September 11, 2025 – October 12, 2025
By Agatha Christie
Adapted by Ken Ludwig
SEPTEMBER 11 – OCTOBER 12, 2025
On the Arenstein Stage at the November Theatre
114 W. Broad St, Richmond, VA
All Aboard for Murder
When a wealthy and despised passenger is found murdered in his locked train compartment, Agatha Christie’s legendary detective, Hercule Poirot, finds himself trapped by a snowstorm and surrounded by suspects, each harboring dark secrets and hidden motives. Poirot meticulously unravels an intricate web of lies and deceit, revealing a shocking conclusion that will leave you breathless.
Murder on the Orient Express is recommended for teens and up. While that decision is up to individual parents/guardians, Murder on the Orient Express contains adult themes and simulated violence – including gunshot violence – and self-harm. Additional effects include – water-based haze, theatrical smoke, gunshot sound effects, flashing lights, and fire effects.
Press
RVA Magazine I There’s a Murder coming to Richmond, and You’re stuck on the train
RVArt I Murder on the Orient Express – Review
Style Weekly I Cinematically Sinister – Review
RVA Magazine I Poirot Delivers in Virginia Rep’s Murder on the Orient Express – Review
Commonwealth Times I Va Repertory Theater begins season with chilling rendition of Agatha Christie classic
Richmond Family Magazine I Interview: On Track with Agatha Christie: Virginia Rep Actors Step into Complex Roles in Murder on the Orient Express
Richmond Family Magazine I Virginia Rep’s Murder on the Orient Express: A Thrilling Murder Mystery Ride—with a Twist – Review
Photo by Aaron Sutten
Photo by Aaron Sutten
Photo by Aaron Sutten
Photo by Aaron Sutten
Show Sponsors
Cast & Creative Team
Cast
Lawrence Redmond
Hercule Poirot
Lawrence Redmond, he/him, (Hercule Poirot) is pleased to make his Virginia Rep debut with this sterling company of artists. He is a Washington, DC native, a longtime DMV-based actor, and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1987. His most recent endeavors included A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Signature Theatre, Sister Act at Ford’s Theatre and The Berlin Diaries at Theatre J. He is a two-time recipient of the Helen Hayes Award, along with seven additional nominations. He is a 2023 Lunt-Fontanne Fellow and 2023 Anderson-Hopkins Award for Excellence in Theatre recipient. (9/12/25-19/13/12) www.lawrenceredmond.com
Frank Britton *
Monsieur Bouc / U/S Poirot
Frank Britton, he/him (Monsieur Bouc, U/S Hercule Poirot) is thrilled to return to Richmond stages (last appearance was Firehouse Theatre’s Wait Until Dark in 2014), and make his Virginia Rep debut. A native of Washington DC, he has appeared on many stages in the DMV and regionally for the past 23 years, and even off-off Broadway (Shape, La MaMa ETC). Most recent credits include the regional premiere of Primary Trust (Signature Theatre), Our Town (Baltimore Center Stage); Frontieres Sans Frontieres (Spooky Action Theater), Two Trains Running (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park/Milwaukee Repertory Theater); Major Barbara (Washington Stage Guild), and Angels In America, Part One (Arena Stage). Other credits include productions at Arena Stage, Round House Theatre, Studio Theatre, Imagination Stage, and 1st Stage. He is a four-time Helen Hayes Award nominee, and earned the Helen Hayes Award (the 2018 Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play-Helen) for his performance in Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train at 1st Stage, and as part of the ensemble (Outstanding Ensemble – Hayes), for Angels in America, Part One (2024). All gratitude to Rick, Ginnie, Hannah, Justin, and the Cast and Crew.
McLean Fletcher
Greta Ohlsson / U/S Princess Dragomiroff
McLean Fletcher, she/her, (Myra Bruhl) is excited to be back at Virginia Rep where some of her previous credits include Greta Ohlsson in Murder on the Orient Express, Annie Wilkes U/S in Misery, Betsy/Lindsey in Clybourne Park, Beth in A Lie of the Mind, and Jill in Equus in partnership with Cadence Theatre, Mabry in The Human Terrain at Fifth Wall (RTCC for Best Leading Actress), and many others at Richmond Shakespeare, Firehouse and TheatreLAB. She has also performed with Studio Theatre, Constellation Theatre, Synetic Theatre, Folger Shakespeare, Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Kennedy Center, and others. McLean earned her MFA in classical theatre at The George Washington University.
