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Actor emeritus, she was principal actor for her roles in 27 shows for Mystery Theatre Unlimited. She also understudied and revived several shows. She no longer appears regularly in Mystery Theatre productions, but she will always be a part of our family.

Arlene Merryman

Since retiring from teaching, Arlene lives in Pittsburgh.  In 2011 she appeared locally in "Harry Quits the Rat Race" at Towngate Theatre, and "Postcards from a Dead Dog" for ITC.  2011 Pittsburgh appearances were in "Broadway Bound" for Old Schoolhouse Players, "The Full Monty" at Stage 62, "A New Brain" at the Grey Box Theatre and a one-woman one act for the New Works Festival.  Her one-woman one-act was selected by the Manhattan Theatre Source as part of its Estrogenius Festival and she performed it in New York at the MTS Theatre in Washington Square.

Arlene CandiEileenElfishMitzi SmallAunt Bee

Arlene appeared in "Matches" at Towngate Theatre and in "The Strap" at ITC, both opposite Butch Maxwell and both in 2009. She also appeared in The History Boys at Little Lake Theater in 2008, Long Day's Journey Into the Night at Towngate in February 2007 and The Marriage-Go-Round in March of 2004, both along with Mystery Theatre's Gino Angelo. Other Towngate appearances include On Borrowed Time In April 2005 and Hay Fever in November of 2004.In 2003, she toured Ireland where she performed in the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre production of Major Barbara at the Galway Arts Festival and in Dublin.

Princess DahtahnenatHoneydewLucy Retardo Pusher Grammy Holly

Other Pittsburgh appearances include Threepenny Opera and Playboy of the Western World at the Acting Company, Juno and the Paycock with the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, Steel Magnolias with Veronica Veil Players and two years in the New Works Festival.

Sexa PealeDorothy GrailFiona FallendaPauline

She was in the comedy neo-classic La Ronde and the classic Lillian Hellman drama The Children's Hour, and a four-week run in the June Pohl production of the musical Secrets Every Smart Traveller Should Know in Pittsburgh.

Grandma Mary Jane Dame Loretta Greta Van Cistern Twinkle

She appeared in Towngate's productions of You Can't Take It with You, Aresenic and Old Lace and directed The Sunshine Boys. Other Towngate appearances include Morning's at Seven, The Beauty Queen of Leanne, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, The Nerd and Philadelphia Here I Come, leading roles in The Gingerbread Lady, Molly Sweeney, Private Lives, The Dresser and Dancing at Lughnasa. She also directed the Towngate's The Fantastics and Godspell.

Maid MarionLois RhodesDelilad LaDivaPrimZoey Spatafore

For the Music Hall Players, she portrayed leading roles in The King and I, Mame, Hello Dolly, Annie and a couple of versions of Nunsense.



Her Mystery Theatre credits

As principal actor:

Aunt Goldie ~ A Medium for Murder (1997)
Yoko Ono ~ Happiness Is a Warm Gun (1997)
Billy Bob's assistant ~ Recipe for Murder (1997)
Ms. Kathleen O'Grady ~ Il Morte di Figaro (1998)
Dame Loretta LaDiva ~ The Case of the Ms. and the Show-Biz Whiz (1999 -2000)
Prim ~ DOA in the Y2K (1999)
Maid Marion ~ Damn! Damn! That Rotten Old Nottingham!(2000)
Mrs. Peale ~ License to Spy (2000)
Zoe Spatafore ~ Who Wants to Murder a Millionaire? (2000)
Dr. Kym Sickle ~ Something Stinks at P.U. (2000)
Dr. Penelope Pusher ~ Space Trek (2001, 2002, 2006)
CattyWoman ~ The Menace of the Super Duper Party-Pooper (2001, 2006)
Grandma ~ One Upon a Crime (2001, 2004, 2006)
Holly Daize/"Twinkle" the Elf ~ Slay Ride III (2001, 2002)
Mary Jane ~ Survivor on Killigan's Island (002)
Lucy Sushan ~ One Life to Lose (2002, 2009)
Greta Van Cistern ~ E.A.T. (The Extra Added Terrestrial (2003)
Pauline Peril ~ Indiana Smith and the Restaurant of Doom (2003)
Honeydew Thistlewhistle ~ Tales from the Script (2003)
Mitzi Rhodes ~ Murder on the Luv Boat (2004, 2006, 2008)
Grammy ~ The Capitol Hillbillies (2004)
Fiona Fallinda ~ Murder Under the Big Top (2005)
Misty Storm ~ Murder at the Kit Kat Klub (2006)
Dorothy Grail ~ Wizard of Odds (2006)
Lucy Retardo ~ I Killed Lucy (2007, 2009)
Delilah LaDiva ~ Nothing Much About Doo-Doo (2007, 2009)
Aunt Bee ~ Mayberry R.I.P. (2010)

As understudy:

Elfish Prezley ~ Slay Ride (1997)
Mrs. Norton-Sweeny-Todd ~ Murder in the Mansion Museum (1998, 2005)
Mrs. Claus ~ Slay Ride 2: Fright Christmas(1998)
Margarita ~ Avast! Ye Murderous Swabs (1999)
Lois Small ~ Murder on the Luv Boat (2004)
Sarah Bellum ~ Mind Over Murder (2009)

In revival:

Eileen Wright ~ Variety Is the Spice of Death (1999)
Mrs. Claus ~ Slay Ride (2000)
Mrs. Claus ~ Slay Ride II: Screaming All the Way (2000)
Mrs. Claus ~ Slay Ride IV: Revenge of the Claus (2003, 2004)
Miss Scarletta ~ Elliot Brick's Case of the Maltese Ferret (2006)
Princess Dahntahnenat ~ Space Trek (2006)
Dominique Whiplash ~ Salon, Ferwell, Auf Weidersehen, You're Dead (2010)
Arlene also recorded all the music for "Happiness Is a Warm Gun."

Last updated: January 2, 2023