Meet Our 2018 Ghost Troupe
Bugsy Bianchi was born July 8, 1901 on the South Side of Chicago. His run-ins with the law gained him favor with THE Alphons Gabriel Capone. During his time with the Outfit, he was known as the Lady Killer, because his charm and endearing demeanor kept your trust, until it was too late. He proudly affirms that he was a key player in the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929, which was the last time anyone saw him alive. In his afterlife, he refuses to discuss the details surrounding his death, stating "I ain't no snitch...".
Jason Laramee began his performing career at a Puppetry Performance Theater in South Carolina. 7 years later, he came down to Orlando and began a lifelong dream with Disney. As a 5-year performer with Walt Disney Creative Entertainment, presenting roles from Fantasmic to The Muppets Present: Great Moments in American History, Jason has finally found his voice as an actor in local productions with STAGE Cast Theatre Club and Phoenix Tears. He is proud and honored to be a part of Phoenix Tear Productions and thanks everyone for their support.
Gracey was born in early February of 1860, in Sussex Downs, England. When her mother passed away in 1868, her father was forced to sell their farm; he and Gracey moved to the States, where he became the head groundskeeper for a large manor estate located in New England. Gracey died in late 1871 under "ambiguous circumstances,” at a small gathering for the staff, and a few guests of the manor, to observe the winter solstice. Gracey is partial to libraries, particularly private ones found in old or abandoned mansions, and haunts one or another seemingly at random, accompanied by her hitherto unseen companion, Jeeves.
Allison has been a performer and puppeteer at the Walt Disney World Resort for the last several years. Though this is her first full season with the Death Day Players, she did perform a few murder mysteries with them last year. She is also a regular performer with Random Encounter Productions on Twitch, which livestreams tabletop gameplay several days a week. Allison is a local artist in the Orlando area, and can be found on both Instagram and Twitter as HatterAndHolmes.
Harper Grace died in 1999 at the fairgrounds in Huron, South Dakota. After touring with Kenny Rogers for ten years, Harper Grace had persuaded (*wink*wink*) Kenny into letting her sing lead on a song. She was really getting into “Queen of Hearts" when she grabbed onto the microphone and was electrocuted! Cheated out of the limelight in life, Harper Grace is glad to get a chance to perform again with the Death Day Players.
Jackie Cunningham brings Harper Grace to life in her first season working with Phoenix Tears Productions. Prior to working with Phoenix Tears, Jackie has performed in various venues including Busch Gardens as a lead vocalist, a touring performer with Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, and several years performing in Regional & Dinner theaters. She has also performed with various artists such as Steven Curtis Chapman, The Moody Blues, Mario Lopez, and Kirk Cameron. An accomplished violinist, Jackie has been playing since the age of 3. She also spent several years as a full-time Fine Arts Model. You can often find her at home with her 2 dogs and 4 cats watching Star Trek (a clear superior to Star Wars). She is thrilled to be a ghost in this fun and talented troupe!
Lyra Donna died in 1934. BLAH BLAH BLAH
Megan Penfield brings Lyra Donna to life BLAH BLAH BLAH
Martha May Weathersby has (or had) her eyes on the sky. Alien enthusiast and casual anarchist Martha knows what they don’t want you to know and is more than happy to share. Her body was found in the West Texas desert after missing for a week in the late spring of 1954. Martha maintains that the Men in Black did her in for sneaking into a restricted access site, though her small hometown largely agrees she was probably killed by a drifter. Probably.
Actress Lars Carlile is also a native Texan with a fascination with the bizarre. A children’s party performer and costumer by trade, this is Lars’ first year with Death Day Players.
Merriweather, a spunky girl who has been apart of the Death Day Players since it’s creation, was 20 years old at her time of death in 1927. She is excited to perform every death even those of ghost she doesn't care for like Renald (former featured
ghost) or Paulie (former member) . During prohibition Merriweather was familiar with giggle water and happened to be at a house party on the night of her death when she was hit by a car. No one is sure whether this was a tragic accident or…MURDER (dun dun duuuuun). She has a high pitched chirp of a voice and is very excited by people's lives and the different things they got to experience when they were alive, different foods and pop culture trends especially.
Megan Markham has been with Phoenix Tears Productions and the Death Day Players since the start. She has recently performed at the Dangerous Theater Sanford and the Orlando Fringe Festival. Her favorite roles to date have been Destiny in Stardust Audio Drama and Emma Boot in the Death Day Player’s Mystery Kiss of Death/ She is also a writer with Phoenix Tears, having co-wrote Fictional First Dates and Stardust Audio Drama. Because that's not enough hats, Megan is also on the board of directors as the media and public relations manager and a Ten Minute Tuesday Producer. She is proud of the Death Day Players for taking on a four mystery season and it so happy to be part of it.
Sunshine was born Abigail Gleason but she rid herself of that name along with the rest of the oppressive shackles placed on her by a patriarchal society. She wanted actual freedom and she found that with Hunter. He was charismatic, kind, and more than happy to support Sunshine and all her like minded friends. She lived with them at Hunter's commune where they played and partied their lives away. There was dancing, drinking, drugs, and death.
Mallory Vance is best known as the co-founder and creative director of Phoenix Tears Productions. When not pouring her energy into writing, directing, or producing she can be found reading books and going to the movies. As part of the Death Day Players she has a unique opportunity to try her hand at acting, and she always has a blast bringing Sunshine to life.
Todd was born in 1960, to the small town of Jupiter Florida that she never considered home. She grew up on the edge of society as the community thought she was rather odd. They did well enough in school, but never considered an academic career. In high school the only person Todd ever trusted was her boyfriend, Henry Jefferson. That ended when her brother Jimmy took out his prejudices out on something he didn’t understand and it cost Henry his life. Angry and heartbroken she stole $25 from her parents and took the next train north. She was working odd jobs in Philadelphia when she discovered the underground punk movement and immediately it became home. Todd’s wild lifestyle and distant nature put a target on her back. She was murdered in a hotel in 1979. She knows who killed her but won’t tell you.
Clara White was the eldest daughter of Josiah White III, the famed owner of the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Her father's efforts to find her a husband and adapt to proper society were met with scorn, especially when the family's life was upheaved with a move to Devonshire, England where soon after she met her demise at the hands of those closest to her in the year 1907. After years of wandering, Clara found a new family within the Death Day Players. Though her manners remained antiquated and dramatic in comparison to those she met, she took comfort in the new family she discovered, and learned to use such traits for the theatrical benefit of all those around her. Or their annoyance.
Professionally-trained actor, singer, dancer. Self-trained writer, model, costumer, snuggle enthusiast, and bad comedian. Michelle is ecstatic to entertain her fascination with the turn of the century and bring Clara White to life- er.. afterlife! Michelle is known primarily for interactive and improv performance, through Orlando's numerous theaters, theme parks, and entertainment companies. This is including, but not limited to, Legoland Florida, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios Orlando, Walt Disney World, Mad Science, The Dinner Detective, Pseudonym Productions, CrashURParty, and Vaudeville Entertainment. She is also a devoted member of Actors Reaching Out, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization creating shows for children of all ages to promote literacy and charitable causes - as she is a strong believer in using her art for good, always.