Written by Peter M. Kershaw

 

Directed by John Propster

February 8, 2026 – November 11, 2026

1 hour and 15 minutes. No intermission

Buckle up for a hilarious and heartfelt ride down the Mother Road!

When Ruth’s car breaks down just outside Flagstaff, her frustrating detour takes an unexpected turn. Enter Mother Road—a mystical, mischievous embodiment of Route 66 itself—who sprinkles a little road dust and whisks Ruth away on a magical journey through the heart of Northern Arizona. Along the way, they meet James, a tow truck mechanic with dreams and jokes as big as the canyon.

Part play, part interactive experience, and inspired by the British tradition of “end-of-the-pier” shows, Route 66 to the Grand Canyon is filled with groan-worthy jokes, delightfully over-the-top characters, and laugh-out-loud moments for audiences of all ages. This play-within-a-play celebrates Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, and the strange, beautiful charm that makes Route 66 a road trip like no other.

Creative Team

Peter M. Kershaw

Writer

John Propster

Director

Justin Phillips

Scenic Design

Bracken Davis

Costume Design

Kelli Cvercko

Sound Design

Newton McDaniel

Puppet Design

Cast

Nicole Brandon

Ruth

Hannah Johnson

Hannah Johnson

Ruth

Hannah is excited to be making her Theatrikos debut! While this is her first show with Theatrikos, Hannah has been performing, directing, choreographing, and producing in Flagstaff for nearly nine years. Her favorite Flagstaff onstage credits include her one-woman cabarets I Am Playing Me and Shakespeare’s Sirens as well as A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena), Othello (Desdemona), Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), and Emma (Miss Bates). Hannah has also worked with Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, Island Shakespeare Festival, Sweet Tea Shakespeare, Tier 5 Theatre Company, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, Southwest Shakespeare Company, and more. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from Southern Utah University. Hannah also runs the narrative aerial program at Momentum Aerial and can be found teaching aerial arts and theater foundations to her students. When Hannah isn’t doing theatre or aerial dance, you can find her baking, volunteering at her church with her amazing husband, and snuggling dogs.

AJ Maniglia

James

Melanie Santana-Propper

Mother Road

Ivan Villapando

James

Becki Zaritsky

Becki Zaritsky

Mother Road

Becki is overjoyed to be joining Theatrikos Theatre Company for The Marvelous Wonderettes! Select Credits: Halina in Indecent, Regan in King Lear, Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest, Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of a Windsor (Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival); Mrs. Medlock in The Secret Garden (Southwest Shakespeare Company); Rosie in Cabaret (Stargazer Collaborative Theatre); Harriet in The Bremen Town Musicians (The REV on Tour); understudy Tatiana Racón in A Comedy of Tenors (Walnut Street Theatre); and Assistant Stage Manager on West Side Story (International Tour). Podcast Host (Untamed Shrews: Women Talk Theatre), Aerialist (Momentum Aerial), and Improv Artist. Endless love and gratitude to my parents – whose first dance at their wedding 51 years ago was to Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me! – and many thanks to Jeremy, Matthew, and everyone on the Marvelous creative and production teams! #BeckSideStory

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