KID DETECTIVE, a Bildungsroman

By Weston Scott

THE STORY: Penny Pepper is known as a Kid Detective Extraordinaire, from solving mysteries about missing lunch money to finding Mrs. O'Harran's lost schnauzer. But when a serial killer slaughters all the other detectives in town, Penny gets promoted to the actual police force out of necessity. Will she be able to keep dispensing her own junior-sized justice, or will the grim inevitability of death slowly cloud her mind? One thing's for sure- when you're ten and a half years old, it's all downhill from there!

Rated PG; ages 12+ for simulated murder and death

Cast

Penny Pepper

Emy McGuire

Georgiana Kufferath

Reanna Rohrer

Benji Blake (Cheif U/S)

Aidan Blank

VP Mallow/Mom (Ashley U/S)

Madison Demaris

Cheif Bucanan

Matt Hindmarch

Ashley Arnold

Erin Banthoff

Officer Chumley, Some Kid (Benji U/S)

Sam Lustig

Swing for Penny & Georgiana

Katie Brownlee

Design Team

  • Lexie Lazear

    DIRECTOR

    Lexie (she/her) has been in love with story telling since she could talk. Starting as a performer in childhood, she eventually expanded into designing hair, makeup, and the occasional prop. Almost 10 years ago, she was approached to direct and she’s been pursuing directing since.

    Community theatre is a Third Space, and everyone deserves accessible, affordable, exciting theater. It should be a space where everyone feels seen and valued; a space that sparks joy and starts conversations.

    This show has been a team effort and a labor of love, and she hopes it sets the vibe for all future Shifted Lens endeavors. Enjoy the show!

  • Clove Love

    STAGE MANAGER

    Clove Love (they/them) is a disabled and non-binary Theatre Artist based in the Denver Metro Area. They are a Director, Intimacy Director, Playwright, Stage Manager, and overall Multidisciplinary Theatre Artist. Recently, they closed Cabaret at Breckenridge Backstage Theatre as Intimacy Director, and The Vagina Monologues with Theatre Company of Lafayette as Assistant Director. Clove feels so grateful to have been a part of this production and wants to thank Lexie for her tremendous belief in Clove as an artist. Up Next, you can catch Clove's Directorial Debut of a Staged Reading on September 20th with Shifted Lens Theatre Company's Fresh Looks Festival, and their Playwright Debut of a Staged Reading with And Toto too Theatre Company's Queer Reading Series on September 3rd. You can find them on Instagram: @clovedirects or explore their offerings at their Website: cloveslove.com

  • Pluto Boll

    SOUND DESIGN & Asst DIRECTOR

    Pluto Boll (they/them) is an actor, director, composer, and sound designer hailing from Florida. They enjoy noise and the making of it. Most notably, they co-wrote the music for Shifted Lens’ upcoming production of The Legend of Anne Bonny, and are so excited to finish arranging it for the stage this summer. Make sure to check it out!

  • Camden Hornor

    ASST STAGE MANAGER & BOARD OP

    Camden (she/her) is currently a BFA Stage Management student at CU Boulder graduating in December. She has been a part of productions with The Arts Hub, Theatre Silco, Blunt Force Drama, Insight Collab Theatre, Longmont Out Loud, and CU productions with CU Presents and Sandbox Student Series. This is her first production with Shifted Lens Theatre Company, but an addition to a list of great productions with this wonderful group of thespians. She is very excited to be working on her first new work/world premiere and hopes you enjoy the show!

  • Cheri Bauman

    LIGHTING DESIGNER

  • Anja Oss

    RUN CREW

  • Katie Antonelli

    RUN CREW

The Cast

  • Emy McGuire

    PENNY PEPPER

    Emy McGuire is a professional actor, author, playwright, and pirate with a BA in Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies/Creative Writing from the New College of Florida. She has toured nationally with the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy and had her original, queer pirate musical produced as part of the 2024 Fresh Works Festival through Shifted Lens. Emy strives to be a storyteller whether that means playing a renaissance fair queen, sailing to foreign countries, or writing spooky books about the sea. Learn more about her work at emymcguire.com.