Jan Guarino
Princess Dragomiroff
Jan Guarino (Princess Dragomiroff) is so excited to be a part of this amazing cast for the fall! She was last seen on the November stage in the summer hit 9 to 5. Some of her favorite roles have been as Genie Klein in Beautiful, The Carole King Musical and playing Dorph in RTP’s Air Swimming. She had the privilege to direct Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Emperor’s New Clothes at the Va Rep Center. She has also directed (among others) Where’s Charley?, The Wizard of Oz and They’re Playing Our Song for Virginia Rep. A familiar face and voice in Richmond-area advertising, Jan is perhaps best known for being the Haynes Furniture spokesperson for over 30 years.
John-Michael Jalonen
Head Waiter / U/S MacQueen / U/S Michel
John-Michael Jalonen (Head Waiter, U/S Hector MacQueen, U/S Michel) is thrilled to be making his Va Rep debut! JM is an actor and writer based in Richmond. Previous stage credits include All My Sons and The Great Gatsby (Virginia Stage Company), Water by the Spoonful (Firehouse Theatre), Constellations, Pass Over, and Placebo (Yes, And! Theatrical Co.), Julius Caesar and The Merchant of Venice (Virginia Shakespeare Festival), and Now to Ashes (Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage). Film: Bentley’s Will, Killing Kennedy. Television: “Legends & Lies”, “Mysteries at the Museum” and more. Web Series: “The Breakdown,” “True Friends,” “Going Dark,” “I Love College.” His one-act plays “Brando Sundae” and “Him-Her” have been produced at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, The Players Theatre, and The Secret Theatre in NYC.
Matt Meixler
Hector MacQueen
Matt Meixler (Hector MacQueen) is excited to return to Virginia Rep, where he previously appeared as Paul Sheldon in Misery. Richmond audiences may also recognize him from War in Pieces ’25 (Virginia War Memorial and Firehouse Theatre) and most recently as Steve in Burial Tax (Firehouse). Earlier in his career, Matt performed in New York and D.C. in works ranging from Shakespeare to American classics. He is a proud graduate of NYU Tisch (’06), where he studied Meisner and Neo-Classical techniques. Much love and gratitude to Mom, Heather, Nathan, and Liz for their unwavering support.
Susan Sanford *
Helen Hubbard
Susan Sanford (Beulah & Others) was last seen on the Virginia Rep stage as Mrs. Dilber in the smash hit A Christmas Carol. She was also seen in this season’s production of Murder on the Orient Express as Mrs. Hubbard. Previous roles in Richmond include Big/Little Edie in Grey Gardens with Richmond Triangle Players, The Witch in Into the Woods with Richmond Shakespeare and Toni in Appropriate with Cadence Theatre, all of which garnered her RTCC best actress awards. She is thrilled to be a part of this beautiful story. All love to Foster, Willow and Jordan.
Ashley Thompson
Countess Andrenyi
Ashley Thompson, she/her, (Countess Andrenyi) is making her November stage debut in this production of Murder on the Orient Express. She was last seen on the Hanover Tavern stage as Margot Wendice in Dial M for Murder. Previous credits include Marianne / Roland in Constellations (Yes, And!), Ginny Cadbury in 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche (RTP), Shelly in Buried Child (Firehouse), Harriet / Sally Ride in Dr. Ride’s American Beach House (Yes, And!, 2024 RTCC Breakout Performance winner), and Marnie in Lewiston (HATTheatre). Ashley would like to dedicate all performances of this classic murder mystery to the everlasting light and lover of justice, Adam Turck.
Charlene Hong White
Mary Debenham
Charlene Hong White, she/her, (Mary Debenham) is thrilled to join the brilliant cast and crew of Murder on the Orient Express for her Virginia Rep debut. An actor-musician (and Agatha Christie junkie!) Charlene was most recently seen at the American Shakespeare Center (Little Women, King Lear, The Comedy of Errors), at the American Stage (The Figs), and at the Aurora Theatre (Sister Act: The Musical). When not rehearsing for a show or acting on camera, Charlene enjoys thrifting, drinking snobby coffee, connecting with her Taiwanese heritage, and playing board games with her family and friends. Soli Deo Gloria.
