The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
by John Bishop

Produced on Broadway by Bill Wildin.

Originally produced by the Circle Repertory Company, New York City.

THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC,
servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com).

This project has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment on the Arts.

Supported in part by the Huntsville City Arts & Cultural Grant Fund, a program of the City of Huntsville and Arts Huntsville, Inc.

The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 is performed in Two Acts, with one 15-minute intermission.

Concessions may be purchased in the lobby and enjoyed in the theatre.

Photographing or videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distributing recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author(s)’s rights and actionable under United States copyright law.

The Time & Place

Time: December, 1940. The play opens at midnight.

Place: The library of a mansion in Chappaqua, New York. 

Synopsis

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. 

Elizabeth Butz | Understudy, Fight Choreographer

Elizabeth is so excited to be part of her first Theatre Huntsville production. Elizabeth holds a Liberal Arts degree from the College of Notre Dame, and has performed as an actor, dancer, and musician in a multitude of productions over the past 30+ years. She has also served as a stage combat choreographer, script writer and sound board tech. She is extremely humbled to join the incredibly talented group of artists here in Huntsville. 

Andy Cayse |  Ken De La Maize

Andy has been a familiar face on the Theatre Huntsville stage, having recently appeared in The Book of Will as Ben Johnson (a show in which he was also the assistant director), Spamalot as the Knight Who Says Ni, and Clue as Professor Plum. A lifelong devotee of the theatre with a BA in Drama from Jacksonville State, Andy is always happy to be the Huntsville area's second-or-third-best choice in the "big guy who does funny voices" department. He'd like to thank his family and friends for their undying love and support, the fantastic crew and production team for making this possible, and everyone who bought a ticket to support local artists and entertainers.

Angel Coleman | Marjorie Baverstock

Angel is thrilled to have been chosen for the role of Marjorie. This is only her second time on stage - her other role was Elsa in The Sound of Music. Angel wonders if being chosen for two hoity-toity characters in 14 years counts as typecasting. Angel would like to thank her family and especially her son, John Luker-Coleman - Eddie McCuen, for encouraging her to keep auditioning and Dex Edwards for seeing her hoity-toity potential. 

Dex Edwards | Director, Scenic Design

Dex holds an MFA in Directing, a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance and has spent the last 30 years designing and directing nationally and internationally. During six years as a Resident Artist at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, his designs won the Critics Choice Award three years in a row. Regionally, he has designed for theatres such as Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Portland Centre Stage and the Sacramento Theatre Company among many others. Outside the US he has designed for the Queen's Mill Theatre and the Winter Garden, both in Toronto, and at the Berlin Opera House. He served as a Design Consultant for the 1996 Olympic Centennial Park. Prior to accepting the position of Director of Design at Ole Miss in 1998, he received a Carbonell Award for designing the world premiere of Jimmy Buffet's Don't Stop the Carnival. His set designs for Chicago Shakespeare Company have received two of Chicago's coveted Jefferson Awards and one win for best scene design, and he also won the Boston Critic's Circle Award for his design of Miss Saigon at the North Shore Music Theatre. Commercially, he has served as Director and Designer in both Las Vegas and Branson. His professional Directing credits also include Virginia Stage Company, The Alliance Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Theatre in The Square, The Lyric Theatre and several other LORT regional Theaters. Theatre Huntsville audiences may have seen him act in Mousetrap, as Major Metcalf, his scenic design for Noises Off, or enjoyed his direction and scenic design for Clue. Dex is delighted to have recently moved to Huntsville with the joy of his life, his wife JoAnn.

Christian Englund | Tom Lasher

A sad yet happy history, with suspense and devastation, like most stories. Childhood trauma, teenaged angst, and don’t forget the drama. I was always told that I’d do well in theatre, so here I am.

