Online Program for THE ODD COUPLE

• Felix — KEVIN  HELMER
• Oscar — CRISTÓBAN MORONES
• Murray — TODD PHILLIPS
• Roy — TIM WILLIAMS 
• Vinnie — ADAN MORONES
• Speed — RILEY NICHOLS 
• Gwendolyn — V COUCH
• Cecily — CINDY HUGHES

SETTING:  An apartment on Riverside Drive, New York City

ACT ONE:

• Scene I:  A hot summer night

INTERMISSION — 10 minutes

ACT TWO:

• Scene I:  Two weeks later. About 11:00 p.m.
• Scene 2:  A few days later. About 8:00 p.m. 

INTERMISSION — 10 minutes

ACT III:

• Scene I:  About 7:30 p.m.

NO PHOTOS, NO VIDEO OR RECORDING — Our leasing contracts prohibit photos, videos and recordings. 

NEIL SIMON (Playwright) was born in The Bronx, New York City, in 1927. He wrote more than 30 plays and nearly the same number of movie screenplays, mostly film adaptations of his plays. 

He received three Tony Awards and a Golden Globe Award, and was awarded a Special Tony Award in 1975, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1991, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1995 and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2006. 

His first Broadway play was Come Blow Your Horn in 1961, followed by Barefoot in the Park, his longest running Broadway play, in 1963, and The Odd Couple, for which he earned a Tony, in 1965. 

From the 1960s to the 1980s, he wrote for stage and screen; some of his screenplays were based on his own works for the stage. His style ranged from farce to romantic comedy to more serious dramatic comedy. Overall, he garnered 17 Tony nominations and won three awards. 

In 1966, he had four successful productions running on Broadway at the same time and, in 1983, he became the only living playwright to have a New York theatre, the Neil Simon Theatre, named in his honor. Simon passed away in 2018 in New York City.

• Director — JULIE GEBHARDT-KILCULLIN
• Stage Manager — TAMMY MILLER
• Assistant Stage Manager — LaCHANDA MAXIE
• Costumes — NANCY SMITH
• Set Construction — 
• Lighting — BRIAN OSWALD
• Sound — GINA JONES, CHRIS SPENCE, and STEVE CHANDLER
• Lamp-Liter — KYRI CLEVENGER
• Preshow Announcement — NORM MARKWORTH
• Company Display — LISA NORMAN
• Featured Artist — FAITH KOLOSCI
• Cabinet in Lobby — ROZ COUCH
• Photography — CLAY BOSTIAN, CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
• Website — BILL KING
• Social Media — ALYSSA FAYKUS-SMITH, LaCHANDA MAXIE, and SUE WHATLEY
• Programs — KLINES / WRAP-IT-UP
• Patron Ticketing — MIKE MOORE and LISA NORMAN

Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple is iconic. The material has been a play, a film, and two television series. My first exposure to Neil Simon came on Friday nights in the 1970’s. We watched The Odd Couple as a family. The sound of my parents’ laughter is a cherished memory now that they have both passed on. 

When I began this production, I was driven by that nostalgia Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple is iconic. The material has been a play, a film, and two television series. My first exposure to Neil Simon came on Friday nights in the 1970’s. We watched The Odd Couple as a family. The sound of my parents’ laughter is a cherished memory now that they have both passed on. When I began this production, I was driven by that nostalgia and the strong need to find that joyful common ground that laughter gives as a gift to each of us. 

This is an amazing cast. Each member has their own comic talent, and I hope we have captured that spirit of comedic common ground. I wanted to remember a simpler time before individual screens and streaming, when our culture was more connected by shared experiences and a shared humor. So, relax and forget your cares for a little while. Enjoy the show. And just laugh.

— Julie Gebhardt-Kilcullen, Director

Melissa Rogers grew up in Nacogdoches and graduated from NHS in 1989. She attended SFA's School of Art and majored in ceramics and minored in sculpture. 

Though trained in 3D art, 2D art is a consistent medium of exploration for her. Melissa's art explores curvilinear styles, pregnant forms, and the appearance of fullness, using feminine motifs, color, movement, and texture. Her 2D pieces are crafted using graphite, Prismacolor pencils, ink, and charcoal. 

Melissa is the mother to four children, and a Mimi to two sweet granddaughters.

