The Haverton Howler
A New Retro Comedy by Ashley Snow
It’s 1966 in small-town America, and Clifford and Ginny Haverton are out of options. Their family grocery store is on the brink, so they do what any desperate couple might do: they invent a creature.
At first, the tale of the Haverton Howler is just a clever ploy — a fun, spooky way to get people through the door. But the story snowballs into something bigger than either of them imagined. Soon, reporters, conspiracy theorists, an animal rights activist, and an ambitious filmmaker descend on their quiet town, each hoping to find the truth… or at least make headlines.
As excitement builds and the lines between fiction and reality blur, Clifford finds himself at the center of something much deeper — a reckoning with the stories we choose, the truths we hide, and the people we become to survive.
Part screwball comedy, part heartfelt drama, The Haverton Howler explores myth, media, and how even the wildest tales often reveal something real.
Premiering Fall 2025 at Cumberland Theatre
Developed in partnership with Page to Stage
Meet the Cast
Marty Jellison
Chelsea Williamson
Cristen Stephansky
Morganne Chu
Jeffrey Charles Fleming
D. Keith Shifflett
Connor McCabe
Emily Snyder
Brendon Eric McCabe
ENJOY THE SHOW?
Thanks for being a part of CT’s Page to Stage live reading and audience talk-back!
Now that you’ve had time to reflect on the show, feel free to share your feedback, ideas, and thoughts about The Haverton Howler.
Page to Stage
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Where the story begins.
Writers and actors come together to bring the early draft to life, reading through scenes, testing dialogue, and exploring character dynamics. This collaborative workshop weekend helps shape the heart of the story and spark new creative ideas.Completed April 12 & 13, 2025
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Be part of the process.
Actors present a staged reading of the play for a live audience, giving the playwright a chance to hear how the story flows in real time — and how it lands with real people. Audience members are invited to share feedback during a talkback session that directly influences revisions and growth.Completed May 21, 2025
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From voices to full lives.
With the story in place, the cast dives deeper into the emotional arcs, relationships, and motivations that make each character feel fully human. This phase is about nuance — building layers of performance that resonate on stage and form true human connection with the story and the audience.Virtually, Summer + Fall 2025
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Lights up.
With a finalized script, rehearsals begin for a fully staged production — complete with costumes, lighting, set, and sound. This final phase invites audiences to see the full transformation from page to stage and experience the world that’s been created from the ground up.Performances November 1 & 2, at Cumberland Theatre
