Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two rival cable-access cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for 30 years, ever since Larry Biddle dated one and married the other.  When circumstances put them together on a TV show called The Kitchen Witches, the insults are flung harder than the food!

Dolly’s long-suffering TV-producer son Stephen tries to keep them on track, but as long as Dolly’s dressing room is one inch closer to the set than Isobel’s, it’s a losing battle, and the show becomes a rating smash as Dolly and Isobel top both Martha Stewart and Jerry Springer!

 

“Canadian playwright Caroline Smith has whipped up a hilarious tale.- Simcoe Times-Reformer

“Take a handful of animated actors, add a lively and responsive audience, let the plot thicken and you get a savoury show that’s sure to please even the fussiest palate.” – The Orangeville Banner

Winner! 2005 Samuel French Canadian Playwrights Contest

The Kitchen Witches is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Generously sponsored by Essex Meadows.

Lisa Foss * (Dolly Biddle) is happy to be back on the Ivoryton Stage where she last appeared in their production of Smoky Joe’s Cafe.  She has extensive credits as a director, music director, choreographer and educator throughout CT. She has directed and run programs at UCONN’s Community School of the Arts, The Spirit of Broadway Theatre, Garde Arts Center, Lisbon Central School and as an adjunct professor of theatre at Three Rivers Community College.  She is currently the Education Director for Hartford Children’s Theatre.  Additionally,  Lisa has an extensive list of credits as a performer – and continues to appear in productions, readings and cabarets in CT and NYC.  Lisa earned her B.F.A at Carnegie Mellon University and is a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association.(AEA) Her favorite role is that of mother to her two little “divas-in training,” Sophia and Emma.

Beverley J Taylor (Isabelle – Izzy – Lomax) is happy to be on stage again at The Ivoryton Playhouse.  Growing up in England, appearing on stage in both countries and moving here at 22 she finally feels like this is her home. Some of her favorite roles include, Nancy in Oliver, Nellie in South Pacific, Anna in The King & I, Eleanor in A Lion in Winter, Constanza in Amadeus.

 

 

Carl Howell (Stephen Biddle) * was most recently seen as Romeo at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival.  Other HVSF credits include: Twelfth Night, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Cymbeline, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar.  Off-Broadway: Twelfth Night (The Pearl Theatre Company) and The Land Whale Murders (Shelby Company  – Backstage Critic’s Pick.)  Additional credits include Halo/Titanic at The Old Vic, London (T.S. Eliot US/UK Exchange) and The Seagull (Konstantin) with World’s End Theatre.  Carl was selected for workshops with Kevin Spacey at The Old Vic and BAM, and featured on WNYC’s Shakespeare Marathon at The Greene Space and in The Drama League’s Tribute to Patti Lupone.  Film: Being Patient, Justice.  BFA: NYU.

 

Casey McKeon (Rob the Camera Man) is very excited to return to the Ivoryton Playhouse where he played Charlie Bates in Oliver! this summer.  His other favorite roles include Frederick Barrett in Titanic The Musical, Troy Bolton in High School Musical 2, Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Curly in Oklahoma, and Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man. Casey is currently a Junior at Valley Regional High School and plans on studying music and musical theater in college.

 

Directed by:  Maggie McGlone Jennings

Stage Manager:  T. Rick Jones *

Set Design:  Dan Nischan

Lighting Design:  Marcus Abbott

Costume Design:  LisaMarie Harry

Hair Design:  Joel Silvestro

* member of Actors Equity

There are no special events scheduled.

PRESS RELEASE – 10/18/12

The Clash of the Cooking Show Divas!
The Kitchen Witches
at The Ivoryton Playhouse

Ivoryton: Aprons are tied and ladles are readied for battle as the Ivoryton Playhouse suits up for the clash of the cooking show divas – THE KITCHEN WITCHES by Caroline Smith.  Winner of the 2005 Samuel French Canadian Playwrights Contest, this hilarious comedy is just the recipe for a night of fun and merriment!

Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two rival cable-access cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for 30 years, ever since Larry Biddle dated one and married the other.  When circumstances put them together on a TV show called The Kitchen Witches, the insults are flung harder than the food!

Dolly’s long-suffering TV-producer son Stephen tries to keep them on track, but as long as Dolly’s dressing room is one inch closer to the set than Isobel’s, it’s a losing battle, and the show becomes a rating smash as Dolly and Isobel top both Martha Stewart and Jerry Springer!

Canadian playwright Caroline Smith has whipped up a hilarious tale that’s sure to please even the fussiest palate.  Directed by Maggie Jennings, the show stars Beverley Taylor, Lisa Foss*, Carl Howell*, and Casey McKeon.  The set design is by Dan Nischan, lighting design by Marcus Abbott, and costumes by LisaMarie Harry.

Loss Foss* plays Dolly Biddle

THE KITCHEN WITCHES

opens in Ivoryton on October 31st and runs through November 18th. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm.  There is also a matinee on Thursday, November 15 at 2:00pm.  Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.

Members of the press are welcome at any performance.  Please call ahead for tickets.

* member of Actors Equity

Generously sponsored by Essex Meadows.

Picture by Anne Hudson

Pictured – from left Beverley Taylor, Carl Howell* and Kim Catano*