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What is the Marley Bridges Theatre Company?
             "suspending disbelief & spanning the ages"
                                    GRIMES + BRADLEY = Marley Bridges

We believe that theatre is meant to be experienced and not just passively observed. 
We engage, entertain and educate our audiences. 

      We are dedicated to:
Building community collaboration with creative programming and interactive theatre
Revitalizing and preserving Newport's social history through theatre and reenactments
Inspiring future performers and artists to practice and share their talents
Developing and producing original scripts written by Rhode Islanders
Giving everyone the opportunity to play, imagine & experience the magic of make-believe
Educating and enriching students with performance and art workshops
Sustaining the arts throughout Newport County and Rhode Island for future generations

Formerly known as the Beechwood Theatre Company, the Marley Bridges Theatre Company (MBTC) is now a non-profit arts organization dedicated to fostering the arts, arts education and historic preservation throughout Newport County.  Partners-in-crime Patrick Grimes and Jessica Bradley are the heart and soul of the MBTC and are proud to collaborate creatively with the community.  They have been nomadic since leaving Bellevue Avenue and are currently seeking a permanent venue.

MBTC specializes in interactive, historical and educational theatre programming, with a forte for situational and site-specific entertainment.  Its mission includes offering Rhode Islanders and visitors alike engaging and enriching affordable entertainment, as well as providing educational workshops in improvisation and acting to area schools at little or no cost.  Moneys raised through performances help fund arts programs in our community - from musical instruments for struggling band programs to grants for original works in the performing arts.  

Support us in our efforts to grow and perpetuate our creative programming!  We appreciate and entertain any input, whether an encouraging word or testimonial, helping hand or donation.  Visit our sister website (www.MarleyBridges.org) and contact Patrick or Jessica about how you can join in the fun today.  Call us at 401-324-9436 or email shows@newportmurdermystery.com.  Thank you!

Board of Directors:

Cris McCullough, President - Expressive Arts, Marketing
Alan Bernstein, Vice President - Arts Education, Administration
Cindy Killavey, Secretary - Storytelling, Performance
Paul McGreevy, Treasurer - Politics, Government
Jim Killavey, Director - Audio Recording, Performance
Madeline Mancini, Director - Special Events, Hospitality

Community Collaborators:

Architect's Inn Bed & Breakfast and Inn Bliss
East Bay Met School Arts Advisory (Sofia Talbot, MBTC Intern)
Emmanuel Church
Newport Art Museum & Art Association

Administrative Staff & Actors:

Jessica Bradley
Creative Producer/Mystery Engineer

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Jessica Bradley earned her B.A. in Theatre from Michigan State University where she was one of the core members of Your Mom Improv.  Following graduation she became a member of the Beechwood Theatre Company and acted at Astors’ Beechwood Mansion for four years until its closing in 2010.  She became the Managing Director of the Beechwood Foundation in her third season and is now the Creative Producer of the MBTC.  Improvisational theatre is Jessica’s favorite form of performance art and she has trained with Second City, ImprovOlympic and Annoyance Theatre in Chicago.  Jessica is a proud member of the Bit Players improv group of Newport's Firehouse Theater.  Favorite roles include Consuelo Vanderbilt, Thelma Todd, and Mrs. Juno and Z in George Bernard Shaw one-acts.  She daily creates and develops new programming and scripts for the MBTC and Newport Murder Mystery.




Charles Lane Cowen
Associate Director/Mystery Engineer

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Charles Lane Cowen is Associate Director for the Marley Bridges Theatre Company and has been performing with the group since 2008.  He has worked as an actor and director around the country at theatres such as the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the Texas Shakespeare Festival, The Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg, WV, Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in Chicago, and Ridgeville Shakespeare in Chicago.  Most recently he was seen as Master Page in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" as well as a featured role in the new work "Never Have I Ever the Musical" at Chicago's Second City Theatre.  In addition to acting Charles has directed and adapted many works and particularly enjoys building and performing with puppets.  Charles holds a B.A. in Drama from the University of Dallas.  When he's not acting he's serving a mean cup of espresso at Empire Tea and Coffee in Newport.

Patrick Grimes
Artistic Director/Mystery Engineer

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Patrick Grimes holds a degree in Acting from the University of Northern Colorado.  Hired by the Astors' Beechwood Mansion as a summer cast member portraying John Jacob Astor IV in 1996, Patrick fell in love with Newport and the rich social history that abounds here.  Following 4 years of work with Beechwood, Patrick moved to Portland Oregon where he and a group of enthusiastic visionaries started a small film production company.  One year later, he was offered a returing position with the Beechwood Theatre Comany and moved across the nation once more.  After Beechwood closed its doors to the public in 2010, Patrick and Jessica refused to let the theatre company die.  In 2010, Patrick directed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and in 2011 Picasso at the Lapin Agile for the Salve Regina Theatre Department at the historic Casino Theatre.  He is a veteran of several professional improvisational theatre troupes, and has a passion for the unscripted. 

Katherine W. Bettinghaus
Costume & Props Manager/
Mystery Engineer

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Katherine W. Bettinghaus is currently Music Director for the Marley Bridges Theatre Company.  She is an Alumnus of the University of Tulsa where she studied Music and Theater.  Her most recent theater credits include the portrayal of Mary Pickford in The Art of the Masquerade, an original work produced by the Marley Bridges Theatre Company, various improv shows with the Rainbow Players, and Ruth Condomine in Blythe Spirit with Steel Beam Theater. Katherine also portrayed Miss Annabella Penrose in W.S. Gilbert’s No Cards. She has also been a soloist in residence for 4 years at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Geneva, IL. Katherine is grateful to Patrick and Jessica for bringing her back to Newport and is extremely exited to be performing and singing again with such talented people.


John McKenna
Director/Writer

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John McKenna is a graduate of Trinity Repertory Company in Providence.  John has written a full length musical comedy with the imposing title- "The Early Pre-Dusk of Dr. Menace's Re-Animated Undead Zombies or Menace of the Morgue" Which was successfully produced in April.  In 2012, look for Menace of the Morgue to rise again!  John joined the theatre company in 2010 as an actor in the Murder Mysteries and swiftly became an integral part of operations, bringing his wit, enthusiasm and unique vision to our programming.

Cris McCullough
President of Board/Madame Marvella

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Cris McCullough is the sitting President of the Board of Director for the Beechwood Foundation.  In addition, she can be regularly seen in our murder mystery performances with both the Art Museum and the Architect's Inn playing a range of fun and energetic characters including the psychic "Madame Marvella."  What will your future hold?

http://www.tarotnewport.com/index.html

                                                                                        

Nikki Lawrence
Music Director/Mystery Engineer

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Nikki Lawrence is happy to be a member of the Marley Bridges Theatre Company.  She holds a B.A. in vocal performance from SUNY Geneseo and an M.A. in expressive arts therapy and mental health counseling from Lesley University.  Some of her favorite roles include Carmen from Carmen, Magda from The Consul, Mary Flynn from Merrily We Roll Along, Golde from Fiddler on the Roof, and Hucklebee from The Fantasticks.  


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