Written by Beth Henley
Directed by Robin Schwartz
Produced by Jennifer Cooper
Performance Dates:
January 6 – January 28, 2023
Run time: 2h 30m
(including intermission)
The scene is Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after an attempted singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach because she didn’t like his looks. Their troubles, grave and yet, somehow, hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helpless not to fall in love with her. Warm-hearted, irreverent, and imaginative, Crimes of the Heart teams with humanity. The question remains though, can you ever escape the past to seize the future?
To download the production postcard for Crimes of the Heart to share with your friends, visit the Downloads page of our website and look under the Production Postcard heading. A PDF of the production playbill is also available in the same location.
About the Director
Robin Schwartz is delighted and thankful to have been a part of this incredible production. After graduating from Goucher College with a BA in Theatre, she directed and produced plays at Red Branch Theatre Company and Drama Learning Center. Last season, Robin directed Love, Loss, and What I Wore at The Colonial Players and produced The Revolutionists. She was last seen on the CP stage as Ruth Hoch in Book of Days. Favorite credits include Dawn in The Universal Language (Outstanding Performance from the MD Community Theatre Festival), Thea Elvsted in Hedda Gabler, and Joan Dellamond in The Babylon Line. "Special thanks to my husband Daniel for supporting me tirelessly and unconditionally, to my sons Jacob and Henry for being Mommy's cheerleaders, and to family and friends for their loving encouragement. So much gratitude to the whole CP team (too many to name!) for the opportunity to create theatre with some truly amazing people."
Director's Notes
A warm autumn breeze blows by. The scent of fallen leaves and ripe pawpaw fruit wafts in. You hear the screen door swing shut as you walk onto the porch. Worn floorboards beneath your feet creak as you melt into Granddaddy’s favorite rocking chair. Settle in with an ice-cold glass of lemonade, it’s made extra sweet. Y’all, welcome to the world of Crimes of the Heart - Hazelhurst, Mississippi 1974.
This play takes place during a time when our country was in turmoil - the Vietnam War raged on, Nixon resigned after the Watergate scandal, and an oil crisis rocked the nation. None of these events seem to have any effect on the Magrath sisters, Lenny, Meg, and Babe. They exemplify playwright Beth Henley’s version of southern small-town America - preoccupied with their own personal lives and not concerned with the world outside of Hazelhurst. The sisters have plenty to be concerned about inside of their own home. Struggles with mental illness, death, and a suffocating patriarchy are only the beginning of what plagues the sisters. In response to their life circumstances, the women each develop their own coping skills which result in them carrying out their crimes. What are “crimes” of the heart? They are the wrongs that we commit everyday - jealousy, betrayal, thoughtlessness, and lies. Crimes that build up and cause so much hurt and guilt. People criticize one another to feel better about themselves, when in reality they are jealous of what the other person has. We can become closed off emotionally and lack empathy for others. Selfishness can cause one to turn a blind eye to the suffering around you. What I have found fascinating about this play is uncovering ways that the characters commit their crimes and their reasons for doing so. Who is to blame? How did they end up this way? What would you have done if faced with that decision? And can these sisters find a way together to shed the shackles of their tortured past and finally be free?
The team we have had on this production has truly been a “dream team”. I can not thank each and every one of them enough. With a focus on positivity, inclusivity, & creativity, we have produced an experience here that I know I won’t soon forget. In addition, I’d like to extend my gratitude to The Colonial Players for their support throughout production and for the trust they extended to me as I worked alongside so many amazing artists this season. Enjoy Crimes of the Heart.”
- ROBIN SCHWARTZ
The Cast
Shannon Benil (Chick Boyle) - Shannon has been performing at the Colonial Players since she was 16 years old in 1993 in her first of many productions of A Christmas Carol. Some of her more recent favorite shows include Calendar Girls, Clue the Musical, Lost Boy, and Rumors. By day, she is a VP of Accounting for a local ad agency. Much love to her wife, Marcy, and to her son, Nilsson, whom she already got to perform in one show with at CP and who hopefully gets bit by the theater bug soon!
Kat Binney (Meg Magrath) - Kat is excited and proud to be making her debut with the Colonial Players! You may have recently seen Kat as Melanie in One Slight Hitch at Bowie Community Theatre, and as Mrs. Daigle in The Bad Seed at Rockville Little Theatre. In May, Kat looks forward to playing Martha in The Children’s Hour with Greenbelt Arts Center. Kat is honored to join this talented cast and production team, and is grateful for the friendships and opportunities for growth this experience has provided! “Much love to my family and to my friends. I am so lucky to have your support!
Kyle Hartford (Barnette Lloyd) - Kyle is a filmmaker and actor living in Crofton, MD. He has been acting on stage since he was 5 years old. This is his first time back on stage since his 2017 high school production of West Side Story. He graduated with a B.F.A from UMBC.
Megan Henderson (Babe Botrelle) - Megan is delighted to be back at CP! Previous credits: Mary Barrie/Tinker Bell in The Lost Boy, stage manager for Love, Loss, and What I Wore, properties designer for The Revolutionists. She works professionally as a teaching artist, performer, director, stage manager, choreographer, and wardrobe assistant in the Baltimore/DC area. She has worked with Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Signature Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, Young Artists of America, Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, Drama Learning Center, and Red Branch Theatre Company, as well as many local community theaters. Professional credits include: Maurice in Madagascar, Gilda in The Happy Elf, Thea in Spring Awakening, Princess Léonide u/s in Triumph of Love (RBTC). Other favorites: Jo March in Little Women, Woman 1 in Edges. Megan received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Seton Hill University. Many thanks and SO much love to the whole Crimes team! meganhenderson.com.
