Groundlings Theater

09/19/2026

Thank you to The Waunakee Tribune for the 9/18/26 (most of) cast pic in print!

09/18/2026

Vicar Leonard Clement (Mike Schuster) shares a bit of light reading with some of the cast at tonight's rehearsal of Murder at the Vicarage. ⛪🕵️‍♀️

Alice C. M. Kwok, Saksham Nagpal, Maddie O'Keefe, Molly Maslin, Mike Schuster, Christie Parry Hammond, Deb Johnson Nies, Hannah Nies, Melissa Graham, Ignacio Meneses, Birdie La Barre

09/15/2026

We're absolutely delighted to welcome back to the Groundlings stage, Michelle Butcher. She has been a strong supporter from our (very) humble beginnings in a barn circa 2024! Michelle plays Melchett in Murder at the Vicarage 10/29-11/1.

BIO: Michelle Butcher is delighted to work with Groundlings Theater again. You might have seen Michelle on the Groundlings' stage in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," "Blue Ribbons," and "It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play."

She has also played Asa in Dream at the Top of Your Lungs in 2025 and a few parts in the 2026 Our Home States festival at Broom Street Theater. Other notable performances Michelle has taken part in were Kathie Rasmussen Women's Theatre's production of "A Woman Scorned: Loud and Explicit" and Madison Public Theatre's "C’est La Vie."

With the love and support of her husband and two children, Michelle hopes to continue acting for many years to come.

Don't miss Michelle shining again on our stage!
$5 tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/murder-at-the-vicarage-tickets

09/12/2026

Whoa! Check out our EspeciallyStroopwafels friends! They’ve made 1,500 stroop🧇s for Wauktoberfest this weekend! Get thee there! 🩷

Ready for Wauktober Fest. 1500 stroopwafels ready to go

09/12/2026

Welcome Mike Schuster who plays Leonard in our adaptation of Murder at the Vicarage! Mike was last seen on the Groundlings stage as Pa Bailey in last December's "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play." We are so excited to see him shine as Leonard 10/29-11/1.

Mike's Bio: A fan of Agatha Christie since childhood, Mike is excited to be part of the world-premiere cast of Murder at the Vicarage. This is his third Agatha Christie production. He played Poirot in "Murder on the Orient Express" with SPCT and he was Rogers in "And Then There Were None" in high school. This is his second time performing with Groundlings. Most recently he played Perry in A Crooked French Affair with Baraboo Theatre Guild. Other favorite roles include Cogsworth (Beauty & the Beast, CD Players Theater), Velasco (Barefoot in the Park, Sun Prairie Civic Theatre), Vinnie (The Odd Couple, SPCT) and Rudolpho (Matilda, SPCT). Mike lives in Sun Prairie and is grateful to his family for their encouragement and support.

$5 tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/murder-at-the-vicarage-tickets

09/11/2026

Ready for 'Murder' - quite a captivating headline in The Waunakee Tribune😂

"Groundlings Theater is rehearsing its upcoming production of Agatha Christie's "Murder at the Vicarage," with the first all-cast read-through on Sept. 9. Groundlings director Hannah Nies adapted the novel for the stage.

Shows will be at Peace Lutheran Church at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 through Oct. 31 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 1."

Groundlings Theater is rehearsing its upcoming production of Agatha Christie's "Murder at the Vicarage," with the first all-cast read-through on Sept. 9. Groundlings director Hannah Nies adapted the novel for

09/10/2026

Besides watching them perform on stage, there's nothing we love better than seeing Groundlings alum and current cast members "in the wild." 🥰

L to R: Michelle Butcher (Melchett) (NICE Groundlings Theater t-shirt, Michelle) and family at Taste of Madison, Mike Schuster (Leonard), and Josh Gibbons (Mary & Bingley in Pride and Prejudice) and Deb Johnson Nies (Exec Producer/Narrator).

Murder at the Vicarage tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/murder-at-the-vicarage-tickets

09/10/2026

First all-cast read thru of Murder at the Vicarage! ❤️ World Premiere Wisconsin

09/09/2026

We're thrilled to welcome back Birdie La Barre who was most recently seen on our stage as Lydia in July's Pride and Prejudice! Birdie plays DR. HAYDOCK in our Murder at the Vicarage production 10/29-11/1. Huzzah!

Birdie La Barre (she/they) is an actor, writer, and director with a BFA in Musical Theatre from AMDA College of the Performing Arts. Recently seen as Bridget in LIZZIE (StageQ), Mariana in Measure for Measure (MSC), & Lydia in Pride & Prejudice, Birdie is glad to be back with Groundlings for a cosy and mysterious autumn! She is proudly q***r & autistic, and when not performing, they playwright & compose musical theatre and dabble in short film, cosplay, and D&D.

Don't miss Birdie shine again on our stage! Get your $5 ticket here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/murder-at-the-vicarage-tickets

Murder at the Vicarage is part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide festival celebrating new plays and musicals running throughout 2026. To learn more visit https://worldpremierewisconsin.com/