‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ at La Mirada Theater

January 7, 2025…La Mirada, CA…LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT together with the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society announce full casting for their upcoming uproarious comedy hit, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, with direction by Eric Petersen.  THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG will preview on Friday, January 24 at 8 pm and Saturday, January 25 at 2 pm, have its official Press Opening on Saturday, January 25 at 8 pm and run through Sunday, February 16, 2025 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  

The Cornley Drama Society is putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does!  The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call with hilarious consequences!

ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

This cast features actors who have won 75 TONY awards, 217 EMMY awards, 3 Grammy awards, 2 Nobel Peace Prizes and a two-time runner-up National Hula Hooper Champion*, and they are: Garrett Clayton as “Max,” Reggie De Leon as “Dennis,” Mary Faber as “Annie,” Regina Fernandez as “Sandra,” Trent Mills as “Robert,” John Sanders as “Chris,” Sterling Sulieman as “Jonathan,” and Michael-Leon Wooley as “Trevor.” Alyssa Anne Austin, Danny Montooth, Jamie Morgan are Swings.  (*Actually, none of that is true but they are a super talented cast that really wants you to come see this production!)

ERIC PETERSEN (Direction) has worked extensively in television and on the Broadway stage.  As a director, his work includes the shows The Play That Goes Wrong, Fiddler on the Roof, and Escape To Margaritaville.  As an actor, his television credits include “Kevin” on “Kevin Can F*** Himself” on AMC, “Ant’ney” on the hit children’s show “Madagascar: A Little Wild” on Hulu (EMMY nomination), and “Kirstie” (TVLand) where he starred alongside Kirstie Alley, Rhea Perlman, and Michael Richards.  He was also recently seen in “High Desert” for AppleTV+, and “The Curse” on Showtime and has made guest star appearances on “The Big Bang Theory,” “Modern Family,” “Chicago Fire,” “Winning Time,” “NCIS,” “CSI,” and “The Brittany Murphy Story.”  Eric appeared in the Oscar-nominated Coen Brothers’ film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs for Netflix.  Broadway acting credits include: School of Rock (“Dewey Finn”), Shrek: The Musical (“Shrek” on the first national tour and “Shrek Standby” on Broadway), Escape To Margaritaville (“Brick,” Original Broadway Cast), and Peter & The Starcatcher(“Ted”).  He is a graduate of Bradley University.

HENRY LEWIS (Playwright) is an Olivier Award and Drama Desk Award-winning writer, actor, director, and producer and is the Artistic Director of Mischief.  Henry’s work has been produced in over 45 countries worldwide.  Broadway: The Play That Goes Wrong (Lyceum), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Ethel Barrymore); West End: Mind Mangler (Prince of Wales/Garrick), Magic Goes Wrong (Apollo/Vaudeville), Groan Ups (Vaudeville), Mischief Movie Night (Vaudeville/Arts), The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (Criterion), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Apollo), The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess & UK/International Tour), & Austentatious (Arts).  Off West End/Regional: Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Ahmanson, Los Angeles), Mind Mangler (UK Tour), Good Luck, Studio (UK Tour – as director), Mercury Fur (Trafalgar Studios), The Play that Goes Wrong (UK/International Tour), Superior Donuts (Southwark Playhouse – as producer), Beasts & Beauties (Hampstead), Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (various).  Live streamed: Mischief Movie Night-In (Immersive LDN/Riverside Studios). TV: “Riddiculous” (ITV1), “The Valiant Quest of Prince Ivandoe” (Cartoon Network), “The Goes Wrong Show” (BBC1), “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” (BBC1), “A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong” (BBC1), “Royal Variety Performance” (2015 & 2019 – ITV1), “We are Most Amused and Amazed: Prince Charles’ 70th Birthday Celebration” (ITV1), “Children in Need 2020” (BBC1), and “Comic Relief 2022” (BBC1).  Henry’s first book Mystery Agency: The Museum Heist was released in November 2023.

JONATHAN SAYER (Playwright) is an Olivier Award-winning writer, actor, producer, and Director of Mischief.  His work has been performed in over 45 countries worldwide. Theatre credits include: Peter Pan Goes Wrong (writer/actor – Broadway/LA/West End/UK/International tours), Mind Mangler (writer/actor – West End & UK Tour), Mischief Movie Night In (co-creator/actor/producer – live stream), Magic Goes Wrong (writer/actor – West End/Lowry/UK Tour co-created with magicians Penn & Teller), Groan Ups (writer/actor – West End/UK/International tours), Mischief Movie Night (co-creator/actor/producer – West End/UK tours), The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (writer/actor – Criterion Theatre/UK/International tour), The Play That Goes Wrong (actor/writer – Lyceum Theatre, Broadway/Duchess Theatre, West End/UK and international tours), Lights! Camera! Improvise! (actor, improviser, producer).  Television credits include: “The Goes Wrong Show” (Series 1 and 2, BBC1, writer/actor), “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” (BBC1, writer/actor/associate producer), “The Royal Variety Performance,” “The Play That Goes Wrong” (ITV, writer/actor), “A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong” (BBC1, writer/actor).  Jonathan has also appeared in “We are Most Amused and Amazed” (ITV1), “Keep it in the Family” (ITV1), “Children in Need 2020” (BBC1), and “Comic Relief 2022” (BBC1).  Jonathan is a trustee for Go live Theatre Projects and is the co-chair of Ashton United Football Club.  His new book Nowhere to Run came out in August 2023 and is currently on the Amazon best sellers list.                                           

HENRY SHIELDS (Playwright) is an Olivier Award-winning writer and actor known for: The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, Magic Goes Wrong, Groan Ups, Good Luck, Studio, Mind Mangler Member of the Tragic Circle, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, “The Goes Wrong Show,” “The Royal Variety Performance,” and “Children in Need.” 

The Design Team for THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is as follows: Scenic Design by Czerton Lim for Lincoln Park, PAC; Lighting Design by Steven Young; Sound Design by Josh Bessom; Costume Design by Adam Ramirez; Hair/Wig Design by Katie McCoy Yagen; Pyrotechnic Design by Eric Elias; Fight Coordination by Michael Polak; Properties Coordination by Kevin Williams.  The Casting Director is Lindsay Brooks.  The Production Stage Manager is Talia Krispel.