Irritation To A Murder is now available

My newest script "Irritation To A Murder" is now available. It's an updated take on the classic 1930's detective murder mystery with a dash of screwball comedy thrown in. Of course the title is a variation or twisting of the Rufus King, 1934 mystery melodrama play called "Invitation To A Murder".
The plot of "Irritation" is basically a tip of the hat to the old "Thin Man" mysteries from MGM, but set in the present day.

Last Writes

I have completed a new murder mystery script called "Irritation To A Murder". A few blogs down you can read about the basic idea for the play and at the time of that posting, I was halfway finished. I am fortunate as playwright to have a theatre group willing to produce my plays as soon as they are complete. Actually, the group more or less "commissions" a new play from me and assigns a deadline, which I always try to meet. "Try" being the key word.

Yes, I admit, I work best under pressure. Ever since I can remember, it has been my "modus operandi". I can recall countless late nights as a kid in grade school, sitting at the kitchen table across from my grandmother, trying to squeak out a book report or an essay that was due the next day. My grandmother would constantly question my "last minute" writing habits and I never could supply a good answer other than, "I forgot about it."
If fact, I can even recall a few oral book reports, where I would have to stand in front of the class and tell everyone about a book I had read. I would always fail to mention that in actuality, I had only read some of the book. I developed a certain knack for 'filling' or 'stretching' certain aspects of the book and even "making up" subplots that didn't exist. I would talk until the teacher felt I was running too long and informed me my time was up. I believe this helped me later in my stage career to become adept at improvisation.


My creative powers seem to shine under the pressure of an impending deadline. I can only write with a 'Sword of Damocles' hanging over my head. I remember a composition class in college that further fueled my last minute tendencies, by providing actual proof that I produced better under pressure than with preparation. (sorry about the alliteration there.)
Anyway, for one essay I chose a topic and set about writing a paper in the 'proper fashion'.
I went to the library and did research. I compiled notes on 3x5 cards, formed an outline, spent several weeks writing, revising rough drafts into a first drafts into a second draft, until I created a worthwhile essay complete with footnotes, references and a bibliography all contained in a slick plastic binder. I got a "C" on it.
For our next assignment, we watched a short film in class and then were required to write a paper within the short time remaining. No preparation, no 3x5 index cards or drafts; just straight forward, stream of consciousness composition. Just like my hero at the time, Jack Kerouac. I got an "A" on it. Of course, I had to show my Grandmother that one.

So, as I was saying, I finished the new script. Most of the play was on paper, I would say 3/4th by the time my theatre group held auditions. I frequently hold off finishing a script for a few reasons, one is to prevent the auditioning actors from reading "how it ends" and the other reason to see what actors the director will select for the various roles. Sometimes, a selected actor will influence the script. On several occasions, I have refined a character in a play based on how a particular actor read for the role. I may have envisioned the character one way, but an actor takes it in a different, new and better direction.

So it seems, having said that, I have finally constructed a reason not to finish something on time. Although, I no longer sit at the kitchen table across from my grandmother frantically trying to finish, at least now I begin writing plays in advance and revised as I go. However, I leave just enough to bring Damocles' Sword into view above my head and get the creative juices to flow.
I sometimes pictures my grandmother up in Heaving sitting at a kitchen table across from Jack Kerouac asking him, "Why?".

Murder Mystery Double Feature - Twice

Recently I have had the honor of being a double feature, twice. What I mean, is that one theatre group has staged two of my plays at the same time. Last month, Lawrence High School in Lawrence Kansas ran Some Show (about a Murder) and Dead Air. One play takes place during a low budget cable TV show and the other takes place during a Radio broadcast. Charles Goolsby, theatre director at Lawrence High talked to me about the concept of doing both plays on the same set. I thought it was a great idea. Each show ran alternating nights. In essence, a double feature.

This month (December) it is happening again. West Valley High School in Hemet,California is featuring Death Of A Doornail and To Wake The Dead using the same basic set.

