Casting Announcement for "MORIARTY"

VIRGINIA THEATRE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR UPCOMING PRODUCTION OF KEN LUDWIG’S MORIARTY: A NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES ADVENTURE 

SHOW TO BE DIRECTED BY NICOLAS MINAS 

KEN LUDWIG’S MORIARTY WILL OPEN JUNE 20 IN THE RUTH CAPLIN THEATRE  

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – May 6, 2026 – The Virginia Theatre Festival has announced the cast and creative team for its production of Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure. 

Set to run June 20-28 in the Ruth Caplin Theatre at the University of Virginia, Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty will be directed by noted theater, film, and television director Nicolas Minas, who returns to VTF following his acclaimed 2024 production of The 39 Steps.  

The cast for Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty will include: 

  • Xavier Markey-Smith (Sherlock Holmes) – Selected NY and Regional Credits: Anne Frank in Mt. Vernon Ohio, Miss Julie, Business Ideas, Seminar, Over the Pub. Film: All Good, 20 Minutes. Training: MFA: NYU 
  • Samuel Taylor (Doctor Watson) – Selected Chicago Credits: Lookingglass Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Court Theatre, Steppenwolf, Timeline, Redmoon. Regional: American Players Theatre, Guthrie Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Syracuse Stage, The New Victory. Film/TV: Boardwalk Empire, Crisis, Mob Doctor, Chicago Fire. Training: BFA – Guthrie Theatre/UMN 
  • Christopher Hainsworth (Moriarty, King Otto, & Others) – Selected Chicago Credits: The Seagull, Buddha’s Birthday, Evanston Salt Costs Climbing, Miss Holmes, Miss Holmes Returns, The Three Musketeers, Frankenstein, Faith Healer. Film/TV: Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire. Training: Illinois State University, Steppenwolf Acting Fellowship 
  • Rina Dutta (Irene Adler, Mrs. Hudson, & Cartwright) – Selected New York Credits: Plan C, Mia M.I.A., The Leg. Company Member: The Mercury Store Theater Lab. Training: MFA: NYU; BA: Queens College 
  • Tovah Close (Daisy, Mrs. Barabas, Hilda Klebb, & Others) – Selected Regional Credits: A Christmas Carol, Orestes 2.0, The Contrast, Lobby Hero, The Beard of Avon. Local: What the Constitution Means to Me. Training: MFA: American Conservatory Theatre; BFA: UCSB 

The creative team for Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty will include Nicolas Minas (Director); Jenny Lamb (Movement Director); Se Hyun Oh (Scenic Designer); Jill Van Brussel (Costume Designer); Christina Watanabe (Lighting Designer); Michael Rasbury (Sound Designer & Original Music); Andrew Bryce (Dialect & Vocal Coach); Colleen Kelly (Fight Coordinator); Karman Boisset (Wig & Makeup Designer); Emily McGregor (Production Stage Manager); and Leo Robinson (Assistant Stage Manager). 

Casting by Katja Zarolinski, CSA.  

The Virginia Theatre Festival is a program of the University of Virginia, with support from the Office of the Provost, Vice Provost for the Arts, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Drama, and The Caplin Foundation.  

The Virginia Theatre Festival is supported by a generous grant from The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation. Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty is presented by Charlottesville Media Group, The Parker Group at Morgan Stanley, and Virginia Cenedella. 

The Virginia Theatre Festival 2026 Season will also include Disney’s Newsies (July 9-19 at the Culbreth Theatre) and Frida…A Self Portrait (July 23-26 in the Ruth Caplin Theatre). Tickets for the 2026 season are currently on sale. Volunteer opportunities are also available this summer, and you can view more information on how to sign up here. 

VTF donors provide essential support to the organization, while enjoying exclusive benefits like complimentary tickets, invitations to special events, behind-the-scenes access, and more. For more information on ways to support the upcoming season, visit virginiatheatrefestival.org/support. 

To learn more about the Virginia Theatre Festival and the upcoming season, visit virginiatheatrefestival.org. 

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Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure is presented by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals company. www.concordtheatricals.com. The show was originally produced at Cleveland Play House, Guest Artistic & Managing Director Mark Cuddy. 

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