Garfield High School’s Drama Club is turning Olympus upside down this fall with Pandemonium, a sharp and witty modern-day murder mystery by JD Atkins. Performances will be held Nov. 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. in the Iva Walker Auditorium, 10233 State Route 88, Garrettsville.
Set in New York City, Pandemonium reimagines the ancient gods of Greece as modern-day mortals hiding in plain sight. When Zeus — now a museum curator — turns up dead, his daughter, Minerva Owler, steps out of retirement to solve the case. Once the goddess of wisdom and now a hard-boiled private investigator, Minerva must navigate crime scenes, old grudges, and divine egos to uncover who among the immortals committed the ultimate betrayal. With the help of her siblings — Mars, a gruff NYPD sergeant, and Kid Mercury, a fast-talking EMT with a knack for opening doors — Minerva’s search for the truth leads to a showdown that could determine the fate of both gods and mortals.
Alexis Phillips leads the cast as Minerva Owler, the wise and sarcastic detective determined to make sense of a family of fallen gods. Her loyal assistant, Alex, is played by Olivia Seaborn, who brings humor and heart to the eager apprentice trying to keep up with divine chaos. Quinn Roborecki takes on the role of Sergeant Mars, the battle-hardened god of war turned police officer, and Lillian Adair plays Kid Mercury, the energetic messenger god who keeps the story moving—sometimes literally through interdimensional portals.
The ensemble of deities and suspects includes David Adair as Bacchus, the ever-celebratory god of wine; Sierra Foy as Venus, the stylish and self-absorbed goddess of love; Chloe Heasley as Persephone, the cold and calculating ex-queen of the underworld; and Brandon Rezabek as the laid-back surfer god Neptune, whose ocean-sized charisma hides real danger.
Supporting them are Charlotte Long as Doris, Neptune’s no-nonsense bodyguard; Xavier Pinson as Styx, the icy fixer who keeps secrets buried; Genevieve McCumbers as the relentless FBI Agent Artemis; and Jayden Bartlett as Pluto, the debonair businessman with a deadly secret. Remy Ewell appears as the late Zeus, whose death sets the whole mystery in motion.
Rounding out the cast are Levi Kaiser, Jaxson Cushing, and Amora Rizzotto as the bumbling criminal trio Alpha, Delta, and Gamma; Madison Sterrett, Abigail Kolar, and Addison Lipply as undercover FBI agents; and Daphne Kline, Nathan Reighard, and Lily Thompson in key supporting roles.
From its first moments — a tense bank heist gone wrong — the play mixes suspense with smart comedy. Audiences can expect rapid-fire dialogue, witty one-liners (“If you’re going to herd sheep, be sure to check their bellies,” warns Minerva), and a steady dose of family dysfunction as ancient grudges bubble to the surface. As the investigation unfolds through museums, galas, and portals to the underworld, Minerva must face not only her father’s death but also the memories of a past partner and the cost of being mortal.
Tickets will be sold at the door before each performance.