Here is a news article about the event:

By DIANE RHODES
Special to The Press-Enterprise

Murder and mayhem are not typical dinner table topics, unless you are a guest at the West Valley High School Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre.

As part of the event, guests will dine on roast turkey, mashed potatoes and vegetables from Greg's Catering in the banquet hall, which is the temporarily transformed band room.

Then, they will be escorted to the theater to watch the first half of an interactive murder mystery. During intermission, guests return to the banquet hall for dessert and coffee and a chance to discuss all the clues they have witnessed. After returning to the theater, they will be able to question the suspects and try to name the killer. Prizes will be given for correct guesses based on a random drawing from a basket of all correct answers.

"This production was the idea of band and technical director TJ Hepburn," said Stacey Bailey, who is directing the program.

"He will be turning his band room into a mysterious banqueting hall reminiscent of the Haunted Mansion."

"Wake the Dead" is set at an Irish wake and "Death of a Doornail" takes place in a British drawing room setting.

Each play has about 12 characters and will be presented on alternating nights.

Christopher Malandrinos is dual cast and said his characters are pretty different.

"You have to really know your role and stay in character with accents and everything," said Christopher, 15. His role of Edward requires a British accent and Chief Wambaugh is Irish.

Students had to learn improvisation skills along with their lines so they can stay in character while answering audience questions and casting suspicion on their fellow actors.

"I've never done dinner theater before but I like it because it's straight up drama -- singing is not my strong suit," said Sarah Pettis, 15, who plays Inspector Bukowski in "Death of a Doornail."

Sara Barnes plays the exotic dancer and suspected killer Peaches Crabtree in "Wake."

"I'm a big fan of mysteries," said Sara, 15. "I like musicals a lot but with my passion for acting I just couldn't pass this up. It's a lot of work but it's worth it."

"I did a lot of research to find two plays that allowed me to use the same basic set," said Bailey. She said Hepburn, with help from Joe Hameister and Patty Chavez, designed a set for the banquet hall that is "over the top" and can seat 180 people.

Bailey hopes local businesses and organizations will use the whodunit as a holiday celebration -- a way to reward their staff and have fun together. A 10 percent discount is given for 10 or more tickets.

Cost is $25 per person or $45 for two people. All guests receive a complimentary copy of the production's memory book, which is a $15 value.

Performances are at 6 p.m. today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the school's theater at 3401 Mustang Way in Hemet.

Information and reservations: 951-765-6420.

New Mystery in the Works

My local theatre group Affton CenterStage contacted me earlier in the year about writing a new murder mystery for them. I had been kicking around a few ideas so I decided it was time to nail one of the ideas down on paper.
Before I start writing, I begin with a long mental process. As an example, I was inspired by watching a few old movies on TV. One was His Girl Friday made back in 1940 with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. It's more or less a wacky screwball comedy with snappy dialogue and rapid fire one liners. I've always had a soft spot in my funny bone for witty word play. I blame the Marx Brothers and Monty Python for that. Not too long after watching that film, I saw The Thin Man on TV. Another old favorite of mine from 1934, which was based on Dashiell Hammett's story. Another fast paced witty story with Nick and Nora Charles as the detective team - sipping martini's and figuring out who the killer was - I thought to myself, I would love to write something along those lines. Where the detective is not so serious and the solving of the crime seems to be an afterthought. "Oh and by the way, the butler did it."
So the mental process began. I refer to it as simmering or fermenting. I take a few vague ideas and let them ferment into something solid. The initial idea was to set a murder mystery in the 40's and have it take place in a Manhattan Penthouse similar to "The Thin Man". Blended with the idea to utilize the witty dialogue as in "His Girl Friday". The more I thought about it, (or let it simmer) the more I felt I needed to make it my own and not just re-do something already done. In one sense I wanted to pay a homage to that 1930/1940's style of witty word play but again, I felt it should be different. In essence, I needed create something new and not to re-do.
I kept the idea of an urban detective story filled with wacky characters, similar to the old movies and carried them forward into the present day. I thought, "What if the characters of Nick and Nora Charles were around today, what would they be like? Would Nick Charles use modern technology and the internet to help solve the crime? Would he Twitter about the case?"
Running with that idea and blending a few modern day events: a villain who is a greedy, corporate tycoon along the lines of Bernie Madoff named "Gatewood" (which was the name of the greedy banker in the 1939 film Stagecoach) and few other assorted screwball characters a solid idea finally presented itself. The mental task of idea fermenting finally was ready to emerge on paper. The process of writing "Irritation To A Murder" has started. In a few weeks... I will know if it's ready.