PENELOPE WINSLETT is nine years old and is delighted to be a Lamp-Liter for The Odd Couple. Previously, she made her stage debut as an orphan in Annie. Offstage, Penelope enjoys sewing, violin, and volleyball. Next, you can catch her playing Gladys in the upcoming Lamp-Lite production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

HISTORY OF THE LAMP-LITER

Throughout Lamp-Lite’s first fifty seasons, a child aged 5-10 years has brought the LIGHTS UP on each production of the Regular Lamp-Lite Theatre Season. On OPENING NIGHT, the Lamp-Liter walks onto the stage, waves their wand, and brings the lights up on the stage to begin the first performance of the production.

CRISTÓBAN MORONES (Oscar Madison) has been an acting regular at Lamp-Lite since 2024, appearing in such shows as The Lion in Winter, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Hello, Dolly!, Black Comedy, The Mouse Trap, Oliver!, 12th Night, You Can’t Take It With You, Barefoot in the Park, and Annie. He thanks his family and friends for their encouragement to continue performing on stage. 

Holding a BA in Theater Performance from McMurry University, KEVIN HELMER (Felix Unger) brings extensive experience as a theater instructor, actor, and director. Favorite roles include John Wilkes Booth in Assassins and Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, alongside directing productions, including The Trip to Bountiful. 

Having worked with Lubbock Community Theatre and Lamp-Lite Theatre, Kevin serves as Technology Director for Garrison ISD, residing in Garrison with his wife, Becky.

TODD PHILLIPS (Murray) is a native of Nacogdoches and graduated from NHS and SFA. At Lamp-Lite, he has performed in Born Yesterday, All the King’s Men, Fiddler on the Roof, Brigadoon, Mary, Mary, The Glass Menagerie, The One-Act Play that Goes Wrong, Hiding Addison, The Lion in Winter, Hello, Dolly!, Oliver!, and Twelfth Night. 

He’s excited about The Odd Couple and its cast of class clowns. 

TIM WILLIAMS (Roy) is thrilled to work with this ensemble in The Odd Couple. He recently had the pleasure of playing David in Watch on the Rhine at the Pines in Lufkin as well asMr. Kirby in You Can’t Take It With You and Mr. Velasco in Barefoot in the Park at Lamp-Lite. 

Tim enjoys spending time with his wife and two children—mostly watching movies he’s already seen.

ADAN MORONES (Vinnie) is a senior at SFA studying IT with a minor in Computer Science. Graduating in December, he hopes to make video games that inspire a new generation of thinkers. Notable roles at Lamp-Lite include Ed in You Can’t Take It With You, Fred McCracken in Annie, and Curio in 12th Night. 

Adan enjoys playing volleyball, fixing things, and playing video games. 

RILEY NICHOLS (Speed) is 23 years old and has been trying to entertain others all his life. He's been doing this since he was able to stand, and he figures he'll be doing it until his legs don't work anymore. He loves to do everything on and off the stage. Riley is very grateful to work with such talented friends. 

GENEVIEVE “V” COUCH (Gwendolyn Pigeon) is a lifelong Nac Rat, participating in local theatre for 20 years. Having most recently appeared as Lily St. Regis in Annie, she is excited to return to the theatrical world of Neil Simon after assuming the role of Corie Bratter in Barefoot in the Park last February. 

Between appearing onstage at Lamp-Lite and teaching English courses full time at SFASU, she enjoys thrifting, writing, and playing Dungeons & Dragons. 

CYNTHIA HUGHES (Cecily Pigeon) last appeared in the chorus of Hello, Dolly! and is excited to return to the stage in The Odd Couple as Cecily Pigeon, a warmhearted whirlwind of quick wit, infectious energy, and delightful spontaneity. 

She is thrilled to share Cecily’s sparkling spirit with audiences and is grateful to the director, cast, and crew for creating this hilarious, heartwarming theatrical adventure together.

JULIE GEBHARDT-KILCULLEN (Director) was born and raised in Southern California. She moved with

her family to Nacogdoches in 1999. She is a graduate of CSULB and SFA. She taught for Nacogdoches and Garrison school districts before retiring in May. She directed the Bulldog Theatre Company for 11 years at Garrison High School. 

This is her second production with the Lamp-lite. She co-directed You Can’t Take It With You last season.

TAMMY MILLER (Stage Manager) has been a lifelong lover of the arts for as long as she can remember. She made her Lamp-Lite stage debut this past summer as Mrs. Greer in Annie and is delighted to make her backstage debut with The Odd Couple. Tammy thanks Davy, a Lamp-Lite Players’ board member, and Director Julie for entrusting her with backstage management.

Her greatest blessings are Jesus, motherhood, and being a “Cookie” to her grandchildren. She is grateful for her family’s support as she embraces her theatrical bug!

