Mainstage Production Show
The Savoyard Murders
By Omri Schein
Directed by Omri Schein & Phil Johnson
Featuring Eliott Goretsky, Taylor Henderson, Phil Johnson, David McBean, Durwood Murray, Daren Scott & Wendy Waddell
An outrageous group of theater people is trapped in a luxurious Edwardian mansion for hours on end only to find one deliciously murdered, one a diabolical suspect. Full-tilt personalities tortured by their own foibles are done away with by each fashionable other. Premiering its onstage debut, The Savoyard Murders is full of over-the-top, scandalous drama that ensues — the perfect ingredients for a hilarious murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Now through September 30th
Thursday, Friday & Saturday Evenings at 7:30 pm
Saturday & Sunday Matinees at 2:00 pm
Scripps Ranch Theatre
9783 Avenue of Nations, San Diego, CA 92131
The Critics Have Spoken...
Laughs and clever twists are afoot in Roustabouts' fun 'The Savoyard Murders' - Pam Kragen, The San Diego Union-Tribune
"Savoyard Murders, is a fun whodunnit, nestled in a visual banquet." - La Splash Magazine
"Everyone emotes with carte blanche, which in this production is practically a prerequisite.." - David L. Coddon, Stage West
"Give three cheers and one more for silly good fun." - Milo Shapiro, Stage and Cinema
"This mystery is populated with well-crafted red herrings, and the ending is a surprise. If you’re depressed about the state of the world or about anything else, “The Savoyard Murders” is surely a show to escape into." - David L. Coddon, Stage West
"The Savoyard Murders successfully combines the thrill of a murder mystery with intelligent humor.” -
Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti, From Another Zero
Read Review >>
Meet the Cast
Eliott Goretsky
Actor (Ezra Dibble/Inspector Berkeley)
Recent credits: Moonface Martin in
Anything Goes, and Mr. Mushnik in
Little Shop of Horrors
at San Diego Musical Theatre. Other favorite roles include Toddy in
Victor/Victoria, Uncle Louie in Lost in Yonkers, Feste in
Twelfth Night, The Doctor in Andorra, Sidney Lipton in
God’s Favorite, Roy Cohn in
Angels in America,
Rabbi in
Fiddler on the Roof, and Hysterium in
A Funny Thing Happened… He has numerous television and voice-over credits from the L.A. days. Thank you to the amazing Roustabouts creative team and crew! Enjoy the show!!
Taylor Henderson
Actor (Rowena Rawlings)
Taylor Henderson is delighted to be working with The Roustabouts again since her first reading with them in 2017 for
Mrs. Bob Crachit’s Wild Christmas Binge! Taylor is a multi-hyphenate artist and performer that has been working professionally for upwards of 10 years; this year alone you may have seen her in the world premiere of
BottleShock! The Musical
(CCAE),
Xanadu (SDMT) and the American premiere of
The High Table (Diversionary). In her downtime she enjoys singing karaoke and playing Dungeons & Dragons. Thank you for supporting live theatre. Inspire. Aspire! IG @tay.renee.onstage.
Phil Johnson*
Actor (Tiberius Spriggs)
Phil Johnson is the Artistic Director and founder of The Roustabouts Theatre Co. He’s directed for The Roustabouts, Scripps Ranch Theatre, Playwrights Project, and started the new Great Jewish American Playwright Series/ JPlays at the JCC. He’s appeared at most all San Diego theaters and in numerous original solo shows including A Jewish Joke which opened Off-Broadway in NYC 2019. As an actor, he’s played in Les Misérables on Broadway and on tour; Canadian production of Sunset Boulevard; and the 1st National Co. of Miss Saigon. He is a two-time winner of the SD Critics Circle Craig Noel Award for acting and is a founder of the San Diego Theatre Alliance. He last appeared in TRTC’s gUnTOPIA by Will Cooper this spring and with David McBean in last season’s The Remarkable Mr. Holmes by Omri Schein & David Ellenstein at North Coast Rep.
David Mc Bean*
Actor (Grizzle/Victims: Peregrine Scattergood, Albert Mogg, Euphoria Barrick, Primrose Cabbage, and Millicent Maggot)
David is a native San Diegan and a graduate of the SD School for Creative and Performing Arts. Credits include:
Fully Committed (Craig Noel Award),
La Cage aux Folles (Albin/Zaza),
Pageant
(Miss Deep South),
The Legend of Georgia McBride (Tracy),
Christmas Carol (Marley/Present/Undertaker),
Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II) at Cygnet Theater,
The Remarkable Mr. Holmes (Artemis/Constable/Sea Captain), A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Marcus Lycus),
Travels With My Aunt (Actor 2),
Charley's Aunt (Lord Fancourt Babberly),
School For Lies (Clitandre), at North Coast Rep.,
86-ed (Ensemble),
The Mystery of Irma Vep (Lady Enid/Nicodemus),
Twist (Fagin),
The Rocky Horror Show
(Frank 'n Furter), and
Psycho Beach Party
(Chicklet) at Diversionary Theater. He is the Vocal Arts Instructor/Music Director for the Coronado School of the Arts Musical Theatre/Drama Conservatory and music director for the Kensington Community Church.
