P. Maxwell Productions is Southern California’s “Premier Murder Mystery Troupe”. We are an improvisational and interactive troupe of professional actors and entertainers who love to get up close and personal. We have performed at such prestigious venues as The Magic Castle, The Roosevelt Hotel, and the Third Street Mall. We can be seen year-round on the Fillmore & Western Railway, where we have been entertaining thousands of patrons each year since 1996. We also do corporate entertainment (USA Petroleum), private gatherings (Herzog Winery), and local fundraising events (Sertoma Institute), as a few examples. We developed a special “USO” show for the 100-year anniversary of “Women in Flight” at the Plaza Hotel, with over 250 patrons. No event is too small or too large for our unique presentations that are sure to make memories that last a lifetime.
Paula Maxwell
Paula Maxwell was born in San Diego, California, and got her feet wet in the entertainment field as a magician’s assistant in her father’s magic shop, Land of Magic, in Ventura, California, where she developed her own magic show for children. She decided to hang up her magic wand to raise a family, but her heart called her back to the stage, and at 36 she enrolled in a theater course at college and began acting in local theater productions. She was fortunate to find an improvisational troupe known as Ventura Theater Sports where she learned to fearlessly fail and say “Yes and… “. As a part of the Theater Sports family, she represented them at Keith Johnstone’s acclaimed “Loose Moose Academy” summer school in Calvary, Canada. As her ambitions grew, Paula started her own professional troupe, P. Maxwell Productions, and the rest is history. Today they are known as Southern California’s “Premiere Murder Mystery Troupe” and are experts in long-form interactive and improvisational entertainment. Paula is ever active in film, theater, and improvisation.
Ken Duncan
Ken Duncan was born in Rock Island, IL, and bounced around the United States with his family until they landed in Carpinteria, California in his junior year of high school. There he earned varsity letters in football, basketball, and track & field in both his junior and senior years. He received an athletic scholarship to the University of Tulsa to play football, but it was interrupted by the draft into the U.S. Army in 1967. Duncan served a year-long tour in Vietnam and then returned to the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma in the spring of 1969 where he played two seasons of football. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications and was selected a Sporting News All-American punter in 1970. At the University of Tulsa, he was chosen as team co-captain and tied the school record punt of 87 yards that year. Duncan was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1971 and played for the Green Bay Packers from 1971-72, until a knee injury sidelined his career. Ken served as a public relations liaison for Strategy and Tactics during the 1980s with the University of Southern California, working with the likes of Ronald Reagan, Eric Sevareid, Zig Ziglar, and Paul Harvey. Ken then began his acting career and is a co-founder of Theater Sports in the city of Ventura. He has appeared in numerous films, television episodes, and commercials. Ken is in three Halls of Fames in the state of California for athletic accomplishments.
Lisa Wardell
Lisa was born at home in Shelley, ID to homemaker Shawna (Anderson) and nuclear engineer Mel Wardell. She has two older brothers and two younger. Lisa found her love of film at a young age. She started directing movies at 7 by pilfering the family camcorder and press-ganging the neighborhood kids into being in her films. Lisa attended Shelley High School where she was active in the theater, dance team, art, and show choir. When she was 18 Lisa started her first company “The Midsummer Players” where she directed, acted, produced, and production-designed Shakespeare plays for her community, eventually taking the troupe on tour throughout Southeast Idaho. Lisa went on to study theater at BYU-Idaho where she acted in numerous productions. It was in her time at BYU-Idaho that Lisa found her love of fencing and swordplay. Lisa moved to Los Angeles where she helped found the independent film company Runes Picture Company.
Jonathan Castile
Born in Tullahoma, Tennessee, Jonathan Castile was born to Vicky Christie, (Vicky Lee) who was a leather craftsman, and Ed Castile, who works for the State of Alabama. Jonathan made his debut as an actor in a Southern Baptist World Hunger Foundation infomercial. He majored in acting at Austin Peay University and received numerous awards like Performer of the Year and Best Actor. He was an Irene Ryan semi-finalist at the South Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC). He also helped start Clean Cut Productions and Campus Wild, a sketch comedy show at Austin Peay University. He moved to Los Angeles and helped found Runes Picture Company which went on to win various awards in film festivals around the country. Jonathan is also a prolific magician having performed and created illusions for music videos, film, and television. His hobbies include working on cars, building and crafting, and writing.
Dolores Dyer
From her time as a standup comedian in New York, to teaching improvisation, we will always remember the day Dolores came into the lives of the P. Maxwell troupe of players. There is nothing she can’t tackle or won’t try. This fearless comedian is always to the ready and elevates our shows to another level with her energy and presence. We love Dolores and so do our patrons. A true one-of-a-kind talent. You can see her as Cookie the Clown in other venues or hire her for your own party for a sure-fire high-energy event.