Nathan Whitmer *
Colonel Arbuthnot/Samuel Ratchett
Nathan Whitmer, he/him, (Sidney Bruhl) is making his Hanover Tavern debut! Richmond Theatre: Murder on the Orient Express (VA Rep). Other Theatre: The Heiress (Arena Stage), People, Places and Things (Studio Theatre), Candida (Washington Stage Guild). Off-Broadway: A.A.Milne’s The Ugly Duckling (Marvell Repertory Theatre). Regional: The Old Globe, Cincinnati Playhouse, Virginia Theatre Festival, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Roxy Regional Theatre, Fairbanks Shakespeare, and over 25 roles at the Barter Theatre where Nathan was a resident company member. Television: George Washington’s Secret Love, Mystery at Jamestown (Smithsonian Channel). MFA – The University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Acting Program; BFA – Ohio University. Love to Virginia Rep veteran Emelie Thompson and our three fantastic kids. IG: @actornate
Travis Williams
Michel the Conductor / U/S Arbuthnot/Ratchett
Travis Williams, he/him, (Richard, U/S Clarke) is delighted to be back with VA Rep where he was last seen as Michel in Murder on the Orient Express. Other Richmond Highlights include Sherlock Holmes in Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at Hanover Tavern, Sebastian in The Tempest at Richmond Shakespeare, and Eddie/Dr. Scott in The Rocky Horror Show at Richmond Triangle Players. He has been a fixture in the improv scene for over a decade and is a founding member of the musical improv group Closing Night with Bridge 9 Theater. He would like to thank his friends, family, and so much love to Rachel, his partner, for their continued support and strength as they continue this wonderful adventure together.
Rachel Dilliplane
U/S Mary / U/S Countess
Rachel Dilliplane, she/her, (U/S Countess Adrenyi, U/S Mary Debenham) After a wonderful run as Maxine in Dial M for Murder and understudying several characters in Moriarty at Hanover Tavern, Rachel is delighted to be joining this stellar cast on the November Stage for another murder mystery with VARep. Other Richmond credits include: 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche and The Laramie Project with Richmond Triangle Players, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Bootleg), Red Velvet, and Love’s Labour’s Lost with Richmond Shakespeare; ALICE: A New Musical with Firehouse, and The Velveteen Rabbit with VARep. Offstage, Rachel is a professional voice actor. You may recognize her voice from projects with Nintendo, Delta Airlines, Dove, Nespresso, and Homes.com. Rachel is a proud member of Theta Theta Theta @tri_theta #supportlocaltheatre
Lily Marcheschi
U/S Greta Ohlsson / U/S Helen Hubbard
Lily Marcheschi, she/they, (U/S Greta Ohlsson, U/S Helen Hubbard) last appeared as the Little Old Lady in VA Rep’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and is excited to join Virginia Rep once again as the understudy for both Greta Ohlsson and Helen Hubbard and force more of her accents upon the general public. You may see Lily’s photo up at some UPS stores around town, hocking her wares as a fake ceramicist with an equally fake tattoo sleeve to match. She currently has developed an obsession with baking bread and posting videos of said bread on the internet. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Mark Persinger
U/S Monsieur Bouc / U/S Head Waiter
Mark Persinger, he/him, (Swing) was most recently seen on the November Theatre stage in Murder on the Orient Express. Other shows with Virginia Rep include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, Santa Clues, Mary Poppins, Croaker, Gypsy, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, White Christmas, Guys and Dolls, Seussical, Honk! and She Loves Me. Additional local credits include Gabriel: The Musical with Firehouse Theatre; Shrek: The Musical at The Lynn Theatre; She Stoops to Conquer, The Taming of the Shrew and A Servant of Two Masters with Richmond Shakespeare; and It Shoulda Been You and La Cage aux Folles with RTP. Love to Caryn and Lorelei for their endless support!
Artistic Team
Chris Raintree
Scenic Design
Chris Raintree (Scenic Designer) is the Head of Scene Design at Virginia Commonwealth University. He holds a B.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University and an M.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University. Select credits include The Bacchae of Euripides, The Crucible, A Chorus Line, Let The Right One In, Sense and Sensibility (VCUArts Theatre); Murder On The Orient Express, Misery, POTUS, 9 to 5, Chicken & Biscuits, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Virginia Rep); Out The Mud, Burial Tax, Berta Berta, The Barber of Moville, Passing Strange, Songs From Bedlam, Desire Under The Elms (Firehouse Theatre); Moth, A Doll’s House (TheatreLAB); An Act of God, Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England (Richmond Triangle Players). Upcoming productions include Migdalia Cruz’s Macbeth (JMU), Romeo and Juliet, People, Places and Things (VCU).