"Death of A Doornail " and "To Wake The Dead" in San Jacinto

Republished From San Jacinto California Vally Chronicle:

Whodunit? Audience will have to guess

VALERIE DEW / The Valley Chronicle
West Valley High School’s drama department will present ‘To Wake the Dead,’ which takes places at an Irish wake.

By VALERIE DEW/The Valley Chronicle

A man falls out of a window and dies. Or did he jump? Or, better yet, was he pushed?

A scorned wife’s husband is missing. Did she finish him off for cheating on her with Bambi Candy? Or was the girlfriend after his loot? Could it have been the maid?

It’s up to the audience to decide — and if they decide right, there could be a prize in it for them.

West Valley High School’s drama department is bringing its first-ever murder-mystery dinner to the San Jacinto Valley.

For years, Stacy Bailey, the school’s theater teacher, has been putting on murder-mystery dinners for her thespians.

“It’s their favorite party all year,” Bailey said.

This year, the group decided to go public with the mystery.

One of two shows will be presented each night Dec. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Bailey said they are not telling which show is on which night because they don’t want people who have already seen it to ruin it for others. With a prize given to an audience member who guesses the killer, the actors are being tight-lipped on the whodunit.

One show, “Death of a Doornail,” is a spoof on the old drawing-room murder mysteries.

Bailey said the show is cast with “stock characters,” such as the girlfriend of the dead man, Candy Bambi; the gangster and best friend of the victim, Sal Carbone; and the inspector on the case, Inspector Bukowski.

Shannon Walsh, who plays Candy Bambi, said the show is hilarious, especially her character.

“My character is super smartastical!” Shannon said. “I’m playing the dumbest character I’ve ever played. I’m insane, and it’s hilarious to watch me be crazy on purpose.”

Mrs. Abigail Doornail — the dead man’s wife — is played by Ashley Hassell.

Abigail said her character is over dramatic, which adds to the hilarity.

“I put my hand on my head a lot and say ‘Why, I never!’” Ashley said.

Sarah Pettis, who plays inspector Bukowski, said she enjoys interrogating the others because she does it in such a sarcastic manner.

Joey Gallardo, who plays Sal Carbone, said his character is obnoxious and that adds to the humor of the show.

The second show is “To Wake the Dead.”

It takes place at an Irish wake. The man who died jumped out of a window. Or fell. Or was pushed.

The cast tries to figure out which one of them did the deed, if, indeed, the deed was foul.

Bailey said she worked a lot with the cast on casting their suspicions on one another.

Sydni Bailey, who plays Deena Koontze, said her favorite part of the show is when it is revealed what happened.

Each show has four parts.

The audience will first eat a dinner of salad, smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, and vegetables in the band room, which will be transformed into a banquet hall with a fireplace and creepy pictures.

After the meal, the audience will be ushered into the theater, where they will watch the production.

At intermission, the audience will go back into the banquet hall for coffee and desert.

When they return to the theater, the audience will have a chance to ask the cast questions to help solve the mystery.

Bailey said the cast will answer every question in character, so it’s an improv.

After the question-and-answer session, the audience will cast votes on whom they think the killer is. They will be broken up into groups depending on whom they picked.

Then the killer will be revealed.

After the mystery is solved, a cast member will pick a name out of the group of people who voted correctly. The person whose name is drawn will win a gift basket worth about $100.

Elizabeth Crowley, who plays Stephanie King, said the improv is what she is most looking forward to.

“I like to see who the audience thinks did it,” Crowley said.

