Youngstown State University’s Cliffe College of Creative Arts, home to the University Theatre program, will open its 2025-2026 production season with the comedic play “Arsenic & Old Lace”.

The story follows theater critic Mortimer Brewster, who returns home to announce his engagement, only to discover his spinster aunts have a dark secret: they poison lonely old men as acts of mercy. As Mortimer navigates this shocking revelation, he must also contend with a brother who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt and another murderous brother who returns home after plastic surgery to hide from the police.

Caught between family loyalty and the law, Mortimer faces a whirlwind of chaos in this madcap comedy that has delighted audiences for decades.

The cast includes: Eric Ballard, Jr., Youngstown; Emma Barborak, Hermitage, Pennsylvania; Chloe Camacho, Bristolville; Natalie Ciccone, Austintown; Samantha Cox, Niles; Noah Dudai, New Middletown; Nicholas Figiel, Jamestown, Pennsylvania; Crystal Faith Fisher, Mingo Junction; Lincoln Hall, Cortland; YSU President Bill Johnson; Lex McCaughtry, Lowellville; Anthony Mudryk, Struthers; Benjamin Podnar, Wampum, Pennsylvania; Helena Snyder, Austintown; Jessica Sprague, Norwalk; Adriana Rosario, Youngstown; and Ilse Zijlstra, Antwerp.

The student crew includes Anna Airhart, Nick Atwood, Gianna D’Alesandro, Liam Donnelly, Alida Dufrene, Brenda Hernandez, Natalie Horvath, Nikta Hosseini, Layla Munholand, Nathaniel Perry, Skyla Phillips, Karianne Rateno, Sarah Robles, Bryan Schink, Sophie Schuetz, Alex Shina, Justine Snowden, Manny Tolbert, Jr., Gerald Walker, Cadence Watson, and Barborak, Camacho, Dudai, Podnar, Snyder, Sprague, Rosario and Ziljstra.

Staff for the production includes senior lecturer Todd Dicken as director; associate professor Katherine Garlick as costume designer; Jonathan Zelezniak as lighting supervisor; and Gunnar Carwile as scenic carpenter.

“Arsenic & Old Lace” runs Oct. 3–5 and 10–12 in YSU’s Ford Theater, located in YSU’s Bliss Hall. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., with the Sunday matinees start at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at ysu.tix.com.

Parking is available in the Wick Avenue Deck (M30) for $5 cash. For more information, contact Katie Merrill, Cliffe College coordinator of community engagement and events, at 330.941.2307 or kamerrill@ysu.edu.