Tennessee Dixon
Projection Design
Tennessee Dixon (Projection Design) Projection designs include: MARLENE and COLD COUNTRY (Ex-Pats Theatre DC), MEMORIES OF OVERDEVELOPMENT, PRELUDES, UBU84 (Firehouse Theatre), THE OVERVIEW EFFECT and USHUAIA BLUE (Contemporary American Theater Festival), RICHARD 3.0 (Synetic Theater), CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, AFTER DECEMBER, END OF WAR, IN MY CHAIR (Virginia Repertory Theatre), AIRSWIMMING (Richmond Triangle Players) LADY OF KIBEHO (William & Mary), CITY OF PAPER (Yin Mei Dance at Jacobs Pillow), TOUCHING THE MOONS (with Jin Hi Kim at Kennedy Center Washington, The Kitchen NYC, Mass Moca), VU (Trafó, Budapest).
Kendra Rai
Costume Design
Kendra Rai (Costume Design) is the Head of Design and Costumes at VCU but has done most of her design work up in the Washington DC area. Kendra received the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Costume Design in 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2025 and in addition has been a nominee for the award nine times. Kendra’s work has been seen at Olney Theatre Center, Signature Theatre, Round House Theatre, Adventure Theatre MTC, Opera Lafayette, Synetic Theatre, Constellation Theatre, New Victory Theater, Theater J, 1st Stage and Imagination Stage. Kendra is a Princess Grace Honorarium recipient and holds an MFA from Pennsylvania State University. Kendra adores teaching costume design and has held teaching posts at Howard University, University of Pittsburgh and Gallaudet University.
Rick has worked as an award-winning actor, director, filmmaker, and arts manager with more than three decades of experience, formerly based in Washington, DC.
Since relocating to Richmond and joining the leadership team at Virginia Repertory Theatre, he has directed Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (for which he received an RTCC Award for Best Direction of a Musical), Murder on the Orient Express, Waitress, Misery, Martha Mitchell Calling, After December, and most recently adapted and directed VA Rep’s A Christmas Carol.
He received a 2018 Helen Hayes Award for his direction of Lela & Co. and a 2020 Helen Hayes Award nomination for his direction of Agnes of God, both for Factory 449. Other directing credits include Dizzy Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Revue’s The Brontes (New York Musical Theatre Festival), Reykjavik (Rorschach Theatre), Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight (WSC Avant Bard), Driving Miss Daisy featuring Karen Grassle (Riverside Center for the Performing Arts), Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook (Adventure Theatre MTC), Dead Man Walking (American University) and Closet Land (Factory 449).
As an actor, he has performed Off-Broadway and regionally, receiving a Helen Hayes Award for his turn as Hedwig in Signature Theatre’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, as well as nominations for his work in Angels in America (Signature Theatre), Me and Jezebel (MetroStage) and Oliver! (Adventure Theatre MTC).
His debut film, signage, which he wrote, directed, and produced, has screened in over 60 film festivals worldwide, receiving 6 film festival awards and was subsequently licensed by MTV’s LOGO Channel.
He is a founder and the current Producing Artistic Director of Factory 449, the recipient of multiple Helen Hayes Awards, including the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company, and the Executive Director of the Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archive (WAPAVA).
As Virginia Rep’s Artistic Director, he provides leadership of our programming, including our strategic planning processes. He is also our key liaison with the national theatre industry.
804-783-1688 ext. 1262
BJ Wilkinson
Lighting Design
BJ Wilkinson, he/him, (Lighting Designer) received his B.A. from the University of Northern Colorado, and his M.F.A. from the University of Cincinnati – CCM. Recent designs include Murder on the Orient Express, Misery, and After December with VA Rep, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Roman a clef with Firehouse Theatre, and Let the Right one in, and RENT with Theatre VCU. He serves as Head of Lighting for VCU. Visit www.bjwlightingdesign.com for more!