Durwood Murray
Actor (Cyrus Schock)
Durwood Murray is so happy to be working once again with The Roustabouts, previously appearing in
Book of Leaves. He has also appeared in
Handbagged and
Our Lady of Kibeho at Moxie Theatre, at New Village Arts in
The Servant of 2 Masters and
1222 Oceanfront,
at Diversionary Theatre in
The High Table, Well and One in Two, and Intrepid Theatre Company in
Father Comes Home from the Wars Parts I, II, and III. Durwood would like to thank The Usual Suspects, Wondrous Strange, and all The Partners for their love and support.
Daren Scott
Actor (Balthazar Bellwood)
Darren Scott was last seen in New Village Arts critically acclaimed and completely sold out run of The Ferryman playing Father Horrigan, prior to that he was Van in Backyard Renaissance Theatres world premiere of
Witchland. He was Dance Teacher Pat in Moxie Theatres West Coast Premiere of
Dance Nation. Other credits include
The North Plan and
The Normal Heart at Ion Theatre, ART at Intrepid Theatre. He has also performed in several plays at Diversionary Theatre, and a few for Cygnet Theatre. He is a founding member of New Village Arts, where he has worked as actor, director and photographer since 2003.
Wendy Waddell
Actor (Desdemona Chatfield-Snarr)
Wendy Waddell was last seen at The Roustabouts in
For Whom the Southern Bell Tolls. She has a BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Select San Diego theatre credits:
Fiddler on the Roof (San Diego Critics Circle nominee, Welk);
9 to 5, Anything Goes, Xanadu (SDMT);
Carrie, Admissions
(OnStage Playhouse);
Sunday in the Park with George (ion);
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Communicating Doors
(SRT); All My Sons, Hamlet, King John (Intrepid);
American Hero, The Full Monty, Three Sisters
(New Village Arts);
Brave Smiles, Bunbury (Diversionary);
Bluebonnet Court
(Moxie/Diversionary);
The Diary of Anne Frank, The Butcher of Baraboo
(MOXIE);
The Miser, The Car Plays (La Jolla Playhouse);
Company (Cygnet).
www.WendyWaddellActor.com
Meet the Creative Team
Omri Schein
Playwright/Co-Director
Omri Schein is a performer/lyricist/playwright/director. As a writer: The Remarkable Mister Holmes at NCRT,
Making Melrose
at Slippery Rock University,
The Princess Prob-llama and Fintastic Finn at Cape Fear Regional Theatre,
Mambo Italiano at Westchester Broadway Theatre, Withering Heights
with The Roustabouts Theatre Co, Gary Goldfarb: Master Escapist (2013 NYMF Award Best Lyrics) and the upcoming musicals
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, an adaptation of the young adult novel and
Grecian Burns a Greek mythology reality T.V show dating musical. Omri recently directed
Anything Goes
for San Diego Musical Theatre. As a performer:
Murder On The Links (world premiere)
Baskerville, Babette’s Feast, All In The Timing,
A Funny Thing…Forum, Persuasion, Noises Off, The Explorer's Club, Beau Jest, Laughter On the 23rd Floor, The Underpants, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Five Course Love, When Pigs Fly,
Disney’s
Beauty and The Beast, Dear World, The People Vs. Mona (Off-Broadway/Cast Recording), Hell’s Belles, Henry V, Grease (tour) and
When You’re in Love,
The Whole World Is Jewish directed by Jason Alexander. Member of AEA. www.omri-schein.com.
Phil Johnson
Co-Director
Phil Johnson is the Artistic Director and founder of The Roustabouts Theatre Co. He’s directed for The Roustabouts, Scripps Ranch Theatre, Playwrights Project, and started the new Great Jewish American Playwright Series/ JPlays at the JCC. He’s appeared at most all San Diego theaters and in numerous original solo shows including A Jewish Joke which opened Off-Broadway in NYC 2019. As an actor, he’s played in Les Misérables on Broadway and on tour; Canadian production of Sunset Boulevard; and the 1st National Co. of Miss Saigon. He is a two-time winner of the SD Critics Circle Craig Noel Award for acting and is a founder of the San Diego Theatre Alliance. He last appeared in TRTC’s gUnTOPIA by Will Cooper this spring and with David McBean in last season’s The Remarkable Mr. Holmes by Omri Schein & David Ellenstein at North Coast Rep.
