‘Unsung comedy’ coming to you live
Unboxed Productions will present ‘The Admirable Crichton’ online July 30-31 and Aug. 1-2.
Erica Spradling, a theater teacher at Ocala Charter School, will make her leading lady debut as Lady Catherine in Unboxed Productions’ online performances of “The Admirable Crichton.”
Many years ago, a shy sophomore in high school saw her friend play Lady Mary in “The Admirable Crichton” on the high school stage and said, “That’s for me!”
Those girls were Kim Sandstrom and Jan Thomas, founders of Unboxed Productions, which is based in Belleview and is a not-for-profit theater company that offers live plays through online access.
To honor Thomas, Sandstrom decided to surprise her friend by producing J. M. Barrie’s unsung comedy for their late summer season slot. As co-producer and director, Bruce Seaman, who has created an abridged edition just for the Unboxed Productions audience, said, “Author J. M. Barrie, well known as the author of Peter Pan, uses the rigid class structure of Victorian England to remind us that, in a season of severe dislocation, like being shipwrecked on an island, social change is not only possible, but inevitable.”
Because of the dual locations of this story, which are the busy streets of London and a deserted island, this will be one of UP’s most visually challenging productions, but technical director Ty Nunez of Portland, Oregon, will lead the way with his expertise.
Following the success of UP’s original production, “Almost All About Eva,” premiering both online and on stage at the Fertile Ground New Works Play Festival in Oregon last April, and the popular Moliere’s “The Imaginary Invalid” in March, “The Admirable Crichton” is the perfect mid-summer comedy to cool down with in the comfort of your home, Sandstrom offered.
Lady Brocklehurst in Unboxed Productions’ online
performances of “The Admirable Crichton.”
Set in 1900 England and on a deserted tropical island, “The Admirable Crichton” has been produced many times on stage and made into a movie at least three times, including the very popular UK version, “Paradise Lagoon.”
For the Unboxed Productions presentation, director Seaman has selected a cast of newcomers and welcomes the return of some beloved actors from previous shows.
Erica Spradling, a theater teacher at Ocala Charter School, will make her leading lady debut as Lady Catherine. She saw “The Imaginary Invalid” and said she was “wowed” by the talent and the entire experience and signed up for auditions immediately after.
Kentucky actor Dana Kisor will return as the embattled but efficient head butler Crichton. Deborah Mann of Texas returns as Lady Agatha and Majesty Ayomoon, who was Angelique in “The Imaginary Invalid” and charmed audiences with her fresh approach, will be playing leading lady, Lady Mary.
Unboxed Best Supporting Actress winner for 2025, Erin McGrew Herndon, as Miss Prism from Dallas, Texas, in “The Importance of Being Ernest,” returns as the irrepressible, naive and unwittingly funny Tweeny, named so because she is between an upstairs and downstairs maid.
Longtime season ticket holder Mia Munn, recently retired from North Carolina, will make her theater debut as Lady Brocklehurst. Munn is beloved by UP audiences for being a dinner theater host at her home for many productions, inviting friends and casting the live show to her wide screen.
Lord Loam, played by John Marengo of Salem, Oregon, brings his awarding winner talent back to the stage. He and Sandstrom are both graduates of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and have been working together in the online space for several years.
eturns as Ernest Woolley in “The Admirable Crichton.”
This image shows him in London before he and others
are shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island.
UP favorite Lee Tilson, as Ernest Woolley, returns to round out the cast of characters.
“The Admirable Crichton’s” characters discuss grand ideas about humanity in the drawing room of Lord Loam’s home. Soon, an idea forms that it would be a good idea to set sail, see the world and expand their horizons and understanding, but Mother Nature has other ideas and Loam’s daughters and servants find themselves shipwrecked and left to their own defenses on wild, deserted islands in the Caribbean.
“The Admirable Crichton,” has grown a beard after
being shipwrecked with the family of the Earl of Loam
and their butler, Crichton.
As time wears on, things dramatically change amongst the castaways. Ideas that were once considered sacrosanct now are upended. Will roles change on the island, as those who can do will do and those who can’t do either can’t or won’t?
Following each show’s curtain call, audience members are invited to “talk back” with the actors and director and be included in drawings for giveaways and live auction items, including a large stunning wooden candle holder made by Mia Munn for this show.
Unboxed Productions describes itself as a “mostly online theater company” but they have brought live stage productions, such as the murder mystery, “Who Made a Killin’ at the Kentucky Derby” for a GFWC fundraiser and a fundraiser at Temple Beth Sholom for the recovery community.
Team members traveled to Oregon for the world premiere of “Almost All About Eva” and recently were informed that Sandstrom’s original show, created for UP, has been selected to premier outside of festival status on The Goshen Theater’s theater season in March of 2027 and is currently being considered by several other theaters for their 2027 season.
Even with UP’s expansion into other theaters around the country, Thomas shared, “We started out online and we continue to get better and better at it and our faithful audiences prove it.”
“The Admirable Crichton” will be performed July 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 1 and 2 at 4 p.m. UP is a not-for-profit theater company and the suggested donation for a link is $15. Links may be purchased online and you may use your link to see all four shows. Links may not be shared with other households unless approved by production team.
Unboxed Productions always selects a local charity to give a portion of proceeds to and has have selected Wear Gloves for “The Admirable Crichton.”
UP has selected its September show, “Threads of Memory” by Palm Beach playwright Michael Levitian, which will feature local actors Teri Schwartz and Eric Spradling and be directed by UP board member Diana Grogg. “Threads of Memory” follows a Russian Jewish immigrant family, fleeing the pograms of Russia for America. Levitian will be available after each show for discussions about his work.
For those who may be interested in performing with Unboxed Productions, the variety show cabaret fundraiser will be directed by Dana Kisor. Send photo, biography and act information to [email protected]
To obtain your link for “The Admirable Crichton,” go to unboxedproductions.org
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