Debuting Artist: Joshua Moore
Joshua is taking the stage for the very first time with OpenStage for The Mousetrap!
1.) Can you share a bit about your background and how you first became involved in theatre?
I first got involved in theatre in high school. I was very interested in joining when I was a freshman and a sports injury forced me to reconsider my activities. I joined theatre and fell in love with the ability to apply mechanical skills to an artistic medium and the rest is history!
2.) How did you first hear about OpenStage, and what drew you to work with us for this show?
My mom took me to see Cyrano de Bergerac in the summer of 2022. Cyrano was a favorite of mine from middle school english class and I loved the show. Coming into my freshman year as a theatre student at CSU, I pictured myself behind the sound board. After coming to OpenStage throughout my college career, I saw this season’s announcement and thought it would be a great way to get involved with some professional work before I graduate.
3.) What is your specific role or area of expertise for this show, and what excites you the most about working on this production?
I am the Sound Designer and Sound Engineer for this show. I am really excited to take my skills that I have worked on at Colorado State and apply them to a new environment. This will be my professional sound design debut so I am thrilled to see it come together.
4.) What is the most interesting or unique aspect of your work for this production?
My focus as a Sound Designer is always on immersing the audience into the show. Connecting with emotion and guiding the audience through the tension of every moment is at the core of my design philosophy. For The Mousetrap, that meant immersing speakers into the scenery and designing a fully directional sound system. Audiences will be able to experience the play as if they are a character in the show.
5.) What makes The Mousetrap a unique play to work on?
While many of Agatha Christie’s works have been adapted to other mediums, The Mousetrap has never been adapted to book or film. It’s really special to create an experience that audiences can only experience live. Live performance is key to what I do as an artist and keeping that flame lit is essential. There’s no better way to learn and experience humanity like theatre.
6.) What is your favorite moment or scene in the show, and why does it stand out to you?
Scene Two is my favorite part of the show. There are some really fun moments to design which I’m very excited for audiences to see. This play is a masterclass in red herrings and hiding things in plain sight but this is especially the case in Scene two and uncovering all of them has been such a joy.
7.) Who is your favorite character in the show and why?
My favorite character is Mollie Ralston. Mollie is such a dynamic character; I feel like she is truly an empath who has no choice but to experience the emotion of the moment. Katy White does an incredible job of bringing the nuances of her character to life.
8.) What is your favorite play or musical?
My favorite play is The Normal Heart. It was performed at CSU 3 years ago and has inspired me to this day. A more recent favorite is Hadestown which I was lucky enough to see on Broadway this past fall. My dream is to sound design on broadway and seeing that show reignited a spark to work even harder to get there!
9.) What is one of your favorite designs or technical/show achievements from your career so far, and what made it special to you?
I sound designed a production of Into the Woods which was nominated for the Kennedy Center National Sound Design Award. I was able to travel to Washington DC for a week of workshops, local theatre and networking and was lucky enough to take home 2nd place. While designing the show was an incredibly hard process it was worthwhile and gave me such a great opportunity to grow. I really hope more students get involved with the American College Theatre Festival and share the experience that I had.
10.) Is there a dream role or type of production you hope to work on in the future? OR What upcoming projects or roles are you excited about?
I am really excited to close my time at CSU by Stage Managing the upcoming production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. I have been so fortunate to participate in 14 incredible shows at Colorado State and this is a great production to end it off.
11.) What do you like to do in your free time when you’re not working on theatre projects?
In my free time I enjoy both listening to and working on music. I collect CDs and love digging through thrift stores around old town (Little Horse Vintage is my favorite spot). I also love to travel and spend time in National Parks. I hope to travel to all 63 parks and all 50 states.
The Mousetrap
By Agatha Christie
Directed by Heather Ostberg Johnson
January 9th, 2026 – February 7th, 2026
A spine-chilling crime, seven strangers, and nowhere to run. Trapped by a rel
entless blizzard at Monkswell Manor, seven stranded guests soon discover that murder is afoot — and no one is above suspicion. With every revelation, the tension mounts, alibis begin to fray, and the killer tightens their grip. A perfect storm of intrigue, secrets, and suspense, Agatha Christie’s legendary whodunit has kept audiences guessing for over 70 years.
Content/Atmosphere Warning: Contains adult themes. For specific questions on content, please contact info@openstage.com
