Some of the pictures are very hard to get a good scan of. If you have any photos, please contact the webmaster through the Contact link. What we have tried to do is capture the feel of the play - not necessarily the ability to identify individual actors.
Oliver Twist
Authors, such as Dickens, utilized a melodrama format to disguise social commentary and protest. The play opens with Oliver, an orphaned preteen British lad, toiling in a workhouse run by the ruthless Mr. Bumble and his assistant Widow Corney. Upon requesting additional gruel, a disgusting tasting porridge, Oliver is promptly thrown out and peddled through the streets to be sold to the highest taker. Mr. Bumble convinces Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry to purchase the lad to work as an undertaker's assistant. Disliking his new surrounds, Oliver seizes an opportunity to escape and soon finds himself under the confidence of the Artful Dodger, one of Fagin's loyal and best trained pick pockets. Oliver's initial pickpocket attempt is thwarted, and he is arrested and given into the care of affluent Mr. Brownlow and his house keeper Mrs. Bedwin. Together, recognizing Oliver's character and integrity, they nurture the young man. Evil villain, Bill Sykes fears the boy will snitch to the authorities and schemes to retrieve Oliver, thus the forces of good and evil battle it out in the streets of London.
Cast A and B (A ~ B)
Oliver ----------------- Justin Harner ~ Michael Compton
Mr. Bumble ----------------- Paul Lidy
Widow Corney ----------------- Laura Debenham ~ Shannon Quicksall
Noah Claypole ----------------- Chris Sipe ~ Patrick Zuber
Mr. Sowerberry ----------------- Rod Cekander
Mrs. Sowerberry ----------------- Pamette Balda
Charlotte ----------------- Erica Hollinshead ~ Johnna Vargyas
The Artful Dodger ----------------- Jared Lecrone ~ Christopher Balda
Fagin ----------------- Dr. James Graham
Nancy ----------------- Alexis Iffert ~ Amber Cekander
Charles Bates ----------------- Sean Miller
Bet ----------------- Becky Clark ~ Diana Cekander
Old Hag/Sally/Woman 2 ----------------- Linda Marxmann
Bill Sykes ----------------- Brennan Debenham
Mrs. Bedwin ----------------- Rose Willenborg
Mr. Brownlow ----------------- Chuck Cunningham
Grimwig/Chairman/Watchman ----------------- Tom Hedge
Book Deliverer ----------------- Rachael Debenham ~ Katie Manner
First Woman/Old Lady ----------------- Vicki Walker
1st Bow Street Runner ----------------- Chris Sipe
2nd Bow Street Runner ----------------- Patrick Zuber
Seller ----------------- Shannon Quicksall, Colleen Johnson ~ Gwyn Stansfield, Kristi Buchler, Jessica Traub
Milkmaids ----------------- Jenna Willenborg, Diana Cekander & Erica Hollinshead
Strawberry Seller ----------------- Amber Cekander ~ Rachael Debenham
Knife Grinder ----------------- Peter Althoff ~ Justin Harner, Joseph Balda, Jared Lecrone
Small Child ----------------- Gwyn Stansfield
Pauper's Assistant 1 ----------------- Colleen Johnson
Pauper's Assistant 2 ----------------- Ryan Larimore
Boys/Children's Choir (Bcc)
Gretchen Althoff, Christopher Balda, Joseph Balda, Kristi Buchler, Ethan Carpenter, Michael Compton, Lila Debenham, Rachael Debenham, Sierra Debenham, Ashley Gilbert, Katie Hanner, Jenae Harner, Colleen Johnson, Claire Koerner, Emily Koester, Ryan Larimore, Sean Miller, Jessica Traub, Michelle Valenti and Patrick Zuber