Garrett Heater (Author & Director) is the artistic director and a co-founder of The Covey Theater Company, and formerly artistic director of NYC-based Chelsea Opera, Syracuse Summer Theatre at The Oncenter, and Syracuse Opera. He is an award-winning playwright, including the NYC and locally produced Lizzie Borden Took an Axe, Playing God, and Lincoln’s Blood. Other locally-produced works include Puccini!, Evelyn, Co-op(erative), Aktion, Rom-Com, The Utterly Predictable Rise and Fall of Congressman Cassidy Brown, and My Life as a Soprano. Full production directorial credits include Into the Woods, Grease, and Chicago, among many others. Staged musical concert directorial credits include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Company. He is a graduate of Hunter College of NYC (Theater Studies/Mira Felner) and Syracuse University (Music Education).
Jodi Bova-Larham (Lizzie Borden) is honored to return to this role, having played Lizzie in the inaugural production, as well as at NYC Fringe and multiple years at the Barnes Hiscock Mansion on James St. Jodi has choreographed and performed in numerous productions in the Syracuse area over the years and has received multiple SALT awards for choreography and performance. In addition to Lizzie, her favorite roles include Catherine in Proof, Kess in Independence, and Jenn in Co-op(erative). Favorite choreography credits include Hadestown for Baker High School, Spring Awakening, Pippin, Cabaret, and Damn Yankees for Syracuse Summer Theater at the Oncenter. Thanks and love to Garrett, Janna, Imy, Tallon and the monkeys, her parents, and the entire Borden Team. And special thanks to you, dear patrons, for supporting live theater in our community. Enjoy the show!
Simon K. Moody (Andrew Borden) has performed on stage and screen for over four decades across Australia, England, and New York. His extensive theatre credits include Watch on the Rhine, The Lion in Winter, Dracula, A Man for All Seasons, The Elephant Man, The Crucible, and numerous Shakespearean roles, including Benedick, Petruchio, Falstaff, and Macbeth. He has received multiple TANYS Awards for Outstanding Performance and Excellence in Acting, as well as SALT Award nominations for Best Leading Actor, along with a SALT Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Spamalot). Simon extends heartfelt thanks to his wife, Ashley; playwright and director Garrett Heater; The Covey Theater; and the wonderfully talented cast and crew for the opportunity to share the stage and bring Lizzie Borden Took An Axe to life.
Carmen Viviano-Crafts (Emma Borden) is elated to be playing Emma again after originating the role 15 years ago in the inaugural production, and performing the role in nearly every iteration since. Most recently, she was seen as the Baker’s Wife in Covey’s Into the Woods. There are too many past favorite roles to include, but previously Carmen had the pleasure of originating the role of Older Evelyn in our own Garrett Heater's original musical, Evelyn, and participating in several staged readings of new works throughout the community. This and every performance is for Dad. I'm always listening for your "BRAVO!" Thank YOU for helping to keep the arts alive and well in our community!
Sean Galuszka (John Morse) Theatre (partial): 6 Dance Lessons in 6 Weeks and A Perfect Ganesh (Coachella Valley Rep), Twelfth Night (A Noise Within), Ring of Fire, Midsummer Nights Dream (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) and An Appalachian Twelfth Night (The Globe Playhouse), Boys in the Band (Coast Playhouse), 6 Dance Lessons in 6 Weeks (Sierra Rep), Lost Highway (Virginia Public Theater), Poison Apple (Connelly Theatre NYC), The Love Talker (Son of Semele Theater), The Markropolis Case (LA Opera/Mark Taper), originated role of “Leo” in US premiere Joe DiPietro’s F#cking Men (Celebration Theater). Film/TV Leads: “Ellis” in Left 4 Dead II, Cross in the Road (Netflix), Primrose Lane (Prime), Miracles (ABC), Jedediah Smith (TNT), Girls Guide (Cinemax), Miss Julie (PBS American Playhouse), appeared in Hail Ceasar, Water For Elephants, The TV Set, Richard III.
Jordan Glaski (Dr. Seabury Bowen) is grateful to share the Everson Museum stage once again with Covey Theatre and return to the role he played in the 2011 touring production to Fall River, MA, where Lizzie’s proverbial axe fell. Previous Covey credits: Macduff in Macbeth, Doug in Co-op(erative), The Man in Playing God. Elsewhere: Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, Ltjg. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men, Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Han Solo in Star Wars: The Musical, Sheriff Deon Gilbeau in August: Osage County, Tom Cruise in The TomKat Project, Freddie in Noises Off, and George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life. Jordan thanks Lauren and Jax for their love and support.
Sara Weiler (Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan) is honored to be back in “Fall River, MA” washing the windows, inside and out! Sara previously portrayed Bridget Sullivan in the Lizzie Borden NYC premiere and at the Barnes Hiscock Mansion. Sara is a two-time Syracuse Area Live Theatre (SALT) Award winner, as well as a recipient of CNY Business Journal's 40 under Forty honor. Favorite credits include Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Kate Monster in Avenue Q, Suzy in The Marvelous Wonderettes, Bonnie Parker in Bonnie & Clyde, Crissy in Hair, Corrie Bratter in Barefoot in the Park, Columbia in Rocky Horror, Susan in Company, and Gloria in Damn Yankees. Thank you to her family, friends, and the entire Lizzie Borden team!