Ellen Quay (Chick Boyle) - Ellen is delighted to make her debut at CP and work with this fantastic cast and crew! Performing live and in person with this cast has been incredibly life-giving! Some of her past stage credits include: Trix in The Drowsy Chaperone, Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes, and Nellie Lovelace in Dirty Work at the Crossroads. When Ellen isn’t thoroughly enjoying herself on stage, she can be found narrating audiobooks from her home studio for Penguin Random House Audio, Scholastic Audio, and other publishers or performing commercial and animation VO. Ellen would like to dedicate her performance to her wonderfully supportive husband Nathanael and their 3 beautiful kids. Visit www.ellenquay.com to learn more about Ellen’s voice acting!
Emily Roberge (Lenny Macgrath) - Emily is new to Annapolis. She recently moved with her husband Jonny and daughter Olive from New York. She spent the last eight years acting in film and television in New York City after receiving her Bachelors in Theatre and Literature from Alma College. Emily completed her training at William Esper Studio last October before her daughter was born. She is excited to be a part of the Crimes of the Heart cast as it is a play she has loved.
Dylan Roche (Doc Porter) - Dylan Roche is thrilled to be returning to the Colonial Players, having last appeared as Ethan in 2018's Sex with Strangers. By day, he's a freelance journalist whose work has been published in local, regional, and national magazines. His first novel, The Purple Bird, debuted in 2019, and his next release, The Tide and the Stars, is slated for summer 2023. Thanks to Robin and the whole team for this amazing experience.
The Production Staff
David Cooper (Sound Designer) David has been involved with The Colonial Players for the past several seasons. He was last seen on stage in Book of Days. Behind the scenes he has provided technical assistance and sound design for a number of shows. Most recently David helped to establish and run the system used for live-streaming shows and provided sound design for The Revolutionists. Many thanks to Noah and Chase for assisting with this sound design.
Jennifer Cooper (Producer) This is Jennifer's third time (the charm?) producing with The Colonial Players. She is ever grateful for the learning. Jennifer would like to extend her ongoing deepest appreciation to the talented and dedicated cast and creative team of Crimes of the Heart; it's been an honor. And to David and Noah -- thank you for being my reasons - I love you so.
Chase Nester (Sound Designer/Production Assistant) Chase is 18 years old and is extremely excited to be a part of the production team for Crimes of the Heart! This is the first show he has done sound design and production work for, but he is very familiar with theater. In fact, you may have seen him in The Colonial Players’ 2022 production of The Lost Boy as Peter Pan/Davey Barrie! In his free time, he enjoys listening to Steely Dan and loudly reminding others of how much better his music taste is than theirs, playing the guitar, and binge watching the new Star Wars shows on Disney+. He would like to thank Jennifer Cooper and the sound team for giving him this incredible experience, as well as his friends and family who support his many endeavors even though they all have much better things to do with their lives.
Heather Quinn (Set Designer) Heather has worked on numerous theater projects in the DC-Maryland area both on-stage and behind the scenes over the years. Her last turn at set design and set/floor painting was CP’s production of Silent Sky. Heather would like to thank the many creative and dedicated people involved in this production and, in particular, all those who contributed to acquiring kitchen/set elements (e.g., Robyn, Ilene, Connie, Linda, Carrie, Jen) and everyone who contributed to design and construction (e.g., Robin, Edd and the entire construction team). Typical of many shows, this set underscores the community aspect of community theater.
Linda Ridge (Costume Designer) This will be Linda’s second show designing costumes at The Colonial Players, last season she had the joy of costuming The Lost Boy. She has spent the last 8 years costuming for the Annapolis Area Christian High School’s 3- 4 productions a year. She has worked in other community theaters, costuming with Laurel Mill Playhouse and The Salem Players. Linda is a full-time RN with the Oncology department at University of Maryland. She is hoping you will enjoy the 70’s with the rest of this wonderful cast!
Constance Robinson (Properties Designer) Since 2003 Connie has volunteered as a public relations consultant, graphic designer, box office assistant, properties designer and set decorator for The Colonial Players. She serves on the current Marketing committee, and has collected props or decorated sets for over TWENTY-SIX productions at The Colonial Players, and other local theaters. She is proud to have received three WATCH nominations for designing properties. Connie enjoys her volunteer hours because of the friendly, dedicated people she works with. She also thanks her husband, John, for his continued assistance fixing or creating props. Connie is also grateful to friends for their support and loaning their household items for props. It is nice to be back with CP friends after pandemic restrictions. Connie is having fun working with director, Robin Schwartz, and the talented Crimes of the Heart team of cast and crew.
Austin M. Shuman (Stage Manager) Austin is excited to be working with The Colonial Players in his debut season. He has previous worked on The Lifespan of a Fact as their Assistant Stage Manger. He has worked with Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre this previous summer. He hopes you enjoy this wonderful show and is proud of the work everyone has put into it! Thank you for your attendance.
