Penelope Chrysler-Michelin- The Host

Jade (Host/ Penelope Chrysler-Michelin) is excited for their second Rise production. Past theatrical endeavors include Donkey in Shrek, FDR in Annie, and most recently, the Detective in Holy Mother of Bingo. They have also dabbled in tech, including lighting, sound, stage crew, and stage management.

Jade would like to thank the cast and production team for challenging them and being patient with them in the most difficult role they have ever had to play.

Miss Gwyneth: The Housekeeper

Past credits include Holy Mother of Bingo (Sister Helen), The Wizard of Oz (Ozmas), A Date With Judy (Dora Foster), and It's A Wonderful Life (Grandmother). They were also the president of the Simmons University Chamber Choir from 2018-2021. Laura holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience and Behavior from Simmons University and now works at the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases as the Young Adult Rare Representatives (YARR) Program Manager. In their free time, Laura is a fierce rare disease advocate, helping to ensure that someday all patients will have equitable access to life-saving diagnosis and treatment.

Hannibal Lattice: The Groundskeeper

Noah is both humbled and mildly alarmed by the challenges humanity faces, but remains delighted to face at least one of them from the stage with RISE Arts Collaborative. His career began with a star-making turn as “Gus Gus the brown mouse” in Varnum Brook’s legendary 1993 production of Cinderella—widely regarded as Pepperell, MA’s defining cultural moment. After that early triumph, Noah took a brief thirty-year sabbatical to earn a PhD in Organic Chemistry (as one does), meet the love of his life (who, purely coincidentally, is directing this show), and raise two extraordinary daughters, Isla and Luna.

Following his celebrated comeback as Father Culpepper in Holy Mother of Bingo, Noah is thrilled to return to RISE and once again bask in the footlights—preferably before someone remembers he’s technically a scientist.

Miss Sherry: The Maid

Melanie Angelucci (The Maid/Miss Sherry) is a former Bronx gal now living in Pepperell with her very Bostonian husband and 3 beautiful daughters. When she is not entertaining guests at Bailey's Bar and Grille you can find her somewhere outside - attempting to become a runner or tossing herself down a mountain on a board - depending on the season. This is her second time performing with Rise Arts Collaborative. She would like to thank her family for supporting her ridiculous antics and the ladies of Rise Arts for supporting her Bronx accent.

Gabby Reynolds: The Gossip

Emily Slater (The Gossip/Gabby Reynolds) lives in Groton where she spends her days playing Uber driver to her kids and managing a small army of pets. After a 25-year intermission, Emily is thrilled to be back on stage and part of a theatrical production. Thanks to her family for feeding themselves during rehearsal days and letting her sneak away to commit fictional crimes with this fabulous cast

Charolette Beauregard: The Celebrity

Amy Reynolds is a devoted wife and mother of three wonderful children. With a deep passion for acting that has been a constant throughout her life, Amy is driven by her dream of becoming an actress. She holds a degree in Communications from BCC, which has equipped her with valuable skills in her pursuit of this artistic goal. When she’s not rehearsing or attending auditions, Amy loves spending quality time with her family, enjoying movie nights, and going for scenic drives. Acting remains her primary passion, and she is excited to continue following her dreams in this creative field. “I want to thank my beautiful children and my amazing husband who have been my rock, supporting me every step of the way in my career and my journey into acting. I am also deeply grateful to the incredible team at RISE Arts Collaborative. Thank you, Sam, Mandie, Maegan, and Jessica, for believing in me and giving me this unforgettable opportunity. Your support means the world to me.”

James Wilhelm ESQ: The Lawyer

Rumi Okano (James Wilhelm, Esq.) tried out her acting skills with RISE last year and is thrilled to have finally found her people. She has a master’s degree in chemical engineering and is currently an executive public speaking coach, a tutor, and a math teacher at the Nashua Community College. This is her first time playing a male character and she hopes you find the role as hilarious as she does!

Dr. Jennifer Nightingale: The Doctor

Kathy plays The Doctor / Jennifer Nightingale in this production. She lives in Groton, MA with her husband, two sons Aeyden and Ryker, and their dog Frank. Kathy is a fan of murder mystery parties—she’s even hosted a few herself—and is excited to be getting back on stage for the first time since high school (well, “a few years ago”… wink, wink). She is deeply grateful to her family for their unwavering support, and to her friend Emily for daring to do this “crazy thing” with her. Kathy would also like to express her gratitude to the entire cast/crew for all the fun throughout this journey!

Venus Starship: The Free Spirit

Brianna McLaughlin a junior in high school is an avid reader and even more avid procrastinator. She spends her time doing her AP homework, acting, and volunteering when she can. This is her first time in a production outside of a school setting and she has had a lot of fun meeting so many new interesting people. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Hugh Glover: The Ladykiller

Esme is a 9th grader in Pepperell. This is her first time playing a male character and she's had so much fun being obnoxious. Favorite previous roles include Evie from Descendants Jr, Squish from CHICAGO Teen, and Matilda from Matilda Jr. This is her second production with RISE and she wants to thank everyone who helped put this show together!

Serena Hemingway: The Writer

Lena Rodriguez (The Writer/Serena Hemingway) is thrilled to be taking on her largest roll to date. As a 17 year old high school junior, she has participated in several plays; her favorites include Holy Mother of Bingo and the Little Mermaid. In addition to theater, Lena also competes in ninja warrior, dances, and writes stories. She's had a super fun time rehearsing and is very excited for the show. She would like to thank Sam, Maegan, Mandie and Barry for making all of this possible as well as her unconventional mother and kooky friend for joining her on this journey.

Harmony Kline: The Pianist

Although musical, this is Angela’s first time playing a keyboard. She enjoyed the challenge and loves working with this fantastic cast and crew. This is Angela’s second performance with Rise and she appreciates Rise’s continued support. Angela would like to thank her friends and family for being here tonight. It means so much to her.

Mark DeMarco: The Lost Traveler

Jacob Mullin (Lost Traveler/Mark DeMarco) is from Groton where he has been based for the last 9 years after moving there from Bethesda, MD. Jake loves to recreate ancient and medieval food recipes as well as make uniquely flavored ice creams. While having dreamt of acting for many years, this is Jacob’s first ever time ever deigning to share his talent with the world. In his well planned spare time, he obsesses over his chow chow named Ming! She’s so floofy and joyful. Jake and Ming hope you enjoy the show! 

Harriet Enigma: The Inspector

Ann Rodriguez (The Inspector/Harriet Engima) is warily making her theater debut alongside her favorite (and only) daughter. She is reluctant to share any further information about herself, but is willing to concede that her favorite hobbies include procrastinating, staying up late with her kids, and making sarcastic remarks. She would like to thank the production team and the cast for all the long, torturous rehearsals and awkward moments, as well as her extraordinary children for consenting to constant interrogations as murder suspects and entertaining themselves twice a week, which made it possible for her to participate in this production.