Welcome a dynamic new director for "Holmes"

J. Deschene reports that she's as excited as a kid on Christmas to be making her directorial debut with Arlington Friends of the Drama Theatre. WE FEEL THE SAME.

J. is joining us this November/December to direct "The Game's Afoot or, Holmes For The Holidays") She's been a beam of light, full of ideas about staging this hilarious and intriguing mystery/comedy.

A sampling of her directorial experience includes classics like "Lysistrata" and "The Trojan Women," both with Theatre@First, and staged reading of "Agnes of God" (also with T@F), lots of Gilbert and Sullivan with the MIT Gilbert and Sullivan Players, and 2016's smash hit zombie opera, "La Zombiata" (with WholeTone Opera).

She is no stranger to mysteries, having helmed all three Hercule Poirot segments for the The Post-Meridian Radio Players' Super Sleuths series.

J. has also spent plenty of time onstage in such roles as Lady Catherine de Bourgh in "Pride & Prejudice" (Theatre@First), Lady Jane in "Patience" (MIT Gilbert and Sullivan Players), Teresa Salieri in "Amadeus" (Moonbox Productions), and Lady Bracknell in "The Importance of Being Earnest" (Theatre@First) which earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Play at the 2016 ArtsImpulse Theatre Awards.

As a singer, J. has given voice to such roles as Abigail Adams in "1776" and many of Gilbert and Sullivan's most beloved contralto roles. She has been blessed to study acting with such teachers as Kate Braun and Danielle Jacques, and voice with Sara Bielanski. Welcome to the AFD family J.!