(520) 327 - 4242
livetheatreworkshop@gmail.com
February 21 - March 16
by Ron Clark & Sam Bobrick
Directed by Leslie J. Miller
Is all fair in love? Even murder? That’s the question posed by this light and funny suspense comedy about a love triangle in a Howard Johnson Motor Inn. In the first scene, the wife and her lover plot to murder the husband. In the second scene, the wife and her husband are plotting to murder the lover. The third scene has the husband and the lover plotting to murder the wife. A comedy of errors, missteps, and total pandemonium ensues as this trio finds all the wrong ways to fall in love, get revenge, and try to live happily ever after. Murder at The Howard Johnson’s by Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick runs February 21st through March 16th, 2025. Showings Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm. Directed by Leslie J. Miller and starring Jodi Ajanovic, Stephen Frankenfield, and Steve McKee. Sundays at 3:00 pm. Tickets start at $25.00.
Purchase TicketsPreviews:
Opening Night: February 21st, 2025
Regular Performances:
Fridays at 7:30: Feb. 21st, 28th, March 7th, 14th
Saturdays at 7:30: Feb. 22nd, March 1st, 8th, 15th
Sundays at 3:00: Feb. 23rd, March 2nd, 9th, 16th
Jodi Ajanovic
Jodi Ajanovic
Jodi Ajanovic (Arlene) originally hails from the Midwest where she studied Theatre Performance at Indiana State University. Upon graduation, she was the proud recipient of the Tisch-Capson Dramatic Writing fellowship from New York University and the Glenville Performance fellowship from the Oxford Dramatic Society. After her studies, Jodi performed with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Edyvena Repertory Theatre, and the Bunbury Theatre. Jodi is excited to be back at Live Theatre Workshop, where she most recently directed the Tuna series which included A TUNA CHRISTMAS and RED, WHITE AND TUNA. Some of Jodi’s favorite roles here at LTW include Ana in CLEAN HOUSE, Rose in DANCING AT LUGHNASA, Helen in BABY WITH THE BATHWATER, and Miss Skillon in SEE HOW THEY RUN, for which she was nominated for a MAC award by the Arizona Daily Star. Most recently Jodi completed a run at Winding Road Theatre in the role of Emma in STUPID FUCKING BIRD. She has played on the Etcetera Stage in THE BALTIMORE WALTZ and wrote EXISTENCE OF FAIRIES for the All Together Theatre at LTW.
Stephen Frankenfield
Stephen Frankenfield
Stephen Frankenfield (Mitchell) is LTW’s Associate Artistic Director. He is a graduate of (AAMDA) American Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in New York City. LTW has been his second home for over 25 years, both for acting and directing. Some of his notable acting credits include: STONES IN HIS POCKET, THE GAME’S AFOOT OR, HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAY, I HATE HAMLET, and TUNA CHRISTMAS. Some of his directing credits include: MOON OVER BUFFALO and SOUVENIR. He writes and directs for LTW’s Children’s Theatre, as well as the Education Department. He has had 7 of his plays published and produced around the world, in schools and other youth organizations. He’d like to give a big thank you to his two boys who continue to inspire him everyday, on and off stage.
Steve McKee
Steve McKee
Steve McKee (Paul) is excited to be back on the Mainstage at Live Theatre Workshop. He was previously seen in 2023’s production ON THE VERGE, as well as SHOW PEOPLE and was also featured in ENCHANTED APRIL and PHOTOGRAPH 51, along with several Children’s Theatre productions. Thanks to Stephen and Jodi as well as the production crew for the opportunity to be a part of this show. Steve’s (other) favorite roles include Roger Debris in THE PRODUCERS and Alan in GOD OF CARNAGE. Steve also performs regularly with The Rogue Theatre and Gaslight Theatre, along with any group that will have him! Thanks for supporting live entertainment, and enjoy the show!!
Leslie J. Miller
Leslie J. Miller
Leslie J. Miller (Director) is grateful to have been part of bringing stories to life on the Live Theatre Workshop stage on and off for the past 20 years since moving from Utah. Some of her favorite directing credits include ENCHANTED APRIL, THE CLEAN HOUSE, THE GIRL WHO SWALLOWED A CACTUS, and THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP. Collaborating with this incredible creative team and working with these three talented actors—some of her favorite faces to see onstage—has been an absolute joy. Leslie would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Lydia Grey and Valerie Nixon for their fearless exploration of character and self. Special thanks to Steve Miller for his love and support, and to Marty Aaron, her high school drama teacher—proof that one person’s guidance can make a lifelong difference. Forty years later, she’s still doing what she loves, and he was her first mentor. Here’s to another fantastic production—enjoy the show!