Kate Huddleston (Abigail Borden) has performed over the years in many local theater productions with a variety of companies. Dramatic roles include Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, Truvy in Steele Magnolias, The Psychiatrist and Reverend Mother in Agnes of God, Maggie in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Mary Lincoln in Lincoln’s Blood, Linda in Death of a Salesman, Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, and Anna in The Romanovs. Her musical roles include Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, Mdm. Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, Mrs. Tottendale in Drowsy Chaperone, Dolly in Hello Dolly, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Sister Hubert in Nunsense 1, Nunsense 2, and Nunsensation: The Las Vegas Review, Dorothy and Maggie in 42nd Street, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and Lillian Hellman in Judy’s Scary Little Christmas, among others. She is the 2009 recipient of the Syracuse Area Live Theater Lifetime Achievement Award and 2014 recipient of the Salt Award for Best Actress in a play.
Amy Bader (Alice Russell) is grateful to have joined the Lizzie clan and to be returning to the Everson stage with the Covey Theater Company. Recent performance credits include Grease (Dance Captain/Ensemble), Co-Op(erative) (Sadie), The Utterly Predictable Rise and Fall of Congressman Cassidy Brown (Natalie) and Chicago (Ensemble) with Covey, as well as The Wedding Singer (Associate Choreographer/Ensemble), Pippin (Dance Captain/Ensemble), Kinky Boots (Angel), and A Chorus Line (Featured Dancer) with Baldwinsville Theatre Guild. Amy is also a dancer with the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company and will be performing in their In Concert 2026 show this coming March. Amy would like to thank her family and friends for their endless love and support. For K, all my love, always.
Aubry Ludington (Adelaide) is happy to be joining the Lizzie Borden Family. Aubrey was last seen on the Covey stage as Smitty in How To Succeed in Business… and Co-op. Aubry serves on the Covey board and is the owner of Witty Wick Candles & Gift Shop (screenshot this bio for a $5 coupon). She would like to give a huge shout-out to her kiddos who make every day better!
Janna Kozloski (Assistant Director) is happy to join the Lizzie family and return to Covey in a new role. Previous Covey performance credits include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Edna/Others in Evelyn: A New Musical, and Kathy in Company. Directing/Choreography: The Wedding Singer and Speakeasy Serenade: A Jazz Cabaret (BTG), James & The Giant Peach Jr., Annie Jr., Dear Edwina Jr., and The Wizard of Oz (Wellwood Middle School)., The SpongeBob Musical (BTG), and additional choreography for Bridges of… (Redhouse). Other Performance Credits: Alexi Darling/Others (Rent/BTG), Bless the Lord (Godspell/Redhouse), Hodel (Fiddler…/CNYP), Ensemble (Bridges Of…/Redhouse), Lauren (Kinky Boots/BTG), Judy Turner (A Chorus Line/BTG), various roles in touring productions with The Rev on Tour, and Ensemble (Jagged Little Pill/Redhouse *Upcoming). BFA Musical Theatre (Nazareth University). Thanks to my fiancé, Marshall, for all of your love. For Dad, always.
Imogen Whyte (Stage Manager and Props Master) is thrilled to be working with Covey Theater again! This is her first time being a stage manager; she has worked previously as props master for Covey’s Into the Woods, Baldwinsville Theater Guild’s August Osage County, as well as CNY Playhouse’s Nevermore, Book of Will, Clue, Heathers, and Prescription Murder. Imogen would like to thank her cat, Susu, for tolerating her long hours spent away from home, when she could be at home giving Susu attention.
Celebrating 15 years of The Covey Theater Company!
Written & Directed by Garrett August Heater
Assistant Direction by Janna Kozloski
Stage Management by Imogen Whyte
Technical Design by Andy Hughes
Sound & Projection Operation by V. Blanco
Costumes by Denise Heater
Wigs by Karen Procopio
Photography by AB Photography
Graphic Design by Tamaralee Shutt
Recordings by Brian Morey
Our Cast
Lizzie Borden ……………………………………….……..…. Jodi Bova-Larham
Andrew Borden, her father ……………………………….……… Simon Moody
Abigail Borden, her step-mother ……….…………..……... Kate Huddleston
Emma Borden, her sister …………...................… Carmen Viviano-Crafts
John Morse, her maternal uncle ..................................... Sean Galuszka
Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, the Borden’s maid ..…………….. Sara Weiler
Dr. Seabury Bowen, the Borden’s physician ……………...... Jordan Glaski
Alice Russell, her friend ……………………………………..……….. Amy Bader
Adelaide Churchill, the Borden’s neighbor …………..… Aubry Ludington
Voiceovers
Hosea Knowlton, Prosecuting District Attorney …………..….. Bill Molesky
Gov. George Robinson, Lead Defense Counsel ...............… Garrett Heater
Andrew Jennings, Defense Attorney …….……………….……..…… Josh Mele
Eli Bence, Pharmacist …………………….…………………..……… Mike Penny
Alice Russell ………………………………….….…………..………… Maya Dwyer
Season Sponsor SYRACUSE ANTIQUES EXCHANGE
Located at 1629 N. Salina St.
Syracuse, NY
Lizzie Borden Took an Axe
Fall River, MA: 1891-1899
Act I
Scene 1 – The Borden House, 1891
Scene 2 – The Sitting Room, July 15, 1892
Scene 3 – The Parlor, July 20, 1892
Scene 4 – The Sitting Room, August 3, 1892
Scene 5 – The Sitting Room, later that day
Scene 6 – Alice Russell’s Parlor, later that night
10 Minute Intermission
Act II
Scene 1 – The Dining Room, the morning of August 4, 1892
Scene 2 – The Dining Room, later that morning
Scene 3 – The Parlor, later that evening
Scene 4 – The Parlor, August 7, 1892
Scene 5 – Maplecroft, 7 years later
Special Thanks
Dr. Rich Jaeger for his generous donation, allowing us to purchase
10 high quality microphones, used in this production!
CNY Costumes
The Baldwinsville Theatre Guild
The staff and management of The Everson Museum
The Covey Theater Company board members and volunteers
News Channel 9 Bridge Street