LaCHANDA HOLCOMB MAXIE (Assistant Stage Manager) has been in many productions at Lamp-Lite.

She loves the opportunities to play different characters and be a part of amazing productions. She appreciates the opportunity to help on the crew of this production. She was the Assistant Director in the most recent production of Private Lives and was last seen onstage in Annie as a Hooverette. 

LaChanda is the proud mother of Caprice Hale and Grammy to Bailey, Makenna and Bradley, Jr. who inspire her to love, laugh, and live every moment.

KIRSTEN BAKER (Running Crew) is thrilled to work with this cast and crew for her first crew experience. She recently appeared as Annelle in Lamp-Lite’s spring production, Steel Magnolias. She extends her heartfelt thanks to her friends and family for their unwavering support.

SCOTT CIGICH (Set Construction) moved to Nacogdoches two years ago with his wife, Judy, and they immediately bought season tickets to Lamp-Lite. He first became involved while striking the set of Steel Magnolias and since then has helped with set construction for Private Lives and Annie. For The Odd Couple, he worked with Ken and Brian to create the set. He looks forward to future set construction and involving others in this rewarding work.

ALYSSA FAYKUS-SMITH (Props Master) is the creative director of her photography business, Open Hearted Media. She loves to volunteer and serves as vice-chair for Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful, is a board member on the Nacogdoches CVB Board, and is the Publicity Chair for the Lamp-Lite Players. 

She is a published playwright and loves making art with the Lamp-Lite Players.

KYLIE HUTTO (Running Crew) was born and raised in Nacogdoches where music and theatre have been a big part of her life. She performed in Lamp-Lite’s 2008 production of Oliver! and performed three leading female roles in UIL One-Act Plays. She returned home in 2020 after marrying in 2018. 

Kylie is excited to return to the Lamp-Lite community and to work backstage for the first time.

SAMANTHA JOHNSON (Lighting Assistant) believes that there is something magical about being among people who take time from their busy lives to breathe life into stories. Favorite roles include the following: Lotty Wilton/Enchanted, Duke Senior/As You Like It, Jessica/Women Playing Hamlet, Olivia/12th Night, Morgan/Godspell, Florence Unger/The Odd Couple, Mother/Barefoot in the Park.

ELAINE LAMBRIGHT (Props/ Running Crew / Set / Scene Setters) came o Lamp-Lite in 2020 after retirement, ending a 50-year hiatus from theatre. She has been onstage and backstage in several shows, recently portraying Clairee in Steel Magnolias and serving as Workshop Flunkie for this summer’s Actors’ Workshop. She writes, makes art, talks to animals, frustrates her sweet husband, avoids housework, and challenges authority whenever possible.

LINDA LICHT (Running Crew) has been involved in some or another in many Lamp-Lite shows over the last 15 years, and she has loved every one. Keep your eyes peeled around town in the coming months, you may find her singing here and there.

AMY MAURER (Running Crew) has been in many Lamp-Lite productions since moving to Nacogdoches in 2006. She is excited to be a part of this production of The Odd Couple and looks forward to being involved with many more productions in the future. In her spare time she enjoys traveling with, watching sports with, and just otherwise being around her husband, Michael.

BRIAN OSWALD (Set Construction) recently retired from SFA in August. Brian typically works lighting but for The Odd Couple he has assisted in building the set.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.  It will be directed by Cristóban Morones.

A couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids, probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem — and the fun — when the Herdmans collide head-on with the story of Christmas!

The cast includes Paige Paulette (as Grace Bradley), Alan Gaska (Bob Bradley), Madie Boyer (Beth Bradley), Robert McDermand (Charlie Bradley), Maddox Gaond (Ralph Herdman), Londyn Aycock (Imogene Herdman), Stihl Adams (Leroy Herdman), Amirabella Higginbotham (Claude Herdman), Kinsley Baeza (Ollie Herdman), and Penelope Winslett (Gladys Herdman).

Also appearing are Heather Patterson, Carrie Butler Swann, Tammy Miller, Dakota Hauff, Ember Finch Stewart, Mars Scharer, Jeremiah Winslett, Faithlyn Stockman, Cadence Glazener, Kenzie Clark, Grayson Fos, JoJo Contreras, and Graham Payne.

TICKETS will be available for purchase online beginning on November 2, 2026.

OPENING NIGHT will be on Thursday, December 17, 2026.

For a synopsis of the upcoming plays the entire 2026-27 season, click on the button below.