Patricia Ayala, who plays Agatha C. Fletcher in “To Wake the Dead,” said she can’t wait for the characters interact with the audience.

“The characters have no idea who the murderer is,” Patricia said.

Sarah Barnes, who plays Peaches Marie Crabtree in “To Wake the Dead,” said her favorite part of the show is the question-and-answer session.

“I got my character down,” she said when asked if she was nervous about answering questions.

Bailey said the two-story set will resemble a haunted mansion.

T.J. Hepburn, West Valley’s band director, is pulling double duty as the set designer.

Tickets cost $25 or $45 for two. Bailey said reservations must be made at least three days before the show a person wants to attend.

During Thanksgiving week, no one will be available to answer the phone, but Bailey said messages will be checked for reservations.

Bailey said the murder-mystery dinner would be a perfect event for an office to attend as a holiday party. Groups of 10 or more will receive 10 percent off of the price.

Shows are at 6 p.m. Dec. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

For information, call the box office at 765-6420.

Brawley Union High School Department does "Some Show"

From the Ivpressonline out in Imperial Valley, California comes a nice article promoting the Brawley Union HS production of Some Show (about a murder). This was the second Murder Mystery script I wrote and as you might be able to tell from the title, was a bit hard pressed to come up with a title. As a joke, I told everyone I was going to call the play "Some Show about a murder". I mean, after all, it's easy to remember. When friends ask what you are going to see, it's easy to say "Some Show about a murder."

Anyway, here is some article about some high school doing some show:


Murder mystery takes stage
By Sara Malan

While traveling through the Imperial Valley, hosts of the talk show “The Ricky & Nickie Rivers Show” ran into tragedy — and mystery.
During the taping of an episode featuring celebrities who will soon be starting their own talk shows, one guest became enraged, deemed “The Ricky & Nickie Rivers Show” a “joke” and a “pathetic side show like all the others” and stormed off the stage.

Shortly after the outburst, cast and crew discovered her body offstage. Phoebe St. Self, a well-known “domestic engineering” expert, had planned to lead a talk show on the topic of excelling at the art of caring for the home.

“I love the smell of Pine-Sol in the morning,” St. Self said on camera shortly before her demise. “It smells like victory.”

It is soon determined that everyone is a suspect.

“Oh, this is great! One of us is a murderer,” said show guest and gossip columnist Gwen Bennet, played by Celeste Alvarez.

The Brawley Union High School drama department will present Lee Mueller’s “Some Show (about a murder).” The dinner theater-style production, serving pizza, opens tonight and runs through Sunday afternoon, with the spotlight on a cast of 11 students and the audience itself at times.

“It was a talk show about talk shows, but now it’s a mystery show,” sums up host Ricky Rivers, played by Rudy Robles.

Drama teacher Jason Contreras said he is really proud of the students putting together the show in only three weeks, especially with the amount of self-directing they have done.

A Visit to Freedom

I drove up to Freedom, Wisconsin this weekend at the invitation of Lindsay Cummings, co-founder and President of FACT Players of the Freedom Area Community Theater.
What was unique about this trip is that I was invited to the rehearsals not the actual production of the play "Murder Me Always". Which was a nice change of pace.
I was able watch the show in progress and as well as offer the "story" behind the script - why and how I wrote the play - who the characters may or may not have been based on. You know, the information that actors hardly ever get to learn.
I also had the opportunity to lead the actors through a few "improvisational" games which helps "bond" the group and also prepares them for the "improv" portion of the play - in which the audience is invited to ask the characters questions.
Hopefully, it was good experience for the actors and crew and perhaps I imparted a little insight. I tried not to be too terribly boring. (I promise)
I know it was a good experience for me as I was able to see my play come to life and hear how the lines I wrote were interpreted by actors. For a playwright, it's nice to be able to learn how your work translates: if you have written dialogue that is clear enough and/or scene descriptions that are concise enough for anyone to pick up and understand your intention. No to mention actually 'get' your jokes and references.
I can say that the FACT Players have done an outstanding job of picking up my work, understanding my intention, (and jokes) and running with it.

