Director’s Note

For my first time ever directing a full length play, I took on quite a challenge: directing an original play that has never before been staged. In other words, everything had to be done from scratch. The atmosphere of the show, the magical effects, the design, the character interpretations, even the very script itself was up in the air, and I was the one who had to

decide. There were times I was overwhelmed and questioned whether I should have left this particular show to someone with more experience. Luckily, I was surrounded by people with experience, ideas, and perspectives I wouldn’t have considered on my own. This show wouldn’t

have even been close to possible without the input and help of the entire cast and crew. It really has been one of the most collaborative shows I have ever worked on, and for that I am eternally grateful. So as you watch this show, please give the credit where it is due: to every person on the stage, behind the stage, and up in the tech booth. To every person who sacrificed their weekends to help with painting, set construction, filming, and promotion. To every person who donated their own personal items for props and costume pieces. To every person who

offered up their ideas for practical effects, lights, and sound. Their names are all on the next page, and none of this could have been done without them.

Produced by 4th Wall Players

There will be a 15 minute intermission following Act 1

Content Warning: This show contains dark themes, including abuse and death onstage.

Cast Bios

Mallery Beard (Moira) has been called back to the stage bringing life to an original play, Moira Rising. This is not her first time with 4th Wall Players. Prior to this, she played Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion, and had her stage debut last year in An Evening with Alice, playing two different characters, Agnes Dorchester and Maggie. She’s also worked behind the scenes with social media marketing and co-stage managing for Wuthering Heights, another 4th Wall show. When she’s not in theater she’s working full time in a welding shop with Wilhelm Construction, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Shawntae Buchanan The Dark Matron (Rowan): Making her debut with the 4th Wall Players, her theatrical journey began with Garfield Shakespeare Company’s Macbeth, where she brought an air of darkness and mystery as the First Witch. Drawn to the beauty of the macabre and the allure of the dramatic, she is delighted to continue exploring the darker corners of storytelling and bringing compelling characters to life. She hopes you’ll join her and this hard working cast into a world of magic, mystery, and enchantment, and looks forward to many more opportunities to bring such extraordinary stories to life.

Chris FitzPatrick (Torren) is thrilled to channel the mystical arts as Torren in 4th Wall Players’ original production of Moira Rising. He has a lifelong love of portraying dark, villainous characters, most recently appearing in the role of Count Dracula for Hendricks Civic Theatre. In the real world, he works as a fantasy miniature sculptor and game designer, and his creations can be seen at Crocodile Games. Chris extends his sincere gratitude to his fellow cast and crew for conjuring such a memorable show, and a warm “thank you” to the audience for joining the circle tonight.

Simeon Fowler (Mattheson) is excited to debut with 4th Wall Players in this production! He’s been in the community for a couple of years. Taking part in 12 Daze of Christmas (Gerald), Dracula (Crew/Batcifer), and The Sound of Music (crew). When not memorizing lines he does fencing, martial arts and ballroom dancing! He’d like to thank all his friends, family, and production who helped to make all of this possible! Oh, and just one more thing, you gotta believe to succeed!

Harley Foxworthy (Iona) is so excited to make their debut with 4th Wall Players in this production! They have been in the community theatre space for about 3 years now having been in shows like Anastasia (ensemble), Dracula (Renfield), The Sound of Music (Ensemble) and more! When they aren’t on stage, you can find Harley either working at the venue they run or at home working on a random craft. Harley would like to thank the friends they have made through the theatre space for continuing to encourage them as they branch out!

Amanda Horcher (Hazel) works at the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library. She has sung with the Hendricks Symphonic Choir for three seasons. Since returning to theatre in 2025, she has played Gloria Rasputin in Bye Bye Birdie, Mr. Cecil Graham in Lady Windermere’s Fan, and Countess Andrenyi in Murder on the Orient Express. Behind the curtain, Amanda has served as the Stage Manager and Prop Manager for Dracula and Prop Manager for Seussified Christmas Carol. Amanda thanks her family for always supporting her in her journey.

Omar Jurdi (Gwydion) is glad to be back among family, having performed with 4th Wall Players in multiple productions including Beauty and The Beast: Not Your Parent’s Fairytale, Tartuffe, Grotesque of Notre Dame, Evening with Alice, and Lady Windermere’s Fan. Other productions include Trojan Women and Richard III by Garfield Shakespeare Company as well as Dial “M” for Murder and A Christmas Chaos by Drama in the Basement. He is looking forward to bringing Gwydion, a whimsical and sincere mystical character, to life in this production.

David Moore (Duncan/King James) makes his 4th Wall Players debut. A Kirkwood Award nominated writer, game master, and Manager of Engineering, he’s usually found wrangling words, dice, or engineers. He’s having a great time and is grateful for the opportunity to work with the entire cast and production crew.

Erin Moore (Agnes) makes her 4th Wall Players debut as Agnes. A familiar face at Hendricks County Theater, she has appeared there as Mrs. Cratchit and Solicitor 1 in A Christmas Carol, in Kris Kringle and A Few Good Men, and as Miss Wells in Dracula. Offstage, Erin is an avid Star Wars role-player and lore buff who dotes on her pets. She thanks her family for their unwavering support.

Kristen Paarlberg (Willow): Kristen went 4/4 for 4th Wall Players productions this year, and she has had a blast doing so! She enjoyed the fact that this show is an original, which allowed her to create her character almost from scratch (with a wonderful script to lead the way!). When she is not on stage, Kristen is a pet sitter and lives in Greenfield with her husband Matt and their fur children, Biscuit and Benji. She would like to thank her husband for all of his support and hopes everyone enjoys this magical show!

Lacy Taylor (Juniper) is excited to be in her second 4th Wall production! She made her debut last year in Pygmalion, playing multiple roles as the Taxi-person and the maid. She is thrilled to be a part of this production and would like to thank her friends and family for supporting her in this opportunity.

Cast

Moira: Mallery Beard

Gwydion: Omar Jurdi

Torren: Chris FitzPatrick

Willow: Kristen Paarlberg

Rowan: Shawntae Buchanan

Hazel: Amanda Horcher

Juniper: Lacy Taylor

Mattheson: Simeon Fowler

Iona: Harley Foxworthy

King James: David Moore

Agnes: Erin Moore

Duncan: David Moore

Ensemble: Amanda Horcher, Erin Moore,

Chris FitzPatrick, Harley Foxworthy, Zach Moore

Crew

Director: Kelli Gibson

Assistant Director: Josh Gibson

Costuming and Props: Katherine Gibson, Shawntae Buchanan, Amanda Horcher, Chris FitzPatrick, Joel “Jewel” Wolfe

Set Painting: Shawntae Buchanan, Chris FitzPatrick, Kara Galloway, Josh Gibson, Katie Buchholz

Set Construction: Aaron Mann, Josh Gibson, Chris FitzPatrick

Sound Design: Joel “Jewel” Wolfe

Videography: Kelly McKinney, Katie Buchholz

Light and Sound Board: Kelly McKinney

Stage Crew: Tracy Fouts, Josh Gibson, Katherine Gibson, Zach Moore

Special Thanks

Oaklandon Unitarian Universalist Church

Fonseca Theatre Company

Epilogue Players

Indy Ghostlight

4 th Wall Board

Eric Bowman

Felicity FitzPatrick

Greg Dobbs

Coming Soon