2024 SEASON SPONSORS

THE CAST
(In Order Of Appearance)

Wanelle Wilburn
AMANDA BUNTING

D. Gene Wilburn
ED BASSETT

Maxie Suggs
HEIDE WALLACE

Jock McNair
CHRISTOPHER GUERTIN

Jenna Sealy Wilburn
HEATHER GRAHAM

Ty Wilburn
LOGAN ZIRLOTT

Huddle Fisk
TOM SCHMIDT

Sister Myrtle Agnes
BECKY VENABLE

Barb Stratton
CHRISTINE WOOLLEY

SPECIAL THANKS

Cameo Photo Video
Kaso Dezine, LLC
Black Hog Brewing
Phenyx Pro

BEHIND THE SCENES

Director
LORI POULIN 

Stage Manager
KC ROSS

Fight Director
ROB RICHNAVSKY

Deck Captain
BRIAN ELSER

Running Crew
MARK VENABLE

Costumes
ED BASSETT, LORI POULIN &
THE CAST

Props
TIM PHILLIPS

Set Crew
TIM PHILLIPS, HEIDE WALLACE & ED BASSETT

Lighting Design
ED BASSETT &  KATE GRAHAM

Sound & Video Design
ED BASSETT

Booth Pirates    
LORI POULIN & KC ROSS
Executive Producer - Ed Bassett
Production Manager - Lori Poulin
Facilities Manager - Tim Phillips
Marketing Coordinator -
Agnes M. Dann
Social Media Coordinator - 
Shanelle Dupree
Volunteer Coordinator - 
​Laurie Phillips
Playbill/Website -
​Sharon W. Houk
Photographer -
Paula Murphy Meehan
Videography - 
Jeffrey Barber Schlichter
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Sharon W.Houk
Agnes M.Dann 
Ed Bassett

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 
Lori Poulin (Chair)
Tim Phillips (Vice-Chair)
Al Hathway
Michael P.M.Calabrese
Laurie Phillips
Shanelle Dupre
Laura Sturges-Cortez

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 ANNUAL FUND DONORS!

Lesli Anderson
Frances Barth
Mrs. Susan C. Beatty
Regina & Joseph Cillizza
Daisy Decker
Mary L. Dooley
Sheila & Mike Elser
Eileen Russo & Michael Frenis
Christopher & Theresa Guertin
Karl & Jeanine Gallmeyer
Melanie Hilpert
James & Barbara Juhas
Betty Lamay
Paul Leduc
John Magnesi
Bonita A. Mazzaferro

And to all of those who chose to remain anonymous!

ABOUT THE SHOW

This Southern-fried romp takes us back to the Reel ’Em Inn, the finest little fishing lodge in the Ozarks. The proprietor, D. Gene Wilburn, is looking forward to a peaceful weekend on the lake. But there are only two chances of that happening: slim and none. Why, for example, has his wife, Wanelle, picked these three days to white-knuckle her way through caffeine withdrawal? Why is his son Ty’s marriage to Jenna falling apart so fast? Could it have something to do with the French can-can costume Ty is wearing? How on earth would D. Gene’s feisty sister, Maxie, allow herself to get caught up in such a bizarre undercover police assignment? And that’s just his family.

​If this isn’t enough to thwart D. Gene’s weekend plans, he’s got a gaggle of nuns who’ve converged on the Inn, hell-bent on experiencing a nature retreat—which might be tolerable if D. Gene didn’t have a chronic fear of anything in a habit. Add to this the presence of Jock McNair, a nationally known relationship guru whose colossal ego threatens everyone’s sanity; a shy retiree anxious to cut loose and embrace his “inner caveman” and a couple of wild women who may or may not be who they claim to be.

