pet bunny and loves to craft. Natalie is very excited for this show and other theater opportunities.
Lydia Bowling: Lydia is extremely excited to be returning to the stage for her second performance with the Portland Civic Players. Theater has been an important part of Lydia’s life since she was a child. From 2010-2012, Lydia was actively engaged in Grand Rapids community theater. In her young adult years, her favorite roles were Winnie Foster in Cornerstone University’s Tuck Everlasting, Guinevere in Magic Circle Theater’s Robin Hood, and Judy in Civic Theater’s Night of the Living Dead. Lydia’s most recent theater performance was in March of 2024, playing Mary Debenham in PCP’s Murder on the Orient Express. She would like to dedicate her performance to her biggest, little hero, her daughter Harper. We are better together! Xoxo
Dan Braker: Dan to PCP having previously played Monsieur Bouc in Murder on the Orient Express and the Wolf in Shrek. He has also performed many shows with Thornapple Players, The Revue, and Master Arts Theater. When not on stage, he enjoys cooking, eating, and the Green Bay Packers. He is thankful that his awesome wife encourages him to follow his folly.
Maddision Clelland: This is Maddision’s first show with PCP and says it’s been such a great experience. She can’t wait to keep watching this show come to life. She was most recently seen as The Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd with Ionia Community Theatre.
Emerson Dibean: This is Emerson’s 7th fall production with the Civic Players, and his 17th overall stage production, having most recently played Michel the Conductor in the Civic Players’ production of Murder on the Orient Express. He currently works in Tech Support at Farm Bureau and attends LCC. In his spare time, Emerson enjoys watching and reviewing films, design work, and video editing (having filmed and edited previous Civic Players productions). He is grateful for all the amazing theater opportunities available in Portland and would like to thank the Summer Theater program and the High School Drama program for helping to form him as an actor. He would also like to thank the Civic Players organization for giving him the opportunity to continue participating in stage productions beyond school.
Candice Dilley: Candice grew up attending the Portland Civic players summer theater program, and was so excited when her kids Ember and Xander were old enough to attend. Shout out to Summer theater directors Devann, Rachel, Rory, and Sara who are amazing at making the theater a magical place for so many kids. Some of her favorite theater moments have been being a tornado in Wizard of Oz, helping build the boat in Little Mermaid, and of course watching her kids on stage. She feels so lucky to have met so many theater friends over the years, and has loved watching all the “theater kids” grow up, even though they promised they wouldn’t- Peter Pan (1997 & 2016)
Emberlynn Dilley: Emberlynn is currently a senior at PHS. She started acting in the PCP summer theater program in 2016 as Tinkerbell. She has been involved in the PHS drama program, and MSU Wharton Center’s Take it From the Top Program. Some of her favorite theater roles have been Karen in Means Girls, and Wednesday in Addams Family. Ember is currently in the Ionia career center nursing program, and after graduation plans on continuing her education in Nursing. She would like to thank all the people who have gotten her this far in theater and life, especially her brother for the many years of running lines.
Audrey Frazee: Audrey is a part of the prop team/set crew. This is her second production with the Civic Players after participating in the Summer Theater program and Portland High School drama program. She is very excited for this production and would like to thank her mom for introducing her to the Civic Players family.
Kelly Frazee: Kelly Frazee is a part of the prop team/set crew. This is her 7th production with the Civic Players. She is thankful for all of the new friends she makes through PCP and loves getting to work with such a creative and supportive community.
Erin Hoard: Erin is an alum of the Summer Theater program and is making her directing debut with Descendants. She was the assistant director for Shrek in 2022 and has been involved in productions of 1776, Art of Dining, Addams Family, Guys and Dolls and Murder on the Orient Express. She is Vice-President of the Portland Civic Players Board of Directors, a full-time nursing instructor, a doctoral student working on her DNP and currently opening Scrappy Divas in Portland with two of her friends. She and her husband live in Carson City with their 2 dogs and cat.