Maya Aizenman
Production Stage Manager
Maya Aizenman is excited to return to The Roustabouts team for another show. After graduating San Diego State University in 2022 with a B.A. in Theatre Arts and a second B.A. in Linguistics, she spends the school year as Mesa College’s staff production manager. When she is not at Mesa, Maya is a freelance stage manager, working around San Diego on shows such as
Hay Fever (Coronado Playhouse, Stage Manager),
(un)Documents (Diversionary Theatre, Stage Manager),
gUnTOPIA
(The Roustabouts Theatre Co., Stage Manager), and
Eighty-Sixed (Diversionary Theatre, Assistant Stage Manager). In her precious free time she is an avid fan of campy sci-fi, professional wrestling, and pour over coffee.
Josie E. Gerk
Assistant Stage Manager
Josie E. Gerk is thrilled to rejoin The Roustabouts Theatre Co. for this production. Stage Management credits include: Finding Avi (La Jolla Playhouse WoW Festival); Dido & Aeneas (Bodhi Tree Concerts); Something Blue (Diversionary Theatre). Assistant Stage Management: gUnTOPIA (The Roustabouts Theatre Co.); Cabaret (Ion Theatre); Father Comes Home from the Wars; Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Intrepid Theatre).
Yi-Chien Lee
Set Design
Yi-Chien Lee is a San Diego-based set designer working in theatre and film. She recently received the Craig Noel Award 2022 for Outstanding Scenic Design for her work on
The October Night of Johnny Zero
for Backyard Reinassance Theatre. Credits include:
On This Side Of The World (East West Players),
Sharon, El Huracán, Life Sucks, Water by the Spoonful, The Great Leap (Cygnet),
The Secret Garden (Music Theatre Heritage)
God of Carnage (Backyard Renaissance),
The Future is Female (Flint REP),
King of the Yees (Sierra Madre Playhouse),
The Great Khan (SD REP),
Monsters of the American Cinema, The High Table, Eighty-Sixed, Girlfriend, A Kind of Weather (Diversionary),
Mother of the Maid, The Pleasure Trials (Moxie),
The Winter’s Tale-globe for all (Old Globe). Portfolio: yichienlee.com
Michelle Miles
Lighting Design
Michelle Miles has served San Diego local theatre for over a decade, having started her career as a Master Electrician and ASM. Past design favorites include
gUnTOPIA!, Iron
(Roustabouts);
Spelling Bee, In The Heights, Young Frankenstein (SDMT);
Cotton Patch Gospel, An American Christmas (LPT);
Steel Magnolias
(Backyard Renaissance);
Sunday in the Park With George, Once
(CCAE). When she's not tinkering with electronics, scaling the walls and vigorously tapping keys on the light board she can be found somewhere in the wilderness- searching for that moment where the world feels big and she feels small. Unending love and respect to her Family, the Longfellow Clan, the Peirsons and her Motley Crew.
Paul Durso
Sound Design
Paul is a musician, composer, artist, and creative engineer across many mediums. He lectures and teaches on aesthetics, theme park design, and spiritual initiatory systems. He performs music nationwide with the band Sigil Of Dragon and as a solo artist, and serves as Deputy Master for a local body of Ordo Templi Orientis. His latest album, Field of Constant Intensity, is out now on Meaning Through Form Records. Theatrical credits include: The Polar Express Train Ride, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Iron, Henry V, Catch Me If You Can, Eurydice, Sense and Sensibility, Disney’s Freaky Friday, In The Car. meaningthroughform.com
Jennifer Brawn Gittings
Costume Design
Ms. Gittings holds an MFA in both Costume Design and Scenic Design from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and a BA in Theatre Arts from UCLA. Over the last 20 years, Ms. Gittings has designed more than 130 productions, including plays, musicals, dance, and world premieres. Her costume designs have graced the stages of regional theatres such as the La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego REPertory Theatre, A Noise Within, The Western Stage, Crossroads Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Lycian Centre, and The Luna Stage.
Peter Herman
Hair & Wig Design
Peter Herman is excited to be working with The Roustabouts Theatre Company. Peter is known for his wig designs for theaters all over the Southern California area. Some of his work has recently been seen at The San Diego Opera, North Coast Rep, Moonlight Stage Productions, and Diversionary Theatre, as well as some design work for film, television, and various theme parks. Peter currently teaches wig and makeup design at San Diego State University.
Tim Botsko
Dramaturg
This is Tim’s second production with The Roustabouts, after gUnTOPIA. Tim prepared to become a dramaturg by bouncing through myriad jobs - from amusement park cleanup to plumber, theater technical director, paralegal, industrial photographer, Information Governance Professional, and numerous other odd stops along the way. Additional preparation included being more interested in reading than eating and having a dustbin of a memory that can hold and then disgorge the most obscure but oddly relevant information. Many thanks to the founders of The Roustabouts for giving me this opportunity to be part of such an inventive company.
* These Actors and/or Stage Managers are appearing through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
Actors' Equity Association (“Equity"), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors' Equity is a member of the
AFL-CIO and is affiliated with
FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks