Meet the Actors for Murder in the Alley: A Saline Main Street Murder/Mystery

Last Updated 1/26/2026

Get ready for an unforgettable night of small-town fun and big-time mystery! Murder in the Alley: A Saline Main Street Murder Mystery is coming to The 109 Cultural Exchange (109 W. Michigan Ave, Saline) on January 29, 30, and 31 at 7:00 PM—the perfect way to enjoy dinner downtown and then settle in for a show. This year’s cast is a wonderful mix of familiar local faces and talented performers, all coming together to bring this interactive evening to life. Read on to meet the actors behind the characters, and be sure to grab your tickets HERE before they’re gone!

Adrian Diffey as Co-Director, Deputy Diffey or D.D.

Co-Director, Adrian Diffey is the Cofounder of Mind the Gap Theater, and has performed with the National Theatre in Luxembourg, Brussels, and London. Most recently seen in Outside Mullingar [Tony] The Woman in Black, [Mr. Kipps] and Last of the Red Hot Lovers [Barney] other credits include the film The Great Bear currently featured on Amazon Prime.

Fran Potasnik as Co-Director and Hilda Mercer

Fran Potasnik, Co-Director, has been involved in many aspects of theater for more years than she cares to admit. She has performed and sung in venues in Luxembourg, London, Antwerp and Michigan, and has directed both student and adult productions. She makes up one half of Mind the Gap, a small performance group which has produced many plays by well known playwrights, as well as comedy and musical events, both here and in Europe.

Patrick Grimes as Detective Riley Grant

Patrick Grimes is thrilled to be working with Mind the Gap Theatre and Saline Main Street again! There is nothing quite like a live show! Some of his favorite roles include “Mick” in the play “Hotel Del Gado” (Neighborhood Theatre Group), “The Writer” in the film “Artificial Inspiration” (Dir. Alejandro Cantu), “The Actor” in the play “The Woman in Black” (Mind the Gap Theatre), “Leon” in the play “The Love List” (A Wilde Theatre) and is looking forward to playing “Richard William Johnson” in the play “Take 127” with Live Action Fun Factory MI, this April. Patrick spent much of his youth studying the Meisner method with Redbud Productions. He wants to thank the cast and crew, as well as his parents Tim and Loretta for their support.

Sean Sabo as Rene Cobb

Sean Sabo has performed in several theaters in the Detroit/Ypsi/Ann Arbor area over the last couple decades and is happy to work with Mind the Gap Theater Group for this special show. Thanks to Adrian, Fran, and Mary for putting this together and to the cast for making it happen. Some favorite roles include Bill in The Love List at A Wilde Theater, Tupolski in The Pillowman with Threefold Productions in Ypsi, the Horseman/Nugget in the Blackbird Theater’s production of Equus, Claudius in Shakespeare Royal Oak’s Hamlet and Iago in Ann Arbor Civic Theater’s Othello. Sean has also taught English and Acting at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor for over twenty years, but the stage is always calling. Enjoy!

Sarah Burcon as Carole Dunham

Sarah Burcon is excited to be part of Murder in the Alley here in Saline! Some theatres she’s performed with are Theatre Nova, Planet Ant, The Dio, the Ringwald, a Wilde Theatre, Michigan Irish Repertory Theatre, Performance Network, Two Muses, The Encore, and Monster Box. Enjoy the show, and we hope you can help us catch the killer!

Karrie Waarala as Dahlia Quinn

Karrie Waarala regularly directs and acts for PTD Productions theatre company in Ypsilanti, as well as serving on the Board of Directors as Treasurer. Some of her favorite roles include Judith Bliss in Hay Fever, Emilia in Othello, and Barbara Grant in Perfect Arrangement. Karrie is looking forward to directing Southern Rapture this summer, which is based on the true story of a southern city up in arms over a production of Angels in America in the 1990s. By day, Karrie is the Director of the Saline District Library.

Jerry Doty as Noah Flynn

Jerry Doty met his wife Karrie Waarala when they were cast as romantic partners for a theatre production with the Saline Area Players. Among his favorite roles since then were Theodore Sunderson in Perfect Arrangement, The Limping Man in Fuddy Meers, and Steve Stevenson in A Very Shakespeare Christmas, all with PTD Productions in Ypsilanti. Jerry's favorite pastimes include sitting on the patio in the summer at Salt Springs Brewery, Happy Hour at Mac's, and playing basketball at the Liberty School with a bunch of ne'er-do-wells.

Mary Dettling as Producer and Whitney Hale

Mary Dettling is thrilled to be part of this year’s murder mystery at The 109. While she hasn’t acted since high school (except for last year’s mystery!), she’s having a great time jumping back in and working with such a fun cast. She’s excited to help bring this show to life and hopes you enjoy the twists, turns, and suspects along the way.