Jeremy Hoard: Jeremy is originally from Carson City and came to our theater after his wife Erin (The Director) made her return to the stage. Jeremy has been our sound engineer since Shrek the Musical back in 2022. He has also been active with building sets for our productions.
Claire Jandernoa: Claire is excited to be in her first production with Portland Civic Players! When not with PCP, she acts and student directs with PW’s theater, and most recently played Jordan in The Great Gatsby. She also enjoys weight lifting, milking cows, and babysitting.
Rachel Jandernoa: Rachel is very excited to be in her first musical with PCP! She has acted and been in backstage crew at PW’s Middle/High school theater. When she is not in theater, Rachel enjoys music, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Sarah Jandernoa: Sarah grew up in Pewamo MI. She has been in love with theater since freshman year of high school and has been involved in local theater ever since. This is her third theater production with Portland! Her favorite part of Descendants so far is all the fun and challenging choreography! Outside of theater she loves to spend time working out and playing with her dog.
Peyton Heron:
Amber Miller: Amber is from Freeport, MI. Amber caught the theater bug in high school and went on to graduate from GVSU with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Theater. Since then, she has performed with various theater companies around the greater Grand Rapids area and has performed in over 25 different shows. This is her fifth show with the Portland Civic Players. You may recognize her from past Portland shows such as Greta from Murder on the Orient Express, Adelaide from Guys and Dolls, Ellen from The Art of Dining, and the Sugar Plum Fairy from Shrek. When she is not rehearsing for a show, she enjoys singing, art, reading, and playing DND with her friends.
Haven Miller: Haven is 22 this is her second show with Portland, but her 30th show. She’s done some performing, directing and choreography in her time in theatre. Her favorite show that she has been a part of has been Ursula in the Little Mermaid with a close second directing Seussical the Musical.
Leon Miller: Leon was in several plays in high school at Pewamo Westphalia in the mid 70’s and several more with the Pewamo Westphailia Community Players in the late 70’s. He is retired from Meter Reading with TriCounty Electric. Has been in productions with Portland Civic Players since 2019. His last part was as Lt Branagan in Guys and Dolls.
Jazlyn Sweet Morales: Jazlyn is excited to return to the PCP stage after an 8 year break for school and travel. Her previous shows with PCP include Annie, Oliver, Bye Bye Birdie, and her favorite, The Little Mermaid, where she played the role of Ariel. She also loved her many years in the Summer Theatre program. Jazlyn is thrilled to return to her theatre home & acting family to play “Evie” alongside a very talented cast! She is grateful for this community, her cast and directors, and most of all, Jesus for leading her sweetly.
Emily Perry: Emily is excited to join the cast of Disney’s Descendants as the classic villain Cruella De Vil. Emily is a local artist and musician who has performed with the Portland Civic Players in multiple productions over the years. She recently portrayed Sarah Brown in PCP’s musical production of Guys and Dolls and Princess Dragomiroff in Murder on The Orient Express. Her favorite roles to date include Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls and Emily Webb in Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. Recent shows include: Murder on the Orient Express, Guys and Dolls, Shrek The Musical and Our Town. Past shows include: The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and The Beast, Little Shop of Horrors, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and The Music Man.
Alex Port: Alex is so happy to be returning in his second show with PCP! He grew up a huge fan of all the iconic, classic Disney villains and is very excited he gets to play one. Alex grew up in Ohio and studied music education at Miami University. He currently lives in Potterville with his wife Kate and his two cats, Jupiter and Nelson. He teaches 8-12 choir at Harper Creek Community Schools and works at Interlochen Arts Camp during the summers. Outside of work and rehearsals, Alex and his wife enjoy being vegan foodies, reading, solving escape rooms and murder mysteries and planning their next trip to Disney World.