Lennie Flowers | Technical Director

She has worked and been involved in the performing arts for 20+ years. Lennie recently moved to the Huntsville area and made her area stage debut in Spamalot! Some of her most memorable productions have been, the Lion in The Wizard of Oz, Mrs Graves in Enchanted April, and The Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol. Lennie also has a love for directing, set design and film & television. Lennie is so excited to be a part of the theater community in the Huntsville area!

Maci Hladky-Clemmons | Stage Manager

Maci is excited to be back for another murder filled, yet hilarious, show with Theatre Huntsville! Maci is a Huntsville native who has loved all things performance art since she was a little, annoying, overdramatic child. She found her love for stage management in high school and hasn’t looked back. When she is not working on shows she is a Healthcare Recruiter for LHC Group and enjoys hanging out with her pups, husband, and village of friends and family. Huge thanks to the cast and crew for their work on this killer show! 

Anne Dillon Loflin |  Nikki Crandall

Anne Dillon Loflin is so excited to be a part of this show, and her first Theatre Huntsville production in 15 years! She is a Huntsville native, and graduated from The University of Alabama’s Musical Theatre program in 2020, with credits including Legally Blonde (Elle Woods) & Little Women (Beth). She currently works as the Youth Director at First Presbyterian Church and enjoys singing/songwriting. Special thanks to the cast & crew for all the laughs! 

John Luker-Coleman |  Eddie McCuen

John is thrilled to be back for his fifth murder mystery with Theatre Huntsville. He’s not doing it on purpose. This is a cry for help. His loving and supportive wife begs him to stop but he’s not in control anymore. Whatever entity compels him to audition for murder mysteries just won’t let go. It’s too late for John…too late.

Sara Wells Martin | Properties

Though not a newbie to the stage, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 is only Sara’s 3rd production with TH.  She made her TH debut in their production of Monty Python’s Spamalot followed quickly by The Book of Will. When she isn’t on stage, Sara is hanging out with her family or volunteering as an usher for Broadway Theatre League.  She currently works in Adult Education. Many thanks to “My Boys” Brad, Asa, and Eli and her parents, Gary and Sandra, for their unwavering support.  XO

Paige McDonnell | Elsa Von Grossenknueten

Paige is grateful to be a part of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. She has previously worked with Theatre Huntsville as an ASM for Steel Magnolias, as tech crew for A Christmas Story, Max Mirowski in Things My Mother Taught Me, Ensemble in Dreamgirls, UAH’s The Revolutionists, and most recently The Book of Will. To the day!

Tanja Lewis Miller | Helsa Wenzel

Tanja is super-duper excited to play a part in this hysterically funny show and work alongside such a talented group of extraordinary folks. A theatre veteran of over thirty years, Tanja and her hubby, Wayne, own Evil Cheez Productions, where she wears many hats, including producer, director, actor, Theatre Mom, etc. So, occasionally she just likes to act. A big thanks to Dex for making that happen, another big thanks to the entire cast and crew for making it so darn fun, and one more big thanks to the audience for making this all possible! Smooches and love to her friends, family, Cheez fam, and especially the Shmoo for their love and support. 

Gantt Moore | Patrick O'Reilly

Gantt is kicking off his second year with Theatre Huntsville the same way he kicked off his first: with a murder mystery. Since beginning his work with TH as Wadsworth in Clue, he has also portrayed Sir Lancelot in Spamalot and Isaac Jaggard in The Book of Will. Gantt is keen to keep working with the friends he has made through this community.

Colleen Samples | Bernice Roth

Colleen Samples is honored to perform in Theatre Huntsville’s production of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. She’s previously worked onstage and backstage with Theatre Huntsville and Renaissance Theatre. She’d like to thank Dex for his fabulous direction and the cast and crew for such an amazing experience. 

Ben Stone | Roger Hopewell, Costume Design

Ben does plays! Sometimes on stage.

Byron Turner | Michael Kelly

Byron is thrilled to be a part of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940! You may have seen him in Clybourne Park, The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged), To Kill a Mockingbird, Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll, and The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. He has also assistant-directed Stick Fly.

The Cast of Theatre Huntsville’s The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940

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