Black Comedy
By Peter Shaffer
About the Show
When struggling artist Brindsley Miller “borrows” his neighbor’s elegant furniture to impress his fiancée’s father and a wealthy art collector, he thinks he’s staged the perfect evening. Then the power fails. What follows? A parade of colorful, duplicitous guests stumbling through a pitch-black room, while the audience sees every frantic whisper, flying chair, and desperate attempt to hide the evidence in full light. Secrets collide. Furniture shifts. Surprise visitors arrive at the worst possible moment.
It’s fast, physical, and gloriously upside down, where darkness shines brightest and disaster has never looked so funny.
Theatre: Black Box (Mainstage)
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Show Dates and Times
Fridays 7pm: Oct 30, Nov 6, 13, 20
Saturdays 7pm: Oct 31, Nov 7
Saturdays 2pm: Nov 14, 21
Sundays 2pm: Nov 1, 8, 15, 22
Meet the Cast & Crew
Taylor Swingle
Brindsley Miller
is very excited and happy to be back at Live Theatre Workshop for BLACK COMEDY. Previous credits include NEW DIRECTIONS PLAY FESTIVAL (‘22, ‘23, ‘25), SILENT SKY (Peter Shaw), THE LARAMIE PROJECT (Matt Galloway & Company), and VAUD (Horse Man). Taylor received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies in 2025. Offstage, he enjoys watching movies, going to karaoke and performing improv in his friends' living room. He would like to thank his family, friends and especially Rayce Morland for their support and hopes you enjoy the show!
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Zuleyl Castro
Carol Melkett
is a born and raised Tucson native whose love for theatre began in the fourth grade. Zuleyl’s recent work includes ANITA with Borderlands Theatre, LATE NIGHT RADIO HOUR with Scoundrel & Scamp, and SILENT SKY at Live Theatre Workshop. She is also a former member of the Charles Darwin Experience improv troupe at the UA and teaches improv to middle schoolers. She has also worked with Literacy Connects through their Stories That Soar! program that brings children’s original stories to life onstage. Zuleyl would like to thank her friends and family for always encouraging her creative endeavors.
Pat Timm
Miss Furnival
is delighted to be back at LTW portraying “Miss Furnival” in BLACK COMEDY. A native of South Dakota, she came to AZ by way of NY. Locally, Pat has acted in and directed productions with Beowulf Alley, the Community Players, Live Theatre Workshop, St. Francis in the Foothills, Shoestring Players, Arts Express and Winding Road Ensemble. Favorite roles include “Nurse Ratched” in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, “Masha” in THREE SISTERS, “Billie Dawn” in BORN YESTERDAY, “Meg” in CRIMES OF THE HEART, “Amanda” in SOUTHERN COMFORTS, “Mrs. Patrick Campbell” in DEAR LIAR, “Amanda Wingfield” in THE GLASS MENAGERIE and especially “Lady M” in THE "SCOTTISH PLAY". Directorial credits include THE FARNDALE AVENUE HOUSING ESTATE TOWNSWOMEN'S GUILD DRAMATIC SOCIETY MURDER MYSTERY, VANITIES, BUS STOP, AN EVENING WITH TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, MOLLY SWEENEY, HARVEY, OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, GREETINGS! and A CACTUS CHRISTMAS. When not working on a show, Pat enjoys teaching country dance, karaoke, gardening and spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren, Atlas and Everleigh, and her little dog, Boo.
Steve McKee
Colonel Melkett
Steve is thrilled to be returning to the LTW stage, where he previously played Paul in Murder at the Howard Johnsons, and various roles in On the Verge. He looks forward to returning to the LTW stage in the Spring ’27 production of The Book Of Liz.Steve has understudied with Arizona Theatre Company and been seen with Arizona Onstage Productions, Arts Express Theatre, Invisible Theatre, and The Rogue Theatre. He has also performed at the Gaslight Theatre during their Christmas shows.
Favorite roles include Roger Debris in The Producers, Alan in God of Carnage, and Steve in Becky’s New Car. Thanks to Stephen and all the LTW staff for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful production. Thanks for supporting live entertainment and enjoy the show!!
David Gunther
Harold
is excited to make his Live Theatre Workshop main-stage debut with BLACK COMEDY. His most recent credits include THE GUY WHO DIDN'T LIKE MUSICALS (Paul) with Beyond Broadway, NEWSIES (Bunsen), and MIRACLE ON 34TH ST (Sawyer) with Arts Express. He's been seen onstage at The Gaslight Theatre, Invisible Theatre, Winding Road, Scoundrel and Scamp, and Unscrewed Theater, to name just a few. Outside of theatre he's an accomplished computer technician, and dabbles in a wide variety of hobbies, such as stand-up comedy, home-brewing, tabletop gaming, cooking, baking, and anything else odd and eclectic that catches his imagination. He'd like to thank all of you for coming and supporting local live theatre, and hopes you find this show both hilarious and illuminating.
Dennis O'Dell
Schuppanzigh
most recently appeared as Nick/Doug in COME FROM AWAY at Arts Express Theatre, The Old Man in FOOL FOR LOVE at Koso Theatre Collective, and as Doolittle in Saguaro City Music Theatre’s MY FAIR LADY. Other recent credits include FUNNY GIRL at Arts Express Theatre, RACE TO THE NORTH POLE at Gaslight Theatre, ROMEO AND JULIET at The Rogue Theatre, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Arts Express, SCROOGE at The Gaslight Theatre, BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA at The Invisible Theatre, THE BOOK OF WILL at Scoundrel and Scamp, and GREAT EXPECTATIONS, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, and AS YOU LIKE IT, also at The Rogue.
