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Tiger Lady
Layce Gardner
Opening Date:
February 17, 2006
Closing Date:
March 11, 2006
On death row for a sensational 1931 double murder, Winnie Ruth Judd faces a psychiatrist whose assessment could determine whether she lives or dies. Through charged interviews and haunting flashbacks, her friendships, relationships, and the circumstances surrounding the crimes emerge. Brenda Williams directed Oklahoma playwright Layce Gardner’s gripping historical psychological drama.
Cast & Crew
CAST
Winnie Ruth Judd — Lisa Lasky
Dr. Elijah Martin — Hal Kohlman
Mrs. McKinnell — Sheryl Martin
Hedvig “Sammy” Samuelson — Elizabeth Brooks
Agnes “Anne” Leroi — Jeni White
Jack and Voice of the Judge — Eric Z! Nazim
CREW
Director — Brenda Williams
Set and sound design — Steven Gillmore, Brenda Williams
Lighting design — Steven Gillmore
Costume design — Corey Martin
Stage manager and light technician — Tori Stahl
Sound technician — Cole Snider
Set construction — Steven Gillmore
Scenic painting — Rhonda Clark, Brenda Williams, David Mays, Steve Vann
Properties — Rhonda Clark
Running crew — David Mays
Poster design — Jeni White
CST webmasters — Don Lusk, Phil Carlton
Production Notes
Oklahoma premiere of Tiger Lady by Tahlequah-based playwright Layce Gardner, February 17–March 11, 2006, directed by Brenda Williams at Stage Center Arena Theater. Historical drama inspired by the 1931 Phoenix double-murder case of Winnie Ruth Judd. On death row, Judd is evaluated by court-appointed psychiatrist Dr. Elijah Martin; flashbacks examine her childhood, her relationships with Hedvig “Sammy” Samuelson and Agnes “Anne” Leroi, and a married lover, without purporting to justify the murders. Six-person cast confirmed by original CST webpage; Eric Z! Nazim spelling and punctuation preserved exactly. Gardner had worked in Los Angeles writing teleplays and screenplays and in Oklahoma on The Trail of Tears outdoor drama. Earlier productions occurred in Los Angeles, Dallas, Memphis and Newfoundland; CST announcement reported a Drama-Logue Outstanding Achievement in Theatre Award for the Los Angeles production. Gardner attended February 17 opening-night party and February 18 post-show Theatre Exchange discussion. Nine original gallery photos tiger_01–09; tiger_09 captioned “The Cast & Crew of TIGER LADY with playwright Layce Gardner (Back row, 2nd from right).” Rated PG-13. Contemporary coverage: The Oklahoman, “Window to the Bard,” February 17, 2006, and “Play re-creates notable murders from the 1930s,” February 24, 2006. Oklahoma Arts Council project assistance grant; Allied Arts member agency and Star Card event. Special thanks Terry Veal, Vikki Simer, Jon Womastek. No cast sponsor or licensing listed in supplied original page. Original page: https://web.archive.org/web/20211207034408/http://carpentersquare.com/shows/show_tiger_lady.htm
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