Shelly Pung: Shelly says she has the privilege of creating costumes for the fantastical world of Auradon Prep. Shelly loves enhancing the storytelling of the cast and helping them reflect the unique personalities of their characters. Shelly began by crafting a few costumes for Summer Theater and has since expanded her role to designing the entire costume plot for Descendants. With over a decade of working with the theater, Shelly has developed a deep appreciation for the collaborative nature of theater. Without the invaluable support of her volunteer team, the magic of her costume creations would be impossible. Shelly is also a member of the PCP Board and the costume co-chair. When not creating costumes for the theater she can be found in her studio creating any number of other projects, volunteering at church, looking for rocks, or relaxing by her pond. The theater has been a family affair with her husband and three grown children also having been in productions. She hopes that someday her two grandsons will catch the theater bug.
Garrett Ramsey
Laurie Reeves: Laurie has been involved with the Portland Civic Players since 2017. Previously, Laurie was involved in the Summer Theater program and participated in shows during her high school years. She found that she enjoyed the work behind the scenes, though she has been onstage. Her favorite show moment to date is the exploding bird in Shrek.
Claire Reynolds:
Kelly Sandula-Gruner: Kelly is excited to be gracing our stage as the villain Maleficent. Some of her other favorite roles include Sgt. Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls and the sweetly ditzy Hope Langdon in Something’s Afoot. Kelly is excited to be digging into the evilicious Maleficent with the Portland Civic Players! You may have previously seen her on stage in the Pandemic Show review and as a long time member of Singers on the Grand. Kelly is also a member of the Lansing Concert Band on French Horn, vocalist with the Lansing Concert Jazz Big Band and half of the duo Clique Vocals. She holds degrees in both music and commercial art and works as a graphics designer. She has been doing the graphics for PCP the last few years. Kelly and her husband live in Grand Ledge with their two sons, Nathan and Declan.
Aaron Swan: Aaron was born and raised in Stanton but has also lived in Kentucky and Florida. He has done quite a few shows with Portland, the most recent being Murder on the Orient Express as Colonel Arbuthnot. He loves making videos and playing music. Aaron serves on the PCP Board as a trustee. Aaron would like to thank his friends and family for always supporting him and sticking around for him.
Mady Sharp: This is Mady’s second production with PCP, her first being Gingy in Shrek. After a year away from the stage she is excited to be back after PCP re-sparked her love of theatre. She is very happy to share the stage once more with an amazing cast and crew.
Rana Tekinel
Sam Thelen
Simon White: I am a high school senior from St. Pat’s. I live in Portland and I have 3 brothers and four sisters. I have been in theater since I was little. The last performances I was in were Alice in Wonderland and Our Town. I love playing the funny roles and I love playing obnoxious or clueless characters. I go to the career center for construction and I currently work for KDH Construction. I play baseball, trap, and bowling and I also love hunting and fishing. I also enjoy building small projects in my free time and am working towards getting to where I can sell them.
John Roy Vogl
Antonius Watkins
Cooper Wittenbach: Cooper is a senior at Portland High School, this is his third musical production, his previous being Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street in the ensemble and The Little Mermaid as Prince Eric. Cooper is still new to theater starting just over a year ago with a dinner theater show. Cooper recently was nominated to go to the Sutton Foster Awars and perform at MSU’s Wharton Center. Cooper is excited to be in his first Portland Civic Players production and has enjoyed all his time with the cast and crew.
Special Thanks!
The Cast and Crew of Murder on the Orient Express and the Portland Civic Players would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their support throughout this production:
Epic Community Church
PFCU
Sierra Homes
Simon Insurance Agency
Duff, Chadwick and Assoc.
Fabricated Customs
Portland Community Orchestra
Gruner Graphics, LLC
Rachel Vogl
Calliope Miller
Content and Effects Warning
Trigger Warning: Dialogue regarding suicide.
Effects Warning: This show contains loud screams, gun shots, fog.
Meet our Sponsors
The Portland Civic Players would like to say a special thank you to this season’s sponsors. We could not provide what we do to the community without them. Their sponsorship and support of the arts in our community is essential for us to continue to provide quality, affordable entertainment.
Would you like to be a sponsor for our season? Check out all the details here!
Why a digital program? This decision was not reached lightly and many factors went into it. This reduces paper waste as well as helps with budgetary restrictions we have. The great news is that digital programs will remain online for the long term and can be accessed by visiting our production archives!