WHO'S WHO

ED BASSETT (D. Gene Wilburn) is a founding member of the Phoenix Stage Company. Performance credits include IF THE SHOE FITS, FIREFLIES, FOUR WEDDINGS AND AN ELVIS, THE FOREIGNER, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD, and a few others with PSC. Directing and Costume Design credits; RUMORS (Director), THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL (Director), GODSPELL (Director), FARNDALE AVE CHRISTMAS CAROL (Director). THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN (Director) SHERWOOD (Director), CLIFFHANGER (Director), BASKERVILLE (Director), and REBEL YELLS (Director). I’m so excited to bring D. Gene back to life and to spend time at the Reel ‘em Inn with these fantastic actors! Thank you, Lori & KC, for your hard work and to my family, both blood and board. Love you all! 
HEATHER GRAHAM (Jenn Sealy Wilburn) returns to the PSC stage after playing Falicity in FARNDALE AVENUE CHRISTMAS CAROL. You might also remember Heather from past PSC productions; KILL ME DEADLY (Veronica Clairmont & Lady Mary), MURDER AT THE PROP TABLE (Lynn), MURDERED TO DEATH (Elizabeth) HARVEY (Nurse Kelly) or DRINKING HABITS (Sally). I’m delighted to again be a part of another masterpiece at the theater!
TOM SCHMIDT (Huddle Fisk) is making his Phoenix Stage Company debut! Stage credits include ALMOST MAINE (East /Randy / Dave) and HANDS OF FATE / ACTING UP! (Steven Armstrong), both with Orange Players. I would like to thank my friends and family for all their love & support. I would also like to thank everyone at Phoenix Stage for banding together and putting on such a great show!
HEIDE WALLACE (Maxie Suggs) returns to the PSC stage after appearing in MAMA WON’T FLY, THREE MURDERS AND IT’S ONLY MONDAY, FOOLS and PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN. Heide enjoys gardening, playing with pets and other magical mystical fun.  Thank you to Lori for another opportunity to grow with a most talented company. Thank you Sabrina, for encouraging me to rejoin the troupe.
LOGAN ZIRLOTT (Ty Wilburn) is making his Phoenix Stage Company debut! Stage credits include ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (Rosencrantz) with UAB, A ROCKY TIME (Clown) with Lonely Limon Productions, MURDER CREEK MYSTERY SHOW (Copper Pennington) with Bay Cities Improv and YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN (Kite) at Baker High School. Thank you to my car for surviving the hour-long drive every day!
AMANDA BUNTING (Wanelle Wilburn) is a special education teacher. She returns to the PSC stage having appeared in FARCE OF NATURE, THE RED VELVET CAKE WAR and with our Improv Comedy Troupe, Abridged. Other stage credits include NUNSENSE (Sister Robert Anne) with  CTAW and FOUR OLD BROADS (Beatrice) with Sherman Playhouse and she has performed with several other local theater companies. If she ever finds herself with spare time, she enjoys walking and traveling. Thank you to Lori for this opportunity, KC for her support, and this wonderfully talented cast. Sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of COFFEEEEEEEE!
CHRISTOPHER GUERTIN (Jock McNair) returns to the PSC stage after appearing in the world premiere of THE MEMORY BOX.  Chris appeared most recently at Landmark Community Theatre in BEAUTY IN THE BEAST (Lumiere), as well as in IT’S ONLY A PLAY (Frank Finger), ELF (Manager), LOVE, SEX AND THE IRS (Jon), and KINKY BOOTS (Ensemble). Chris also contributes to set design and building for LCT productions, and by day works in IT and is an aspiring voice-actor.
BECKY VENABLE (Sister Mary Agnes) Returns to Phoenix Stage Company! Past stage credits include FARCE OF NATURE, ALMOST MAINE, IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, CRIMES OF THE HEART, MOON OVER BUFFALO and FOUR WEDDINGS & AN ELVIS with Phoenix Stage Company. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to work with this amazing cast and crew! Thank you Lori and Ed and the entire Phoenix family for always being a wonderful place to come back to!:
CHRISTINE WOOLLEY (Barbara Stratton) makes her Phoenix Stage Company debut! Stage credits include INAPPROPRIATE AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR (Ashley) and RUMORS (Cookies) both with Simsbury Theater Guild. Thank you to my son, Isiah, my family and close friends, and Ryan for you encouragement in my recent acting adventures.
​

BEHIND THE SCENES

LORI POULIN (Director) is the Phoenix Stage Company Production Manager. PSC credits include Stage Managing FOR BASKERVILLE, ANY BODY HOME?, EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE and more. Director of FOUR WEDDINGS AND AN ELVIS, MOON OVER BUFFALO, DEATH BY FATAL MURDER, FARCE OF NATURE, JACOB MARLEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL and appearing on stage in CAYUGA CANAL GIRLS, DEATH & TAXES, KILL ME DEADLY, DARK AND STORMY NIGHT and LADY PARTS. Other credits include Costume Designer for THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, GODSPELL, IT’S ONLY A PLAY and ELF, THE MUSICAL at Landmark Community Theater. Thank you to this fun and talented cast. Welcome to the other side of the table KC! You’re awesome. Thank you to our newest Phoenix family members for making the journey to Oakville. As always, thank you to JP & Gma for supporting me and our theater family. To you, our audience, we couldn’t do any of this without you! Going to see a show is never a bad habit!
KC ROSS (Stage Manager) returns to the PSC in a new roll! Past stage credits include THE CAYUGA CANAL GIRLS, THE PIINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN, BASKERVILLE, OCTETTE BRIDGE CLUB, ALMOST, MAINE, THE HALLELUJAH GIRLS, RED VELVET CAKE WARS and FUDDY MEERS. Thanks to this amazing cast, and the crew at Phoenix!