"Getting Murdered In The Morning" premiers in Vietnam

That's right. My work has been produced in the United Kingdom and in Spain but now, The Saigon Players are bringing "I'm Getting Murdered In the Morning" to the Legend Hotel in Ho Chi Minn City May 21st, 22nd and 23rd.

I can't tell you how great that feels. When a playwright first writes a play, he or she just hopes a few people in the area show up to see it. To think that this little idea you plunked out on a typewriter is being produced for a whole different culture half way around the world is pretty amazing.

Here are the details:

Email saigonplayers@gmail.com or

SMS: 0908 546 015.
7pm Thursday 21st, May
7pm Friday 22nd, May
2pm & 7pm Saturday 23rd May
@ The Legend Hotel
2A-4A Ton Duc Thang Street
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam

Take a Look Behind the Scenes of "Murder Me Always"

A few years ago, Exit Theatre based in Croydon, UK. staged a brilliant production of my script "Murder Me Always". I'd seen a few photos from their version and even use some of them on Play-dead.com. From all appearances, Exit Theatre went all out with the play and I really wish I could have traveled across the pond and experienced it. But the next best thing is a series of videos they posted called 'Behind the Scenes at Murder Me Always'. They allow you the viewer to wander around backstage and get a... well, "Behind the Scenes" look. So let's look at the scenes that are.. behind Murder Me Always.

All Over at Chaparral High School

In the previous post I mentioned auditions at North Florida Community College for "All Over But The Shooting", well today I get word that Chaparral High School in Parker Colorado has all ready held auditions and is performing the show September 11 and 12 at 6:00 PM at Chaparral High School, 15655 Brookstone Drive, Parker.

Here is a blurb taken from Denver.yourhub.com:

"Chaparral High School's national award winning Encore Players would like to invite everyone to All Over But the Shooting, written by Lee Mueller.


This show will kick off the 2008-09 Encore Players season schedule. All Over But the Shooting is a murder mystery dinner theater show that will have the audience laughing through out the night. All Over But the Shooting is a show about a theater group holding auditions for a Murder Mystery called "Death of A Disco Dancer." All of the typical actors show up to audition.


The auditions get underway without too many problems, well one ... one of the actors mysteriously dies. As luck would have it, Inspector Bonnie Brauvera is present at the auditions to serve as Technical adviser for the play. Will she be able to solve the mystery before the curtain goes? Come see to find out."

Grateful For The Name

A friend of mine contacted via email today to tell me he was out driving and saw a this bumper sticker:



Aware that my website is called Play-Dead and also knowing that I had been a "dead-head" at one time, my friend was curious if there was any connection.

Actually, yes and no. It is true that back in the early 1980's, I became a part-time Dead Head - I did see the Grateful Dead about 10 times and traveled out to Colorado for a 3 night stint at Red Rocks, but I was not a full time Dead Head. Full time would be traveling all over the country and following them on tour. I only did it when I had the time and money.

Anyway, about the Play Dead bumper sticker. No I did not choose the name based on an Homage to the Grateful Dead. Actually, I was cutting the grass one afternoon and can't help but have 'grass cutting thoughts' (which is something like daydreaming in productive way) Anyway, I had been trying to think of a a good name for my Murder Mystery Script website. I was pushing the lawnmower around the yard, I recalled back when I was a kid and my dog would leave little presents for me in the grass. (yes Dog poop) I remembered, no matter how careful I was, I always managed to step in it. As I thought about my dog and her trick of leaving surprises for me, I thought of other tricks that dogs learn. Such as roll over, get down off the couch, stop eating that and of course playing dead. A light bulb goes off and illuminates the section of my brain that was thinking about good web site names and it hooked up with the other side that was thinking about dog tricks and "PLAY DEAD" was born.

I put the lawnmower away, wiped off my shoes, (no dog poop this time) and ran to the computer to see if I could purchase the Domain Name. I checked "Playdead" and I learned that "playdead.com" was taken. Dang deal! I thought for a second and then I remembered my friend Bob Baker and how he couldn't get his own name for a domain, Bobbaker.com. (It was taken by a car dealership or something) So he used a hyphen in his name and got Bob-Baker.com. So, I tried it with a hyphen; "Play-dead.com" - and that name was available. I grabbed it.

