While living in D.C., the reintroduction of a college roommate turned Ali Cassidy’s life in an unexpected new direction.

Prior, Ali had been working in broadcast journalism. “I had applied for the broadcasting job on a whim, and loved it,” she said. “I had grown up and attended Princeton High School in New York, and was very active in the music and drama programs, playing the flute and acting in plays.

“I also speak three languages so when I was working for NPR, I was able to introduce pretty much anything they through at me by utilizing my experiences with classical music in high school.”

It became obvious that her friend was in need of psychiatric help. “And I reached out to an organization, the ‘DC Hotline,’ and they put me in touch play has been the obstacles involved in being the first

to perform in the new Studio Theater.

“It’s made things a little bit difficult, not necessarily knowing where you’re going to rehearse what night, because we’ve got a couple different shows going on,” Veneziano said. “It makes things exciting

as well because when we finally get in there, we’re just going to take off with it.”

The actor playing Einstein, Erik Hermstad, added that the opening

of the play was delayed a week, which was both frustrating but also allowed the actors more time to strengthen their performances.

“Because of the red tape, we haven’t been able to open when we wanted at the time we wanted,” Hermstad said.

“However, that just kind of gave us all time to kind of relax more

into the role.”

The final surprise patron to join the bizarre combination of historic

characters at the Lapin Agile is a charismatic dark-haired singer, timewarped in from a later era. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.pca-az.net, or call 928-445-3286.

Jesse Bertel is a reporter/videographer for the Prescott News Network. Follow him on Twitter @JesseBertel, email him at

jbertel@prescottaz.com, or call 928-445-3333, ext. 2043.