Chris Hill
Chris Hill from Raleigh NC came to Los Angeles to pursue a career in professional acting and stand-up comedy. He has been in several commercials and made his movie debut as Paparazzi 1 in the Dark Knight Rises, he performed as a few different characters in the Nickelodeon cartoon “The Legend of Kora” and does the voice of Mr. Munch for Chuck E. Cheese. His stand-up includes appearances at The Improv, and The Comedy Store in LA, Charlie Goodnights in Raleigh, and the HAHA Hole in New York City. Working on the Fillmore & Western Railway train has been by far the most fun Chris has had while performing and only wishes that every guest has had much fun as he’s having.
Jenny Alvarado
Jenny Alvarado is a singer who performs at various venues throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. She enjoys singing old-time western, swing, and 60’s folk songs. One 4th of July, she was invited to perform on the Fillmore & Western Railway, and has been a Murder Mystery train show regular ever since. Jenny enjoys working alongside the wonderfully talented Murder Mystery show actors, who always bring unexpected, hilarious antics that are an inspiration to all.
Rick Sharp
Rick Sharp maintains an active career in The Arts. He has had supporting and lead roles on ABC, Oxygen, PBS, TLC, Discovery, and commercials for Tire Pros, Adobe, and the Golf Channel. Sharp has also had lead, supporting, and feature roles in 15 independent films. He was discovered by Fillmore & Western Railway’s Theater Director Paula Maxwell 20 years ago during a fundraiser play for Dudley House in Ventura, California. Sharp has been held happily captive on the Train’s dinner theater ever since.
Nancy Nester
Nancy Nester is a true Entrepreneur with her Movie Girl Makeup, and Movie Girl Photography, she is forever making people beautiful for special events and family picture opportunities. Face painting for a party, making pretty for Prom Night, or getting the whole family ready for a special picture opportunity. We at P. Maxwell Productions are lucky to have her special talents with us to help make our shows even more beautiful with her star turn presence.
Neal Abramson
Neal Abramson has been with P. Maxwell Productions since its first show on the Train, in November of 1996, and he was the murderer! Since then, our Eagle Scout has become the Stage Manager, keeping us all on time and on track. He has developed some very memorable characters along the way that add so much to what we present to our wonderful patrons. What would we do without his clear no-nonsense attitude, keeping all our troupe safe and sound.
Cate Kessler
Cate is so glad to be on board the Fillmore & Western for another wild ride! Originally from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, it was evident from a very young age that Cate would be making a life on the stage. She booked her first professional theater contract at 17 and hasn’t looked back since, participating in countless productions and touring the country performing. She received her BFA in professional acting from East Carolina University and studied improv at The Groundlings School. Some of her favorite roles include Blanche- A Streetcar Named Desire, Lucy- Dracula, Elizabeth- Laundry & Bourbon, Lady Macbeth- Macbeth, Meredith Loxley- The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, and The Queen of Hearts- Alice in Wonderland. Cate is also a Punch and Judy puppeteer, runs a knitting business, and is learning ambidextrous bullwhip tricks.
Timothy Oaks
Timothy Oakes was born ‘Timothy Allen Oakes’ in Mesa, Arizona to Clarita David and Gregory Oakes – a recently retired Marine. While growing up, Oakes was involved in many competitive sports ( baseball, basketball, ping-pong), and had very little experience acting. After studying with the “University of Northern Colorado”s esteemed Acting program from 2016-20, Timothy moved West and decided to commit fully to an actor’s career journey. There, he appeared in a wide variety films, and occasionally some professional theatre. His debut for his first feature film came with ‘Cross 3’ (Cross Trilogy), starring Danny Trejo in 2019. Timothy’s crowning stage experience came with the titular role of ‘Macbeth’, in “The Shakespeare Center of LA'”s 2019 production of “the play. There, he was directed by South London resident and popular Shakespeare royalty in ‘Kenn Sabberton’ (15+ year background with the Royal Shakespeare Company). After appearing in several projects in the Los Angeles area, Timothy now works all over the country (LA, ATL, and NY) in film production. Catch BTS shots from his latest project through WELL DONNE PRODUCTIONS called, “TRUE SELF” on IMDb, and social media. (IG: @tistimothy).
Kaelyn Richie
Kaelyn Richey was born in Ventura, California and is the youngest member of our troupe. It’s no secret that she might be following in her grandparents’ footsteps, Ken and Paula. She has just finished college and is currently working as a medical assistant with aspirations to become a nurse, but she will forever be remembered for the darling characters that she continues to bring onto the train shows, as she entertains our special guests who can’t help but fall in love with her effervescent personality. Nepotism at its best. Once bitten, as they say!
Christopher Craven
Christopher is the newest member of our troupe, and he took to us like a duck to water. This was shortly before Covid shut our doors for the time being, so we look forward to seeing what will happen when Christopher joins back up with us in the not-too-distant future.