Out of curiosity, I checked on the website "Playdead" -without the hyphen and it was (maybe still is) a Grateful Dead site dedicated to learning and playing songs by the Dead. Wow. Cool.

So, no my site had nothing to do with the band. Even though they were a big part of my life, it was not a nod to Jerry, Bob and the boys. Instead, Play-dead was actually a nod to stepping in dog poop while cutting the grass.

Woodland Friends "Wake The Dead"

From the Daily Democrat -Woodland, California

The Woodland Friends of the Library will present their 9th Annual Mystery Night, Silent Auction and Wine Tasting on Saturday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m.
The activities will at the Woodland Library and in the library's Leake Room. Prior to the start of the murder, mayhem and mischief, guests will be treated to wine and finger foods as they walk through the library gathering clues and bidding on some great silent auction items.

At 7:30 the curtain will rise on To Wake The Dead a hilarious murder/comedy play in the style of previous Mystery Night plays. The 12-member cast includes Councilman and Sheriff's lieutenant, Jeff Monroe; Planning Commissioner, Marti Dote; Insurance Agent, Jim Hilliard; Chief of Police, Carey Sullivan; Chamber of Commerce CEO, Kristy Wright; Yolo County Recorder, Freddie Oakley; Woodland Mayor, Dave Flory; Woodland Finance Director, Joan Drayton; Councilman Art Pimentel; City Manager, Mark Deven; and West Sacramento Mayor, Chris Cabaldon.

Directing this outstanding (and infamous) cast will be Woodland's own playwright/director, Sue Bigelow. Having had one of her plays open on Broadway last May ("Rose Colored Glass"), she should do a great job of keeping this unique cast on their toes and the laughs coming.

The audience will be totally involved in determining "who done it" as the cast goes to the wake of Fred Finnegan, a successful writer of mysteries and supernatural stories. Each cast member is a caricature of a famous mystery writer and dialogue is full of puns and clever comments (with the title being a play on James Joyce's novel, "Finnegan's Wake." At the conclusion of the play, the audience following the clues, will have a chance to determine the murderer and win a prize for "best detective."

Tickets go quickly and are limited, so be sure to order early. The cost is only $35. Make checks payable to Friends of the Woodland Library (or FOL Mystery Night). Indicate the number of tickets wanted, along with telephone number and e-mail for confirmation of receipt of your check. Mail checks to FOL, P.O. Box 545, Woodland, CA 95776. Envelope must be postmarked by March 1. After that date the tickets will be $40 and you can call for reservations at 666-2298 and pay for them at the door. Information will also be available on the City of Woodland Library site at City Of Wooland library under the Friends tab.

Tennessee sees "Death Of A Doornail" again

The Gem Players are bringing back those zany characters by popular demand in “Death of a Doornail,,” a mystery dinner theater event on Feb. 14, 15 and 16 at 6 p.m. at the historic L&N Depot in Etowah, Tennessee. Tickets include dinner and the show. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Gem Players office at 263-3270. Or visit their website Gemplayers.com

Stockbridge Valley Central centers on "Murder Me Always"

By: LEAH McDONALD, Dispatch Staff Writer
The Oneida Daily Dispatch
01/10/2008

STOCKBRIDGE Ny - "What's going on in here?" won't just be on the characters' lips as audience members have a chance to take part in the murder mystery action at Stockbridge Valley's dinner theater this weekend.

"It's definitely different than anything I've ever done before," said senior Irene Wasnik, 18, who plays undercover cop Trixie in Lee Mueller's "Murder Me Always." "It's quite an experience."

Director Kelly Meola said she chose this piece to give community members some exposure to "different types of theater they might not get in rural settings," and hopes the first-time event will become an annual one.

"I think they're going to love it," she said. "They'll be really entertained and surprised at how flawlessly the process goes."

