Olney Theatre Center's 75th Anniversary Season Continues With Angel Street

Olney Theatre Center continues its 75th Anniversary season with the Victorian thriller Angel Street, also known as Gaslight. Angel Street is playing on the Mainstage June 20 - July 14, 2013.

Angel Street focuses on a seemingly normal couple, the Manninghams. Is the handsome Jack Manningham a caring husband - or is he discreetly trying to drive his young wife Bella into insanity under the guise of kindness? It takes an extraordinarily dedicated Scotland Yard detective, the aptly named Inspector Rough, to unravel this delightfully twisted thriller.

"Angel Street is a perfect show to tie in with our 75th Anniversary. It was written in 1938, the same year that Olney Theatre Center opened. The show is also is connected to the history of Olney Theatre Center and was last produced at the Theatre in 1950," says Director John Going who has directed close to 50 plays at Olney Theatre Center. "The play harkens back to a style of theatre which was a staple during our early days as a StrawHat Theatre."

Leading the cast as the Manninghams are Olney Theatre Center veterans Julie-Ann Elliott (Bella Manningham) and Jeffries Thaiss (Mr. Manningham). Ms. Elliott and Mr. Thaiss have appeared in a number of Olney Theatre Center productions together, including Dinner with Friends, Is He Dead?, The Mousetrap, Enemy of the People, Hedda Gabbler, and The Heiress.

Alan Wade returns to Olney Theatre Center as Inspector Rough. Mr. Wade began his association with Olney Theatre Center as a member of the National Players, America's longest-running classical touring company. He has appeared in many Mainstage productions including : Witness for the Prosecution, Farragut North, Copenhagen, Charley's Aunt, Tartuffe, Art, Holiday Memories, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Importance of Being Earnest, Voice of the Prairie, Fallen Angels, and When We Were Married.

Laura Giannarelli plays the Manningham's Housekeeper Nancy. Ms. Gainnarelli made her professional acting debut at Olney Theatre Center in 1978 in the play Juno and the Paycock. She is a founding member of the Washington Stage Guild has appeared in more than 40 productions with that company over the past 27 seasons. She also toured with the Kennedy Center's production of Dreams in the Golden Country.

Rounding out the cast are three Olney Theatre Center newcomers- Craig Allen, Matt Boliek and Dylan Silver.

"It's always important to look back before leaping forward, and all of us at Olney - the staff, the artists and the audiences - can do just that with Angel Street. The return of such seasoned veterans both behind the scenes and onstage is extraordinarily special," says Olney Theatre Center Artistic Director Jason Loewith.