Wednesday's Child
April 3, 2019 - May 24, 2019 | Gompertz Theatre
WORLD PREMIERE. Susan and Martin Merrit are unable to have a child on their own, so they hire Becca Connor to serve as a surrogate. When Becca is found dead, a police investigation explodes the lives of everyone who knew her. As Detectives Valez and Dixon begin to put the pieces together, secrets surface, alibis weaken, and lies are uncovered. This dramatic new play explores motherhood, passion, and the thin line between right and wrong.
Wednesday's Child by Mark St. Germain contains adult language and themes.
Run Time: Wednesday's Child runs 90 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.
CREATIVE
Director | Kate Alexander
Scenic Designers | Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay
Costume Designer | Susan Angermann
Lighting Designer | Thom Beaulieu
Sound Designer/Supervisor | Thom Korp
CAST
Becca Connor | Brooke Tyler Benson
Molly Strutt | Susann Fletcher*
Martin Merrit | Duke Lafoon*
Dr. Sutton | Heather Michele Lawler*
Susan Merrit | Rachel Moulton*
Walt Dixon | David Smilow
Aleece Valez | Alicia Taylor Tomasko*
* Denotes member Actors’ Equity Association. The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
BROOKE TYLER BENSON (Becca Connor) is so thrilled to be on FST’s stage again! After being with the role of Becca in developmental readings at FST for over a year, she is excited to get to bring this character to life in its World Premiere production. She has resided in Florida since graduating from East Carolina University’s Honors College with her BFA in Acting. Recent Regional credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Florida Studio Theatre), Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (American Stage), Incognito (Urbanite Theatre), and Constellations (U/S). btylerbenson.com
SUSANN FLETCHER (Molly Strutt) Original Broadway companies of The Goodbye Girl, (Donna Douglas), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, (Miss Electra, Golde, Timid Girl), and Raggedy Ann. Other Broadway credits include: The Full Monty, (Georgie Bukatinsky), How to Succeed, (Smitty), Guys and Dolls, (Miss Adelaide), and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, (Angel). She has been in six national tours and countless regional/stock productions, television and film. Susann is also a produced playwright. More info at susannfletcher.com.
DUKE LAFOON (Martin Merrit) is thrilled to be making his FST debut! Some recent credits include Bruce in Fun Home (Virginia Rep), Howie in Rabbit Hole (Cadence Theatre), and George Bailey in A Wonderful Life (The Goodspeed). A few favorites: Clinton The Musical (Off Broadway), Next to Normal (Cadence Theatre), Ace (Old Globe, Signature), Doubt (West Va Public), Sideman, Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Company of Fools). Some TV credits include Hostages, the CBS miniseries Sally Hemings, and Detective Chambers in David Fincher’s Mindhunter on Netflix.
HEATHER MICHELE LAWLER (Dr. Sutton) is honored to be making her FST Debut. Regional: Mash in Stupid F*cking Bird (Unicorn Theatre), Lizzie/ Martha/Peggy in Miss Holmes (Creede Repertory Theatre), Goneril in KingLear (Kansas City Actors Theatre), Marianne in Sense and Sensibility (Crooked Path Theatre), Ross/Witch/Young Siward in Macbeth and Louise in Marion Bridge (Riverside Theatre). International: April in Company (IFW Productions, Australia) Directing: The Death of… (NY Winterfest). TV/Film: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Deuce. Training: University of Missouri: Kansas City (MFA), Coe College (BA), and AMDA. Proud AEA member. heather-michele-lawler.com
RACHEL MOULTON (Susan Merrit) Ninth production at FST! Previously: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, George Brant’s one-woman show Grounded, Heisenberg, Honor Killing (World Premiere), Alabama Story, The Columnist, The God of Isaac, and Jericho. Off-Broadway: Sex Tips (777 Theatre), Philip Goes Forth (The Mint) and This Side of Paradise (St. Clements). Regional: The Book Club Play (Virginia Stage), One Slight Hitch (Florida Rep.), Black Comedy, RENT (Pioneer Theatre Company), My Fair Lady (JW Engeman Theatre), Midsummer (Penn. Shakes.), Finding Nemo: The Musical (WDW). Training: Interlochen Arts Academy and Syracuse University, B.F.A. rachelmoulton.com
DAVID SMILOW (Walt Dixon) Wednesday’s Child marks David’s first opportunity to perform at FST. An actor and writer, he has taken on roles ranging from Heisenberg in Copenhagen, to Serebriakov in Uncle Vanya, Orgon in Tartuffe, and the besieged college professor, John, in David Mamet’s Oleanna. Meanwhile, his writing work has garnered multiple Emmy and Writers Guild awards. David lives in New York’s Hudson Valley, and is happy to be missing the last of winter there.