Justine Wilken
Clea
is very excited to be making their LTW debut. An improviser at heart, she believes laughter is essential! Justine is a member of the Koso Theatre Collective whose previous credits include Koso’s FOOL FOR LOVE as May, as well as ensemble roles in Saguaro City’s productions of ANNIE and MY FAIR LADY.
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Dave Sewell
George Bamberger
has been active in the Tucson theatre scene since 1995 as playwright, director, actor, set designer, grant writer, board member, stage tech, and more. A native of Los Angeles, Dave holds a degree in Theatre (directing emphasis) from the University of California, Riverside, where he studied under Jules Aaron and Rick Risso. In addition to directing more than twenty full productions, Dave’s local acting credits include roles in OUR TOWN, SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS, TAMING OF THE SHREW, MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, BUS STOP, THE MINUTES and many others. While working as a professional writer and editor, Dave has found time to serve on the leadership teams of several local theatre companies, such as Desert Players, Tucson Theatre Ensemble, Beowulf Alley, and Old Pueblo Playwrights. Currently, Dave has the privilege of serving as a member of the board at Live Theatre Workshop, in full support of the company’s vital mission of bringing quality performance and education to the community.
Stephen Frankenfield
Director
is LTW's Associate Artistic Director. He is a graduate of the American Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (AAMDA) in New York City. LTW has been his second home for over 25 years, both for acting and directing. Some of his notable acting credits include STONES IN HIS POCKET, THE GAME'S AFOOT; OR, HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS, I HATE HAMLET, and A TUNA CHRISTMAS. Some of his directing credits include MOON OVER BUFFALO and SOUVENIR. He writes and directs for LTW's Children's Theatre, as well as the Education Department. He has had seven of his plays published and produced around the world, in schools and other youth organizations. He'd like to give a big thank you to his two boys who continue to inspire him every day, on and off stage.
Alex Totillo
Production Stage Manager
was born in Tucson and is a University of Arizona graduate. They are a lifelong theater nerd whose first show as a stage manager was aptly titled THE NERD. Some of their most recent work includes stage management for A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD and THE ONE GOOD THING at Live Theatre Workshop and for ANITA at Borderlands Theater, as well as direction for JULIUS CAESAR at Studio Connections and for GOING IT ALONE at Invisible Theater. Keep your eyes out for Alex in the TTRPG actual play project EPICS OF EPOCHS.
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Brian Johnson
Assistant Stage Manager
has been involved with local theatre arts and concerts in Tucson for over 10 years as a stagehand, event planner, technician, and occasionally as an artist. He is excited to share his talents and experience with Live Theatre Workshop.
Michael James Zimmerman
Sound Designer
is a recording artist, music director, audio engineer, and private music instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience and more than 35 years of acting and performance experience. He spent 25 years as a touring musician with Honeybeegroove and Kristen Chandler. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology, Michael moved to Tucson, AZ. He is the music director for Center for Spiritual Living Tucson, and teaches guitar, piano, voice, drums, percussion, and bass guitar as a master teacher at Music & Arts.
Jimmy Carr
Set Designer/Set Construction
Musician, sculptor, artist and craftsman, Jimmy has spent a lifetime working across the worlds of music, theater, sculpture, woodworking and metalworking. A lifelong musician, Carr has toured extensively and recorded on dozens of albums, while his work as a craftsman and sculptor has taken him into theaters, galleries, homes and public spaces. Carr is the owner of J Carr, specializing in custom metalwork, finish carpentry, doors, gates and one-of-a-kind artistic creations. His theater work includes serving as Props Master for Theatre Aspen and building props and scenic elements for productions throughout the country. For this production, Carr brings those disciplines together as the designer and builder of the set, creating a physical environment that supports the story, the actors and the theatrical experience.
Tina Evans
Prop Master
does a little bit of everything here at LTW, from teaching and acting to stage managing and working behind the scenes as Prop Master! She most recently stage managed the LTW Etcetera series productions SHE'S OUT OF HER RIND and TELL ME ABOUT YOU, as well as LTW Mainstage's AN ALMOST HOLY PICTURE. They have also acted in other LTW shows such as ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE, THE CONUNDRUM AT CAMP CATALINA, and MONA LISA ON THE LOOSE. Tina graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Conservation and is a certified Montessori teacher.
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Richard Gremel
Lighting Designer
as been a part of the LTW family for over 20 years. Richard is a graduate of the University of Arizona where he received a B.F.A. in Theatre Education. He is the acting and technical theatre teacher at Empire High School where he has directed almost 90 plays and musicals over the past 18 years. Under his direction, Empire Theatre has earned numerous awards including four state championships in One-Act Performance. Some of his past LTW directing credits include PUFFS, TALL TALES: LEGENDS OF AMERICA, TILLY THE TRICKSTER, and RANKED: THE MUSICAL. He is the recipient of the Arizona Thespians Teacher of the Year (2017–2018 & 2023–2024) and the OnMedia Tucson Arts Hero (2018–2019). Richard has also received the award for "Best Director" from Arts Express' Monte Awards for his productions of THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL (2023) and THE LIGHTNING THIEF (2025). Aside from teaching and directing, Richard writes plays for the LTW stage. He currently has 11 published plays which have been seen all over the United States, Canada, India, Hong Kong, England, Germany, Italy, and Australia. www.richardgremelplaywright.com
Linda Andresano
Costume Designer
Thank you for attending this great show! I'm so happy to once again be costuming a show here at LTW. In another great time period! Thanks to my oh so supportive husband for supporting my adventures. Hope you enjoy the craziness soon to ensue!