Farmers Alley Theatre Announces Casting For THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

Farmers Alley Theatre is proud to present the Southwest Michigan premiere of the acclaimed Tony Award winning new play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, based on the best-selling book of the same name. Running March 15-31, Farmers Alley Theatre is also pleased to announce that thanks in large part to several local organizations, we will be reinstating our Student Ticket Initiative for this production, which provides free student tickets to those who wish to attend the show (subject to availability). This is a story about a uniquely gifted young adult, that we feel is very important for students to have the opportunity to see, without the barrier of a ticket price, states Executive Director Adam Weiner.

15-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain: He is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers. Now it is 7 minutes after midnight, and Christopher stands beside his neighbor's dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington, and he carefully records each fact of the crime.

Farmers Alley Theatre is thrilled to have renowned Director J. Scott Lapp (Murder for Two 2016 Gilmore Festival) spear-heading this brilliantly crafted story. Mr. Lapp is an alumnus of the Directors Lab West, and a proud member of the SDC. Associate/Assistant Directing credits include Broadway: Bonnie & Clyde; International: Prince of Egypt (Fredericia); National Tour: Murder for Two, Xanadu; Off-Broadway: Murder For Two (New World Stages, Second Stage); Regional: Prince of Egypt (TheatreWorks) Rain, Into the Woods (Old Globe), Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Paper Mill Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse).

Chelsea Nicole Lapp will serve as the production's movement coordinator. As an award-winning choreographer, Chelsea's work has been seen all over Southern California as well as Pennsylvania, Illinois, Washington, Idaho and New York. While not choreographing Chelsea continues to perform, she was last seen in The Barn Stage Company's production of The Secret Garden In Concert as Martha. Selected choreography credits include: First Date, Disenchanted (PRiMA); Little Women, James and The Giant Peach, Camelot in Concert, Peter and The Starcatcher (ITL Award).

Troy Hussmann is a N.Y.C. based performer who will take on the lead role of Christopher. A native of Southern California, Troy performed in regional theaters across the state including the Odyssey Theater and Hudson Theater in Los Angeles, and The Old Globe Theater in San Diego. He was fortunate to share the stage with the world-renowned Radio City Rockettes in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Arena Tour (2007-2009). While earning a BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University, he had the pleasure of playing Link Larkin in Hairspray, and Peter Pan in Peter Pan (Syracuse Stage). Other regional credits include North Carolina Theater, Florida Rep, and Finger Lakes Musical Festival.

Farmers Alley Theatre Artistic Director Jeremy Koch will portray Christopher's father Ed Boone. Jeremy was nominated for a Wilde Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden. Other Farmers Alley productions include The Bridges of Madison County, The Andrews Brothers, 1776, Next to Normal, A Few Good Men, Urinetown and more. Before founding Farmers Alley Theatre in 2008, Jeremy portrayed Tony in the National Tour of West Side Story.

Tina Gluschenko will be making her Farmers Alley debut as Judy Boone, Christopher mother. She is a professional actress based in Chicago where she recently played Mrs. Fezziwig in Drury Lane Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol. Other Chicago theatrical credits include an all-female cast production of The Taming of the Shrew (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Hamlet, the Musical! (a Chicago Shakespeare / Second City joint production, which moved to Ars Nova in New York under the title Melancholy Baby); The House of Martin Guerre, and Randy Newman's Faust (Goodman Theatre).

James Krag (Roger Shears) most recently appeared in The Christians at Cardinal Stage in Bloomington, Ind. Other recent credits include Lodovico in Othello at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre, and understudying Dr. Aster in Life Sucks at Lookingglass Theatre. Jim originated the role of Sandy in the world premiere of Duck Hunter Shoots Angel by Tuesdays with Morrie author Mitch Albom at the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, Michigan.

Tory Matsos (Siobhan) returns to Farmers Alley Theatre, where she previously appeared as Betsy/Lindsey in Clybourne Park. Other credits include Woman in Clutter (Theatre Nova) and Agnetha in Frozen (Evolution Theatre Company). Her original works include her one-woman show, Girl Made Good, about the life of vaudeville star Elsie Janis.

The rest of this ensemble cast includes Betsy King, Allison L. Crockett, Hal Hobson, Brian Panse, Sarah Taylor, AC Quaglito and Rachel Beck.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time runs March 15-31 at 221 Farmers Alley. Tickets are $32 on Fri/Sat/Sun and $27 on Thursdays. $2 off for Seniors age 65 and above. Student tickets are FREE (Limit 25 per performance). Ticket reservations can be made by calling our Box Office at (269) 343-2727 or visiting www.farmersalleytheatre.com.