ALICIA TAYLOR TOMASKO (Aleece Valez) is honored to return to FST! Previous work at FST: Native Gardens (Tania Del Valle). Broadway: In The Heights (u/s Vanessa, Nina) National Tours: If/Then (Elena & Others, ADC), Evita (Ensemble), Regional: In The Heights: ZACH, TUTS, Actors Playhouse (Vanessa, Carla, Carla), Little Shop of Horrors at StarStruck Theatre (Audrey). Now working on TV/Film and Commercial work in Los Angeles, CA.KATE ALEXANDER (Director) is the Associate Director At-Large of FST and the Founder of the FST Theatre School with its acting method of training. Ms. Alexander has directed numerous productions and premieres on the FST stages including Cherry Docs; Straight White Men; Always...Patsy Cline; The Things They Carried; Native Gardens; Heisenberg; The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey; brownsville song (b-side for tray); Clever Little Lies; Alabama Story; Outside Mullingar; Over the River and Through the Woods; Chapatti; Dancing Lessons; Becoming Dr. Ruth; Freud’s Last Session; Thurgood; South Beach Babylon; The Columnist; Talley’s Folly; Jericho; Next Fall; The Savannah Disputation; Ghost-Writer; Two Jews Walk into a War...; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Sylvia; Shotgun; The Miamians; Brooklyn Boy; The Exonerated; Wit; Proof; Lobby Hero; and Ten Unknowns. Ms. Alexander has also been a resident actress for over 25 years. Some of her leading roles were in the plays: Edward Albee’s The Goat; Filumena; Master Class; Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women; The Occupant; The Play About the Baby; Golda’s Balcony; and Taking Shakespeare. Ms. Alexander is the recipient of numerous acting, directing, and public service awards, including FAER, She Knows Where She’s Going Award (Girls, Inc.), The Woman of Light Award, National Council of Jewish Women Award, The Woman of Power Award, the Sarasota County Arts Leadership Award, Education Award, Sarasota Manatee Jewish Federation, The Unity Award, and most recently, the One World Award. Ms. Alexander leads the FST Forums Series and developed the Blue Butterfly Theatre Program, a program for teens suffering from grief through loss. She created the Art of The Gesture program at Ringling College of Animation and is the co-author of The Animated Short, with Karen Sullivan, now in its 2nd edition.
INTERVIEWS
Bringing Becca to Life: An Interview with Brooke Tyler Benson | READ
Getting to the Truth: An Interview with Alicia Taylor Tomasko | READ
ARTICLES BY FST
Of Life, Death, and Inbetween by Michael Nichols | READ
The Man Behind the Mystery by TJ Lewis | READ
Stats on Surrogacy by Irene Martinko | READ
Excavating the Truth by TJ Lewis and Becca Jennings | READ
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Wondering why the play is titled Wednesday’s Child? The title actually comes from an old English nursery rhyme poem. Find out more about the poem. | LEARN
In the play, Martin Merritt is an archaeologist who studies ancient building sites. Mosaics are common in these sites. Learn more the origins of Ancient Greek mosaics. | LEARN
In Wednesday’s Child, the Merritts are unable to have a child on their own, so they hire Becca Connor to serve as a surrogate. Read more about how surrogacy laws differ across the country. | LEARN
VIDEOS