Joey Luck
Sound Design
Joey Luck, he/him (Sound Design) is thrilled to return to Virginia Rep where he last designed sound for Misery! Joey has received several RTCC awards for sound design, including in 2013 for A Bright New Boise (Firehouse Theatre), 2014 for Cabaret (Richmond Triangle Players), 2015 for Psycho Beach Party (Richmond Triangle Players), 2017 for The Toxic Avenger (5th Wall Theatre), 2019 for Sweeney Todd (TheatreLAB), 2022 for Small Mouth Sounds (Cadence/Virginia Rep), and 2023 for After December (Virginia Rep). He is a proud member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA). Joey would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support! www.joeyluck.com
Amanda Durst
Dialects
Amanda Durst (Dialect Director) Most recently, Amanda’s dialect and vocal work was featured in Radiant Vermin (5th Wall) which won the Artsie for Best Play in 2024. Favorite credits include Once (Virginia Rep), Between Riverside and Crazy (Cadence), I Am My Own Wife (5th Wall/Triangle/Firehouse), Talk Radio (5th Wall), The Syringa Tree (Virginia Rep), The Drawer Boy (Virginia Rep), Dear Finder (Minnesota Repertory Theatre) and The Full Monty (Virginia Rep). For her work on multiple productions, Amanda received a special award from the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle for Outstanding Achievement in Dialect Direction.
Alia Radabaugh
Wig Design
Alia Radabaugh, she/they (Wig Designer) is a TheatreVCU alumnus and Richmond native who is elated to be here. When she isn’t sculpting coifs for regional and touring productions, she works as a fiber artist, design consultant, and is the Theatrical Costumes and Makeup Instructor at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School, as well as their resident costumer. Recent hair credits include There Goes the Bride!, Honky Tonk Angels (Swift Creek Mill Theatre), Wild Party (TheatreVCU), and Beautiful: the Carole King Musical (Olney Theatre Center). Thanks always to Kendra, Maura, and all the people who make art happen. And for my daughter, of whom I’m so proud.
Ginnie Willard *
Stage Manager
Ginnie Willard, she/her, (Production Stage Manager) is happy to return to her stage management roots at Virginia Rep, where she also serves on the staff as Production Manager. Selected stage management credits include 9 to 5, The Musical, Mary Poppins, Dreamgirls, Into The Woods, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Seussical, the Musical, and Peter Pan for Virginia Rep; Spring Awakening, Clybourne Park, and multiple University Dancers Concerts for the University of Richmond’s Department of Theatre and Dance; Live Art (2012-2018) for SPARC. Ginnie is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and the Stage Managers’ Association.
Hannah Hoffert *
Assistant Stage Manager
Hannah Hoffert, she/her, (Stage Manager) is a proud graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, receiving her B.S. (‘16) and M.S. (‘17) in Mechanical Engineering. This is her fifth season with Virginia Rep, and some of her previous credits include Deathtrap, Murder on the Orient Express, Dial M for Murder, Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Beehive: The 60’s Musical, Mamma Mia!, Chicken & Biscuits, Elephant & Piggie, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and Grace for President. In addition to stage management, she works full-time at Virginia Rep as a Production Associate. Hannah wouldn’t be here today without her medical alert service dog, Clara, and her late service dog, Olive, who accompanied her to every rehearsal and performance in her professional career. To learn more about life changing service dogs like Clara and Olive, please visit www.servicedogsva.org.
Sensory Friendly
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 , 2:00PM , – Murder On the Orient Express
Tickets on sale now.
For the 2025/26 season, Virginia Rep is working with KultureCity to offer Sensory Friendly performances for titles on the Arenstein Stage at the November Theatre. These shows aim to provide a safe environment for those with sensory sensitivities, where individuals and families can relax and be their authentic selves.
Audio Described Performance
Sunday, October 5, 2025 3:00PM – Murder on the Orient Express
Virginia Rep is delighted to partner with Virginia Voice to offer select Audio Described performances for patrons with blindness or advanced visual impairment. Using a headset, patrons will hear audio describers provide a live, descriptive summary of the visual elements of the performance (e.g., costumes, scenery, movement) in between the dialogue performed by the actors.
Pride Night
Friday, October 3, 2025 7:00 PM – Murder on the Orient Express
For the 2025-2026 Season VA Rep is proud to host Pride Nights for all of our adult performances at the November Theatre! Use code PrideRep for $10 off tickets for dedicated performances and stay after for a mixer at the November bar!
artoberVA
Virginia Rep is participating in Culturework’s 10th Annual artoberVA — for a decade, artoberVA has brought together artists, organizations, and communities to showcase the rich creativity that makes our region thrive.
We’re hosting a PWYW on Wednesday, October 8 that is open to all. To purchase tickets you can either call our box office and mention artoberVA or purchase tickets through our website for that performance.