A Playwright’s Foreword
This play is taken almost verbatim from eyewitness testimonies of events gathered primarily by Thomas Jefferson in his work, An Appendix to the Notes on the State of Virginia Relative to the Murder of Logan’s Family. When at all possible, the original language has been kept intact. While the character’s statements could bring up a variety of feelings for modern audiences, this play lets characters speak for themselves in their own context with their own belief systems. The dialogue at the end of the play between Logan’s nephew and John Adlum comes straight from Adlum’s memoirs, reprinted in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (https://www.jstor.org/stable/20089336?read-now=1&seq=37#page_scan_tab_contents).
CAST
Thomas Jefferson - Doug Erwin
Doug Erwin was last onstage as Burl in Smoke on the Mountain. Favorite past roles include Frederick in A Little Night Music, Archibald in The Secret Garden, Jasper in Drood, The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Thomas Andrews in Titanic the Musical, Rochester in Jane Eyre, and both Princes (more than once) in Into the Woods. Doug has appeared in principal roles with Windsor Theatre Group, Insight Theatre Company, Ivory Theatre, Stray Dog Theatre Company, KTK, Overdue Theatre Company, Alpha Players, Family Musical Theatre, Kirkwood Theatre Guild, Curtain Call Repertory, Take Two Productions, and served for three years as the principal tenor for the Midwest Lyric Opera.
During the day, Doug teaches Oral Communications and Theatre for Cardinal Ritter College Prep. Doug has a doctorate in Fine Arts Education from Lindenwood University with additional post doctoral work in musical theatre from NYU. He is also a budding harpist. Special thanks to his amazing wife Abby and three sons: Kyle, Sean, and Rhys.
Player #1 - James Bryce
James Bryce is a Chickasaw actor and recent Saint Louis University graduate, and is very excited to make his professional acting debut in Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the Murder. When he is not on stage, he enjoys watching movies with his friends, writing and drawing, and helping with short films.
Player #2 - Emmitt Rodgers
Emmitt Rodgers discovered his passion for storytelling and performing early in childhood, first stepping onto the stage at just nine years old. Since then, he has dedicated himself to bringing rich, compelling characters to life. Notable acting credits include starring as the titular hero in Robin Hood, Edward Middleton in The Drunkard, and Reverend Oglethorpe in Smoke on the Mountain. Equally at home in the director's chair, Emmitt has helmed numerous one-act plays as well as a full-length production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. No matter the role or the production, he is deeply committed to delivering real, authentic storytelling across all entertainment mediums. He is thrilled to bring that dedication to Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the Murder.
Player #3 - Nicholas Urbanowicz
Nicholas Urbanowicz is excited to return to Bread and Wine Theatre company and the Fringe Festival in St Louis! He has accompanied us with The Time of my Life (2025), The Long Christmas Dinner (2025), and First Person Shooter (2025) that won last year's Fringe Festival drama of the year as the costar role. Besides working with us he has done four consecutive years of theater in his school alongside working with the St Louis Shakespeare festival, the Over Due Theatre Company, and the Webster Groves Theatre Company. Right now he is pursuing More film as he was in the Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge (2026) and continues to write his own short films. Nicholas wanted to thank Bread and Wine Theatre Company for the opportunity it has given him!
Crew
Eric Satterfield is a St. Louis–based actor, director, and Theatre Circle Award–nominated playwright. His plays include Elsinore, The Privilege of Being Second (both co-written with David Nonemaker), Heavy (co-written with Hazel McIntire), and The Bigfoot Diaries. Recent directing credits include Romeo & Juliet, Elsinore, Candlelight Dinner, The Reason Why (Chorus of Fools), Go Before I Do, and The Privilege of Being Second (Prison Performing Arts). Recent acting credits include First Impressions (PPA & SATE), Heavy (Chorus of Fools). Eric is the Producer and a Founder of Chorus of Fools Theatre Company, as well as the Production Coordinator for Prison Performing Arts. Eric is deeply grateful to Katie, his family, and friends for their unwavering support. Eric dedicates his work on this project to the memory of his mother, honoring their shared Cherokee and Choctaw heritage.
