CAST AND CREW: The creative team for McCarter Theatre’s upcoming production of “Mrs. Christie” includes, back row clockwise, director Donya K. Washington, Polly Lee, Cameron Knight, Patrese D. McClain, Christiana Clark, Jeremy Gallardo, playwright Heidi Armbruster, Gina Daniels, Amber Walker, and Evan Zes. (Photo by Charles Phox)
McCarter Theatre Center has announced the cast and creative team for Mrs. Christie, a new comedy-mystery by Heidi Armbruster, directed by BOLD Associate Artistic Director Donya K. Washington in her McCarter directorial debut. The production runs May 6–31.
Mrs. Christie celebrates writers, womanhood, and the stories that shape our lives. In 1926, famed author Agatha Christie vanished for 11 days, reappearing without explanation. The real-life case of the “Missing Mrs. Christie” became a tabloid sensation, though the circumstances behind her disappearance remain unclear. Nearly 100 years later, a devoted superfan uncovers clues that may finally crack the case, launching a coming-of-age journey of memory and self-discovery.
This year marks 50 years since Christie’s passing at age 85. The bestselling novelist of all time, her work has been translated into more than 100 languages and adapted countless times for stage, film, and television. Her enduring influence on crime and detective fiction continues to shape writers and audiences worldwide.
“Heidi Armbruster’s play is a gift for Agatha Christie and mystery fans alike, and Donya is very much in the superfan category,” said McCarter Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen. “Her enthusiasm for this play and for Christie’s legacy are detectable throughout the production.”
Director Washington has directed at People’s Light, Actors Express, Old Globe, Alliance Theatre, Target Margin, and others. Prior to joining McCarter, she served as Repertory Producer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Playwright Armbruster has developed and produced work at the Dorset Theatre Festival, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Chautauqua Theater Company, Primary Stages, Orchard Project, Playhouse on Park, The Lark, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, and more. She was a member of the Working Farm at Space on Ryder Farm, Page 73’s Interstate 73 Writers Group, and is a founding member of Women Artists Writing. As an actor, Armbruster has extensive theater, film, and television credits.
The cast is led by Christiana Clark in the title role, making her McCarter debut following work on Broadway and at leading regional theaters including Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
The ensemble also features Evan Zes, previously seen at McCarter in Murder on the Orient Express and on Broadway in The Kite Runner; Patrese D. McClain, making her McCarter debut with credits including The Old Globe, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and the national tour of Jitney; and Amber Walker, a New Jersey native based in Ewing, making her McCarter debut. Walker holds an MFA from the University of Washington’s Professional Actor Training Program and has performed extensively in Seattle and Portland.
The cast also includes familiar McCarter faces from McCarter’s A Christmas Carol: Polly Lee, Gina Daniels, and Cameron Knight, who played Ebenezer Scrooge in the 2025 production and will return in the 2026 show.
For tickets and more information, visit mccarter.org or call Patron Services at (609) 258-2787. Discounted tickets for patrons 35 and under are available at mccarter.org/35andunder.