  • Reanna Rohrer

    GEORGIANA KUFFERATH

    Reanna is excited to make her Denver debut in Kid Detective. She's currently a Resident Teaching Artist for Artist Year which is an Americorps organization dedicated to addressing inequities in Arts Education for K-12 students. She holds a B.F.A. in Theatre Studies from Nebraska Wesleyan University, with a focus in Musical Theatre, Playwriting, and Theatre Leadership. Reanna has taught & performed across the midwest with notable roles including Martha in Spring Awakening (Stage Award Nomination), Jo March in Little Women, and Middle Alison in Fun Home. She is grateful for her wonderful support system. @ranae_rohrer

  • Aidan Blank

    BENJI BLAKE (CHIEF U/S)

    Aidan Blank is a Denver-area actor, physical performer, and movement choreographer that graduated with a BFA in Theatre in 2022. His recent roles include: Captain Jack Absolute in The Rivals (The Upstart Crow Theatre Co.), Ensemble/Mover in collision ≠ isolation (m00nf00d productions), and Benji/Chief Buchanan in the original staged reading of this production (Shifted Lens Theatre Co). They are super excited for you to see this show and enjoy all the laughs we’ve been having during the rehearsal process! Enjoy Kid Detective! Instagram: @aidan_blank

    *insert air guitar solo here*

  • Madison Demaris

    VP MALLOW/MOM (ASHELY U/S)

    Chapman University: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, DNA, Dogfight, Cross the Line - Devised Show, The Wolves NCT: Silent Sky, Peter and The Starcatcher, Addams Family. Madison is proud to make her Denver debut in Kid Detective. Chapman University Theatre & Political Science B.A.s. Production Work for Chapman: The Vagina Monologues (Producer), American Idiot (Costume Designer), Way Deep (Costume Designer & Dresser), Lysistrata (Costume Construction, Dresser), DNA (Costume Design Assistant), NCT: The Little Mermaid (Director), The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley (Director). Madison wants to thank her support system, the whole Kid Detective team, and the audience for being a part of this magical journey.

  • Matt Hindmarch

    CHIEF BUCHANAN

    Denver credits:  The Legend of Georgia McBride at Vintage Theatre; Tiny Beautiful Things, These Shining Lives and The Odd Couple at Firehouse Theater; and Mindgame at Wheat Ridge Theatre.  Matt has also performed in Seattle, Portland, Ashland, Santa Maria, Solvang and Los Angeles.  Some of his favorite plays in which to have appeared:  Henry V and Our Town (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Romeo and Juliet, Sweeney Todd and The Fantasticks (Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts); and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Willamette Repertory).  When he was quite a young lad, Matt will admit to having a massive crush on Honey Wheeler from the Trixie Belden mystery series.

  • Erin Banthoff

    ASHLEY ARNOLD

    Erin is a Denver-based theatrical artist who is always on the hunt for the next creative opportunity. By day, she helps manage the nation’s longest-running disability theatre, Phamaly Theatre Company, on staff as Operations Manager. By night, she is trying to find time for everything else: performance, podcasting, costuming, design, directing, making delicious food, and spending time with her beloved pets. She is thankful for her supportive circle, including her awesome husband, Jeremy.

  • Sam Lustig

    Officer Chumley/Some Kid (Benji U/S)

    Sam graduated this past spring from the University of Colorado’s Theater Department with a BFA in Performance. Sam has been acting in school productions since the 8th Grade. This is Sam’s second professional theater production outside of school. The first being Pink Man or The Only Indian in the Room written by Marty Strenczewilk at the Dairy Arts Center during this year's First Story Teller’s Festival. Sam loves it all when it comes to theater, but in particular Sam is passionate about physical comedy, with his favorite roles including Ivan Khlestakov in The Government Inspector and Max in The Play That Goes Wrong; Sam is hopeful to one day become a certified clown. Outside of theater, Sam is passionate about first generation rock n’ roll; his favorites include The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, and Bob Dylan.

  • Katie Brownlee

    SWING - PENNY & GEORGIANA

    Katie recently made her Denver debut in The Prom at The Arts Hub. Prior to moving to Colorado, she lived in Indianapolis where her latest credits include The Arsonists and A Bold Stroke for a Husband. When she's not acting like 10 year olds on stage, she's teaching them in her 4th grade classroom. She gives a big thanks to her friends and family for always being there to support her, as well as the Denver theatre community for welcoming her with open arms!