Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
A murder mystery by John Bishop                      

Performances: Nov 3-19 2017, Fri/Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm
Directed by Rick Hoover
Produced by Linda Talluto
 

​Summary

The creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop (in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious "Stage Door Slasher") assemble for a backer's audition of their new show at the Westchester estate of a wealthy "angel." The house is replete with sliding panels, secret passageways and a German maid who is apparently four different people—all of which figure diabolically in the comic mayhem which follows when the infamous "Slasher" makes his reappearance and strikes again—and again. As the composer, lyricist, actors and director prepare their performance, and a blizzard cuts off any possible retreat, bodies start to drop in plain sight, knives spring out of nowhere, masked figures drag their victims behind swiveling bookcases, and accusing fingers point in all directions. However, and with no thanks to the bumbling police inspector who snowshoes in to investigate, the mystery is solved in the nick of time and the "Slasher" unmasked—but not before the audience has been treated to a sidesplitting good time and a generous serving of the author's biting, satiric and refreshingly irreverent wit.
 
An ingenious and wildly comic romp, which enjoyed a long and critically hailed run both on and Off-Broadway. Poking antic fun at the more ridiculous aspects of "show biz" and the corny thrillers of Hollywood's heyday, the play is a non-stop barrage of laughter as those assembled (or at least those who aren't killed off) untangle the mystery of the "Stage Door Slasher."
​
"…a kind of crossbreeding of Charles Ludlam The Mystery of Irma Vep and Terrence McNally It's Only a Play seasoned with a soupcon of NOISES OFF." —NY Times.
"…enormous fun…Its strength comes in part from the sheer diamond wit and diamante showbiz glitter of Bishop's writing. Even his corn is succulently served." —NY Post.
"…Bishop gives us a nakedly silly and relentlessly convoluted murder-mystery plot, with twist piled on twist till you have to give way and start laughing at the silliness…it's hugely enjoyable." —Village Voice.
"MURDERS is the intelligent person's kind of nonsense." —NY Magazine.​

Cast
​
​Helsa Wenzel
Elsa Von Grossenkneuten
Marjorie Braverstock
Bernice Roth 
Nikki Crandall 
 
Michael Kelly 
Patrick O’Reilley 
Ken De La Maize 
Eddie McCuen 
Roger Hopewell
Crew

​Director  
Producer            
Stage Manager 
Asst Stage Manager
Costume Manager
Costume Assistants  
Set Design/Construction      
Set Dressing 
Light & Sound Design/Tech 
Props
Photography
Photo Book 
Poster Design
Poster Distribution 
Program/PR
House Managers 
Box Office Manager 
Concessions
Original Music 
Gala Night Music
Ushers 


​
Amelia Michaels
Ami Ericson
Katy Philp
Rebecca Hines
Michelle Wangerzyn
 
Michael Allen
Jeff Ekdahl
Redmond Reams
Luke Mitchell
Jay Dressler


​Rick Hoover
​Linda Morris Talluto
Cindy Green
​Michal Denny
​Debbie Hoover
​Jodi Johnson, Julie Schaber
Jerry “Woody” Woodbury
Cindy Zimmerman
​John Swiecick
Michael Allen
Al Stewart
Benjamin Philip
​Jayne Furlong
​Diana LoVerso and Crew
​Gary Romans
​Cindy Green, Robin Michaels, Debbie Hoover
Vicki Giampietro
​Joe Danka
​Geoff Trowbridge
​Bruce McCollum Jazz Trio
​Mask & Mirror Volunteers