The play is actually a play-within-a-play, in which the director is murdered while the company is giving a particularly bad performance of "Murder Me Always." Detective Joe Mamet, played by junior Matthew Misiaszek, 15, sets out to discover who the real murderer is, pulling the whole audience into the production.

"I like my part," said Misiaszek, who will be on stage for the first time in his theater career. "It's kind of like a 1960s detective with sort of corny lines."

Every time he comes on stage, for instance, he always asks "What's going on in here?" - usually because someone is passed out on the couch.

"It's different learning to interact with the audience," Wasnik said. "They get more involved with the play - there's audience interaction."

She explained how the cast members need to do a lot of character work because audience members will be invited to ask questions, and she and other cast members will have to answer in character. "I hope they ask questions we can answer."

Meola said the kids have been really excited about the play so far, however, especially with the "idea of doing something different."

"It's really fun," Misiaszek said.

The play will be Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11 and 12 at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Tickets are $10 pre-sale and $12 at the door. The cost includes admission, a spaghetti dinner, dessert and beverages.

"Getting Murdered In The Morning" at Niagara Falls Grand

At the Queenston Heights Restaurant location adjacent to The Brock Monument

Coming This October-November-December 2007

Call to book your date For the Murder Mystery

"I'm Getting Murdered In The Morning"

By Lee Mueller

Directed by Peter Borys

All College Theatre kills with "Getting Murdered in the Morning"

ACT Murder Mystery knocks 'em dead
by Lindsey Borda of The Signal

Students at the College enjoyed a night of drama, mystery and fun at All College Theatre's (ACT) fifth annual Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner, titled "I'm Getting Murdered in the Morning." The show was presented in the Cromwell Main Lounge on Friday and Saturday evening. This year's Murder Mystery Dinner was written by Lee Mueller.

The action follows the reception of newlyweds Edward Crock and Brenda Anne Marie, played by Craig Hinners, sophomore interactive multimedia major, and Ashley Kipness, senior psychology major. Their wedding reception is interrupted by the murder of an uninvited guest, and the characters and audience members must work together to uncover the identity of the murderer.

The Murder Mystery Dinner is an unusual type of drama because the characters are allowed to interact with the audience. The audience can play a role in the action by guessing the murderer's identity."It really breaks down the wall between the actors and the audience," Susan Pedersen, a sophomore English major who played the DJ, said. "Instead of pretending no one is watching us, the Murder Mystery players thrive on audience participation and feedback."Amanda Ganza, sophomore biology major and the inebriated mother of the bride, shares in Perdersen's outlook."The entire production has such a welcoming atmosphere and it makes the audience feel like they are a part of the show," Ganza said. "A lot of the students come to see their friends and try to get them to break character, and it is fun to be able to ask the actors questions and venture a guess as to who committed the murder."Another aspect to the Murder Mystery Dinner is that every character is important, from the biggest roles to a member of the ensemble. This is due to the fact that every cast member interacts with the audience and everyone in the play is a suspect in the murder investigation. "Playing my character is a lot of fun," cast member Lemor Bar-or, junior elementary education/sociology major, said. "Although it is not a principal role, it is somewhat integral to the plotline and it also gives the audience one more reason to question their response as to who is the murderer."

"Death of a Doornail" plays Cleveland, Tennessee

The Starr Mountain Civitan Club of Etowah will present the Gem Players in “Death of a Doornail,” a mystery dinner theater event on March 3 at 6 p.m. at the historic L&N Depot in Etowah.
Tickets ($20) include dinner catered by The Farmhouse and the play.
Reservations are required and tickets may be purchased by calling First Volunteer Bank at 423-263-3900 or the Gem Players office at 423-263-3270.
“Death of a Doornail” has eccentric millionaire, Albert Doornale inviting all of his close friends to his estate, including his ex-wife Abigail, his current fiancé Candy Bombay. Then murder ...
The play is being sponsored by the Starr Mountain Civitan Club as a fund raising event.
The proceeds will benefit the many community service projects the club sponsors.