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Return to The Mystery of Irma Vep
Charles Ludlam (Author) American actor, playwright, and director of the Ridiculous Theatrical Company of New York, Ludlam made his first New York stage appearance in 1966 at the Play-House of the Ridiculous. After appearing in two productions there, Ludlam formed his own troupe, the Ridiculous Theatrical Company, which at first performed in Greenwich Village bars and other venues, and began writing his own plays. His work employs camp representations of traditional works. For example, Stage Blood (1975) is a revision of Hamlet; Bluebeard (1970) is based on H. G. Wells' Island of Dr. Moreau; and Der Ring Gott Farblonjet (1977) was inspired by Finnegan's Wake. Ludlam was diagnosed with AIDS late in November of 1986 and died May 28, 1987. Quinton succeeded him as head of the Ridiculous Theatrical Company.
 Richard Hopkins (Artistic Director) Artistic Director of Florida Studio Theatre since 1980, Richard Hopkins has guided the company from a small touring group to a professional regional theatre. Mr. Hopkins began his professional theatre career as a resident actor with Asolo State Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. In 1974 he founded the Palisades Theatre Company in Washington, DC, which subsequently moved to St. Petersburg to become American Stage. He served as its Producing Director from 1974-1980. Additional experiences include: President of the Florida Professional Theatres Association (1983-1985), Panelist for Theatre Program of Florida Arts Council, and Director/Instructor for Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus’ Clown College (1981). His many directing credits include: Metamorphoses, The Bully Pulpit, God’s Man in Texas, Hysteria, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, 2: Goering at Nuremberg, Six Degrees of Separation, Execution of Justice, Death by Misadventure, Hi-Hat-Hattie, Invictus, Agnes of God, Beyond Therapy, True West, La Ronde, and Betrayal and numerous other plays and Cabaret projects including Sophie Tucker, Inspired Lunacy, and Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits, Over the Rainbow.
 Jim Helsinger (Director) is happy to be back at FST where he previously directed Good Evening. Other directing credits: A Tuna Christmas, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged, (Actors Theatre of Louisville); Charley's Aunt, The Imaginary Invalid, Sleuth, The Mystery of Irma Vep (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival); The Fourposter, Stones in His Pockets, King Mackerel and the Blues are Running, The Big Bang and Rounding Third (Cape May Stage); Macbeth, Crime and Punishment, Antony and Cleopatra, Tartuffe, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III, The Taming of the Shrew, Every Christmas Story Ever Told and Hamlet (Orlando Shakespeare Theater). Mr. Helsinger serves as the Artistic Director of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater (orlandoshakes.org) and as a faculty member of the University of Central Florida.
CAST
 Brad DePlanche* (Ludlam) Brad is thrilled to be returning to FST, and to be working on his ninth production with director, Jim Helsinger! Audiences may remember him as Passepartout in Around the World in Eighty Days, a role which won him both a Sarasota Magazine and a Herald-Tribune Handy Award. Off-Off Broadway; Classic Stage Company, Theatre at St. Clements, and Chelsea Repertory. Regional; Orlando Shakespeare Theater, South Coast Repertory, American Conservatory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Syracuse Stage Company, Cape Playhouse, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, The Hangar Theatre, Clarence Brown, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Aurora Theatre Company, the B Street Theatre, and Sacramento Theatre Company. Upcoming; China, The Whole Enchilada, also directed by Jim Helsinger,for the New York Fringe Festival. Brad holds an MFA degree from the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.
 Patrick Noonan* (Quinton) is excited to be back at FST with The Mystery of Irma Vep. He was most recently seen in Jewtopia this spring and at The GEVA Theatre Center playing Howie Newsome in Our Town. A proud veteran of the longest running play in America, Patrick starred in over 1500 performances of Shear Madness. TV/ film credits include: Law and Order, Law and Order: CI, The Black Donnellys, Hope and Faith, Guiding Light, The Princess Diaries, and the soon to be released feature film Frame of Mind.
*Denotes member Actors' Equity Association. The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Production Staff
Production Manager...........................................Bruce Price
Company Manager.............................................Rob Thomas
Production Stage Manager.................................Dean Curosmith*
Scenic and Costume Design...............................Marcella Beckwith
Lighting Designer...............................................Colleen Jennings
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