Alex Tash
Alex Tash
Alex Tash, she/they (Stage Manager) is excited to be back at LTW stage managing for MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON’S. Previously, she has managed THE OTHER PLACE, ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE, and RUMORS, although you may have seen her running the LTW box office over the past few years. She would like to give a huge shout out to the cast and crew for their enthusiasm and flexibility throughout the rehearsal process, this show wouldn’t be half as funny as it is without all of their hard work!
Monet Zuniga
Monet Zuniga
Monet Zuniga, she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be working on Live Theatre Workshop’s production of The Murder at the Howard Johnson’s. While this production marks her first step in working with the greater Tucson community, she has worked on a few different shows for her high school, Salpointe Catholic High School. She has worked backstage for their production of THE BOOK OF WILL, and stage-managed both INTO THE WOODS, and HADESTOWN; the latter of which performed at the Arizona Thespian Festival, and won full superiors at the National level. She is extremely passionate about all things theater, especially technical theater, and owes her success to her Mother, mentors, and her little pup Pip!
Richard Gremel
Richard Gremel
Richard Gremel (Lighting Designer/Technical Advisor) has been lighting the LTW stage for the past 16 years. His lighting designs have also been seen on other Tucson stages in the past. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona where he received a B.F.A. in Theatre Education. Richard is the acting and technical theatre teacher at Empire High School. He is the recipient of the Arizona Thespians Teacher of the year (2017-2018 & 2023-2024) and the OnMedia Tucson Arts Hero (2018-2019). Aside from teaching, Richard acts, directs, and writes plays for the LTW stage. He currently has 11 published plays which have been seen all over the United States, Canada, India, Hong Kong, England, and Australia.
Dominick Basso
Dominick Basso
Dominick Basso (Head of Set Construction): A native of Chicago Illinois, Dominick has worked on over 60 theatrical productions either onstage, or backstage for over 4 decades. When not acting, he is usually involved in either tech directing, or set building productions for educational, non-profit, or professional productions. A recent move to Tucson, this will be his second production in Arizona, having recently performed in the Saguaro CIty Music Theatre’s production of THE WIZARD OF OZ.
Karin Hupp
Karin Hupp
Karin Hupp (Prop Master) has been the prop master for over eight years; she also does scenic painting and box office. Some of her favorite projects included the wedding cake for ONE SLIGHT HITCH, the hound from BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK MYSTERY, and the cookies from FROG AND TOAD. Favorite scenes she has painted include Dorothy Parker’s VICIOUS CIRCLE and the bookshelves in THE COLUMNIST. Karin enjoys working for LTW because it helps her grow as an artist.
Michael Zimmerman
Michael Zimmerman
Michael Zimmerman (Sound Design) is a recording artist, music director, audio engineer, and private music instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience and more than 35 years of acting and performance experience. He spent 25 years as a touring musician with Honeybeegroove and Kristen Chandler. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology, Michael moved to Tucson, AZ. He is the music director for Center for Spiritual Living Tucson, and teaches guitar, piano, voice, drums, percussion, and bass guitar as a master teacher at Music & Arts.
Christine Ralston
Christine Ralston
Christine Ralston (Costume Designer) began performing on stage at 5 years old. Ralston continued acting on stage in Utah, in film, and for the Disney Channel throughout her youth and young adult years. This stage life led her to study special effects makeup and historical costuming, giving her a creative outlet throughout life. A trained dancer of 30+ years, she has also taught dance classes and coached gymnastics in Utah and Arizona for youth and adults alike. Ralston has directed locally for Desert Crown Theater Company’s productions of ALICE IN WONDERLAND in 2022, PETER PAN in 2023 and BEAUTY & THE BEAST in 2024, as well as the 2024 annual production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL’. Thank you to Nate & the Kids for supporting her in theater works! Ralston’s Motto: “You never know who you may inspire out there. Always give your best performance! Be it an audience of 10 or 10,000. It is someone’s first show and someone’s last show.”