The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Cast

Kylie Schmehl (Christopher) is very excited to be playing Christopher Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Kylie is 19 and a second year at Bowling Green State University studying Adolescent to Young Adults: Integrated Language Arts; she hopes to become a high school English and drama teacher. This is Kylie’s second show with the Black Swamp Players, her first being August: Osage County, where she played Jean Fordham. Some of her favorite shows that she’s been in are: The Crucible (Betty) and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Laurie). She would like to thank Julie for this fantastic opportunity and her fellow cast and crewmates for doing an amazing job and making this experience fantastic. Kylie also wishes to shoutout her roommates for all their support and assistance in her memorization.

Nicholas Yates (Christopher) is excited to be back at the Oak Street Theater to play the character of Christopher Boone. Currently, Nick is a second-year student at Bowling Green State University and is majoring in Adolescent to Young Adult Education. Prior to attending BGSU, Nick had performed in multiple musicals in high school, including the lead role of Charlie Brown in a production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Furthermore, he has previously performed with BSP in their productions of Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) as well as It Shoulda Been You. When not on stage, he enjoys following motorsports of just about any kind as well as playing the drums. Nick would like to extend his gratefulness to both his family for their unwavering support as well as director Julie Zatko for the opportunity to work in this production. Enjoy the show!

Heath A. Diehl (Ed) is excited to be working with this cast and director on this production. Previous BSP acting credits include Caleb Thorpe in The Spitfire Grill, Ensemble in Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, George in It Shoulda Been You, Herb in I Ought to be In Pictures, Edward in Psych, and Mr. Boddy in Clue: The Musical. Heath also is active as a director in local theater; select credits include: Marjorie Prime (BSP); August: Osage County (BSP); The Guys (TBD); Gideon's Knot (TBD); The Drowsy Chaperone (BSP); A Mouth to Feed (Toledo Rep); and The Odd Couple (Female Version) (BSP). In his professional life, Heath is Teaching Professor in the Honors College and Department of English at BGSU. He currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees of BSP, as a Board member/Marketing Chair/agency representative for Northwest Ohio Community Shares, and as Board Vice President and Fundraising Chair for Wood County Humane Society. In his personal life, Heath enjoys spending time with his very supportive husband, Gary, and their clowder of seven rescue cats.

Gabrielle Southwell (Judy) is making her Black Swamp Players debut in this performance. She wants to thank director Julie Zatko for the opportunity to play the role of mom, “Judy.” She dedicates this performance to her mom who passed away during this time 36 years ago. Other credits include Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Toledo Rep); I Dream Before I Take The Stand (The Cocoon); Middletown (Toledo Rep; Actor’s Collaborative Toledo, ACT); A Life (ACT); and The Tempest (Monroe Community Players) which won three Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA) awards. Gabrielle is a New Yorker whose work brought her to Toledo, Ohio, twelve years ago. Love is the reason she stayed. Hugs and kisses to her husband Bruce and their pooch Sadie!

Monica Hiris (Sibohan), a Bowling Green resident, is excited to return to the Black Swamp Players stage. She was last seen on the Players’ stage in Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, and in August: Osage County, as matriarch Violet Weston. Monica also is active in film. Recent film credits include a witch in the kids’ DVD The Kid in the Magic Forest, a forensic officer in the independent film Gone Rogue, and a foul-mouthed waitress in And So Fades the Light. Recent commercials saw her portraying a book club host, radiologist, and security analyst. One of the highlights of 2022 was training for four months for a guided wilderness hike in Iceland, which ended after the first day, courtesy of Covid. However, the mountain rescue was an unforgettable, treacherous, and priceless adventure. Monica is grateful to director Julie for her expert guidance, the cast for their support, and BSP for bringing high-quality and unique plays to their stage.

Emily Harel (Voice One) is so excited to be back on stage for her second BSP show. Emily was previously Mimsy/Aunt Sheila in BSP's It Shoulda Been You. The cast and the crew are extremely talented and have done an amazing job portraying Chistopher's story in this very special show. Emily thanks all who have supported her and the theater. Please enjoy the show and know YOU can do anything!

Steve Bishop (Voice Three) is the natural born son of a clown, and a fourth (or, fifth) generation Ohioan, by that blood. The first time he stumbled on stage was to give flesh to the disembodied voice of the late, great Don Pardo; now, he is giddy to have this opportunity to be a disembodied voice, as well as embodiments of encounters experienced by a lad making sense of the incidents around him. You may recognize Steve from a previous BSP production (August: Osage County, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Mimi’s Famous Card Company), or possibly a TBD production (Motherhood Out Loud), or mayhaps wandering around “the swamp” (as he is wont to do). When not politely fending off the zeitgeist with all his might, Steve indulges may joys, among them: a good night’s rest, a fine cup of coffee, a nice walkabout (as mentioned earlier); also, stretching a metaphor, with hyperbole, into new forms, and words, like: hyperphor, or metabole. As the future is unknowable Steve hopes you enjoy your time at the show, as well as in the general day-to-day of it all.

River Slone (Voice Three) is a freshman at Bowling Green State University, majoring in theatre specializing in acting/directing. This is their first show with Black Swamp Players and they are very excited to be working with such a wonderful cast! They would like to thank their parents for always supporting them.

Warren Clifton (Voice Four) is making his second appearance on the Black Swamp Players stage. Warren appeared as Sheriff Deon Gilbeau in BSP's 2022 production of August: Osage County. Warren co-founded TBD Productions, a local community theatre company, with his wife Annelise. 

Jerilyn Kessinger (Voice Five) is new to Black Swamp Players & is having a blast learning all about play production and discovering the life of her characters. Jerilyn works for Cousino Restoration & Environmental and is a wife & mother to 5 kids, 2 dogs & 2 cats. In her time off stage, she enjoys DIY crafts, fishing, hunting, coaching youth sports & spending time with her family. She cannot wait to see what other productions she can get into at Black Swamp Players. 

Annelise Clifton (Voice Six) is excited to return to the Black Swamp Players’ stage! Most recently, Annelise portrayed Hannah Ferguson in BSP’s production of The Spitfire Grill and Fraulein Schnieder in 3B/Village Players’ production of Cabaret. This past fall, Annelise had the unique opportunity to participate in the staged reading of Common Grounds: A New Musical written by local creative talents Luke Rosen and Matt Zwyer and produced by TBD Productions. Be on the lookout for a full theatrical production in 2023. In the last year, Annelise has been seen in TBD Productions’ Motherhood Out Loud, Cutting Edge Theatre Company’s Chicago (Matron Mama Morton) and Black Swamp Players’ August: Osage County (Barbara Fordham). Annelise is one of the founders of TBD Productions and was honored to be in TBD’s first production, the two-hander Gidion’s Knot (Corryn). Other selected theatre credits include Matilda (Miss Trunchbull), Talking With... (Moira/Fifteen Minutes), The Drowsy Chaperone (Woman in Chair); The Addams Family (Morticia); To Kill a Mockingbird (Miss Maudie); A Christmas Carol (Mrs. Crachit); Grease (Miss Lynch); and, Sister Act (Ensemble). When not in the theater, Annelise spends her time working as an attorney, volunteering with local theater organizations, serving on the advisory board for the BGSU Chapter of Chi Omega Fraternity, and enjoying high school again through her teenage daughter’s eyes. Annelise would like to thank her husband and children for always supporting her.