Director - Eric Satterfield
Tara Laurel is excited to stage manage for Bread & Wine’s entry to the 2026 STL Fringe Festival! Tara graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) in May 2025 with a BA in Comm/Theatre. Tara has been in the theatre industry since 2016, having participated on and offstage in productions at New Horizon Community Theatre, Southern Union State Community College, Wadley Community Theatre, Opelika Theatre Company, Theatre AUM, Bread & Wine Theatre Company, Chorus of Fools Theatre Company, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. In May 2025 she won a “Distinguished Stage Management” Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival at the National level for her work as the stage manager of Theatre AUM's production of RED by John Logan. Outside of theatre, Tara creates homemade soy wax candles, lip balms, and crocheted items for her small business, Sophia Marie Candle Co, which can be found on all social media at @SophiaMarieCandleCo and on its website (sophia-marie-candle-co.square.site).
Stage Manager - Tara Laurel
Costumer - Sonya Valentine
Sonya Valentine has been involved in community, school, and church theatre over the last 30 years – primarily acting, singing, costuming, directing, and graphic design. She has also lent a hand creating props and special effects. Whether creating specialized costumes allowing actors to disappear “sans costume” through trap doors in The Foreigner, or reconstructing costumes to allow multi-sized actors to wear the same costume during the same show, directors can count on Sonya. Favorite costuming projects include Driving Miss Daisy, Lend Me a Tenor, and Cinderella. Recent acting credits include Babette’s Feast (Bread & Wine Theatre Co.), Smoke on the Mountain (KTK North) and an original storytelling production Have I Told You the One About...? (Stray Dog Theatre’s Silver Stage). Upcoming roles include Unsinkable Women (Alpha Players) and You Can't Take it With You (TGWG). Sonya relocated to St. Louis in 2020 for the arrival of her first grandchild and is amazed by the abundance of theatre opportunities.When not caring for her grandchildren, she cantors at church, teaches piano, sews, and creates. Sonya is an ECMMA Level 2 Certified Early Childhood Music & Movement Specialist.
Sound Designer - Alan Phillips
Alan Phillips (He/him) is a native of St. Louis and a graduate of Jackson State University, majoring in speech communications with a concentration in theatre. Alan has always had a foot in the world of artistry and continues to improve his skill and craft. He has worked with The Black Rep & The Muny furthering his skills in sound design, stage management, and carpentry in scene shops. His ultimate goal is to become successful as an independent artist and continue giving back to the people and community that helped shape him into who he is today.
Producer, Dramaturg, Playwright - Owen Brown
Owen Brown is the founder, artistic director, and CEO of Bread & Wine Theatre Company. His plays include The Time of My Life and Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the Murder (both available for production). His scholarly writing includes three contributions over the past two issues of the Thornton Wilder Journal, including “Time, Death, and the Bayards” and “Harriet or Hugh M’Kail.” This summer, Owen spoke at the Comparative Drama Conference in Madison, WI and the C. S. Lewis Study Center Summer Conference in Northfield, MA. He is scheduled to speak this October on Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the Murder at The Learning Center in Savannah, GA. Later this year, The Learning Center will host the East Coast premiere of Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the Murder.
Vickie Delmas is thrilled to make her debut with Bread & Wine. She recently designed props and sets for The Privilege of Being Second with Chorus of Fools, where she also serves on the board of directors. Her past design credits include Romeo and Juliet, Elsinore, The Bigfoot Diaries, The Pavement Kingdom, Candlelight Dinner, and The Reason Why. Beyond the theater, Vickie is an active community volunteer who enjoys crafting, gardening, and baking.
Props Construction - Vickie Delmas
St. Louis Fringe Festival
Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the Murder is part of the St. Louis Fringe Festival. The Fringe Festival has been a hub of new and unique theatrical productions in St. Louis for the past fifteen years. Bread & Wine Theatre Company is honored to be a part of this special fifteenth anniversary festival. We are deeply grateful to the Fringe Festival and all of the Fringe Festival’s generous sponsors.
Bread & Wine is only responsible for Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the Murder nor does participation in the festival necessarily indicate an endorsement of the other acts.
Special Thanks to
John & Debbie Keane; Tim Moylan; Ben Saltmiras; Carla Evans; Linda Wolff; Kathy Young; Jonathan & Mariana Potthast; Liam Cassidy; Daniel Reed; Calvin Horne; Lucas Hinton; Sally Cakouros.