KEARNEY – Get ready for a night of murder, money and nonstop mayhem.
University Theatre at Kearney is presenting the offbeat musical “Lucky Stiff” at Miriam Drake Theatre on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Based on Michael Butterworth’s book “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo,” this murder mystery follows unassuming shoe salesman Harry Witherspoon and his unusual traveling companion from England to Monte Carlo. The outlandish journey begins when Witherspoon receives the unexpected news that he has inherited a fortune from his late Uncle Anthony.
But there’s a catch. First, he must take Anthony’s embalmed body on a vacation to Monte Carlo.
To complicate matters, Anthony’s ex-lover Rita, with whom he embezzled $6 million behind her husband’s back, is hot on Witherspoon’s tail. So is Rita’s brother Vinnie, who was blamed for the crime.
The tale of mistaken identities, love interests, disguises, farcical chases and an omnipresent corpse is directed by UNK theater professor Janice Fronczak, with musical direction by UNK vocal music professor Anne Foradori and choreography by UNK alumna Rebekah Petersen.
The cast includes UNK students Daniel Con, Allyson Fricke, Tobin Glinsmann, Malikiah R. Kunse, Brianna Linden, Rheann M. Rodenbur and Tetsuhito Tsutsumi, along with a few special guests. UNK alumnus Dillon Nelson, a 2015 theater graduate, plays Harry Witherspoon, College of Education Assistant Dean Scott Unruh portrays Luigi Gaudi and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Kristen Majocha has multiple roles.
General admission tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for non-UNK students and seniors; $9 per person for groups of 10 or more; and $3 for UNK students with a valid ID. The UNK Theatre Box Office is open 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and one hour prior to each performance. For reservations, call 308-865-8417 or email boxoffice@unk.edu.
Cast (listed by hometown)
Cairo – Brianna Linden, multiple roles
Henderson – Tobin Glinsmann, multiple roles
Ingalls, Kansas – Rheann M. Rodenbur, Rita La Porta
Lexington – Daniel Con, The Body of Uncle Anthony
Lincoln – Allyson Fricke, Annabel Glick
North Platte – Malikiah R. Kunse, Vincent Di Ruzzio
Tokyo, Japan – Tetsuhito Tsutsumi, multiple roles
UNK Assistant Dean Scott Unruh, Luigi Gaudi
UNK graduate Dillon Nelson, Harry Witherspoon
UNK Senior Vice Chancellor Kristen Majocha, multiple roles
Student Artistic and Production Staff
Aurora, Colorado – Nathaniel York, stage manager
Hastings – Mekenzie Miller, sound designer
Kearney – Nathan Hayes, assistant stage manager
Kearney – Lainey Schmeits, assistant stage manager
Lincoln – Samm O’Connor, assistant costume designer
Meadow Grove – Angel Qualset, dramaturg
York – Lucy Haarmann, properties master
Faculty/Staff/Alumni Artistic Team
Janice Fronczak, director
Anne Foradori, musical director
Andrew Brackett, lighting designer
Giovanni Flores, sound engineer
Darin Himmerich, scenic designer
Bridget McKeon, costume designer
Rebekah Petersen, choreographer
