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Return to Shear Madness
 Marilyn Abrams (Original Producer) and Bruce Jordan (Original Producer, Director) are the owners and creators of Shear Madness, the longest-running nonmusical play in the American theater history. These two New York actors anticipated the trend for interactive theater and acquired the world stage, film, and television rights to an obscure murder mystery originally titled Scherenschnitt, written by German playwright Paul Portner. In 1978, the play made its debut in the United States in a summer stock production in Lake George, New York. Mr. Jordan directed and created the role of Tony Whitcomb, salon proprietor, and Ms. Abrams created the role of Barbara DeMarco, the gum-chewing manicurist. This exuberant duo oversees the Shear Madness companies in cities as diverse as Rome, Budapest, Detroit, Mexico City, Athens, Johannesburg, Lisbon, Buenos Aires, and Madrid. While each occasionally takes time out to pursue other stage and film work, both make frequent visits to Shear Madness cities, where Mr. Jordan directs and maintains the artistic quality of the productions and Ms. Abrams handles sales and marketing. The 30-year-old Boston company is the longest running play in American theatre history with the Washington, D.C. production at the John F. Kennedy Center running in second place. The play has been listed in The Guinness Book of World Records, and Boston’s Warrenton Street, location of the historic Charles Playhouse, is officially known as “Shear Madness Alley”. The Chicago company is the 3rd longest running play in the history of the American theatre, completing a Shear Madness Theatrical Triple Crown. Other honors include the Mystery Writers of America Raven Award, The Boston Globe’s Best Comedy of the Year, The Chicago Tribune’s Best Play of the Year, Boston’s Elliot Norton Award, The Los Angeles Dramalogue Award, the USO Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Theatrical Arts, and The Philadelphia Daily News’ Best Play of the Year. In October of 1997, Ms. Abrams and Mr. Jordan were the recipients of the Charlie Chaplin Comedy Award, given by the National Comedy Hall of Fame, as the creators of Shear Madness, the first play ever to be so honored.
 Richard Hopkins (Artistic Director) Since his arrival at FST in 1980, Mr. Hopkins has guided the theatre from a small touring company to a nationally recognized regional theatre, which impacts over 160,000 adults & children annually. He has directed more than 40 productions in FST’s three theatres. He has worked at numerous regional theatres including Capital Repertory, Blowing Rock Theatre, TheatreWorks Palo Alto, The Players of Columbus, Delaware Theatre Company, Long Island Stage, and many others. Mr. Hopkins began his professional theatre career as a resident actor with the Asolo State Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. He was a founding director of what is now American Stage Company in St. Petersburg and served as its Producing Director from 1974-1980. Mr. Hopkins has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has served as a Theatre Specialist for the U.S. Department of State to Cairo and Amman, and taught at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. He served as the President of the Florida Professional Theatres Association from 1983-1985. He served on the Theatre Panel for the Florida Arts Council. Mr. Hopkins is the recipient of numerous awards including the Arts Leadership Award from the Sarasota Arts Council & the Richard G. Fallon Award for Artistic Excellence from the Florida Professional Theatre Association.
CAST
 Michael Kevin
Baldwin (Tony Whitcomb) returns to FST after appearing in last Spring’s production of Under Six. Off Broadway/NYC: The Barber of Seville (directed by Bartlett Sher) at The Metropolitan Opera, Twelfth Night (Sebastian u/s) at The Pearl, and Bye Bye Birdie (Hugo/Mrs. Peterson) at The Florence Gould Hall. Regional: Shear Madness (Tony) at Capital Rep., Macbeth (Malcolm) at The Virginia Shakespeare Festival, and A Chorus Line (Bobby) at Tri-Arts Sharon Playhouse. BS in Theater and Sociology from Skidmore College.
 Juliana Black (Barbara DeMarco)
is excited to be back with Shear Madness for the second time, after a 2009 run of it at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, NC! Other credits include: Cheryl in The Taffetas at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Anybody’s in West Side Story with the Central City Opera, and The Little Nun in The House of Blue Leaves at The Arvada Center. www.julianablack.com
 Barbara Bradshaw (Mrs. Shubert) FST: Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins, Pure Confidence. Over 200 regional credits including: The Chairs, ‘Night, Mother, On Golden Pond, Grace and Glory, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Afterplay, The Immigrant, Over the River and Through the Woods; Caldwell Theatre Company, Flat Rock Playhouse, Mosaic Theatre, Geva Theatre, Alliance Theatre, PBDramaworks, Capital Repertory Theatre and more. Proud member of Actor’s Equity for 35 years, recipient of multiple Carbonell Awards, the coveted Los Angeles Drama-logue award, and this is her 8th Shear Madness!
 Nick Caruso (Mikey Thomas) is so thrilled to be dusting off his bowtie for his debut at FST. He was last seen as Mikey in the Las Vegas production of Shear Madness. Favorite roles have included: Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show, Pseudolous in …Forum, John Adams in 1776 and Monica Breedlove in The Bad Seed: The Musical. Nick is also a proud member of Chicago’s acclaimed Barrel of Monkeys educational theater ensemble.
 Joseph Ditmyer (Eddie Lawrence) is thrilled to be part of Shear Madness at FST. Joseph played the role of Eddie Lawrence at Capital Repertory Theatre, Las Vegas (premiere), and Lake George Dinner Theatre. His NYC Credits include: War Uncensored, Moses My Love, Mim, and Faustus. National Tours: Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees, and James Anderson in Shenandoah. Film and Television: As the World Turns, Another World, Law and Order SVU, The International, also many corporate videos and independent films.
 Timothy Goodwin (Nick O’Brien) This is Tim’s fourth Shear Madness, and first as Nick O’Brien. Other performances include Our Town (Geva Theatre Center); The View From Here (Little Hibiscus Productions); Laughter on the 23rd Floor (JCC Rochester); Arsenic and Old Lace (SUNY Brockport). An original member of Geva Theatre Center’s Geva Comedy Improv, and Tim teaches improv theatre in New York City.
Production Staff
Production Manager...........................................Bruce Price
Company Manager.............................................MaryMartha E. Ford
Production Stage Manager.................................Forrest Richards
Costume Designer..............................................Robert Warren
Scenic Designer.................................................Lauren Feldman
Lighting Designer...............................................Bruce Price & Matthew Klein
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