The Blue Ridge Community Theater presented John Bishop's "Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" for their Spring 2004 production.
Set in New York during a fierce, eventually paralyzing blizzard in December of 1940, this ingenious and wildly comic whodunit jam-packed with mistaken identities, false accusations and even a spot of romance takes place at the enormous mansion of Elsa von Grossenknueten, played by Patricia Lee, in Chappaqua, New York where under the guise of a backer's audition, the creative team, responsible for a recent Broadway flop, comes together (they think) to audition for a wealthy theatrical "angel."
As the composer, lyricist, actors and director prepare their performance for the audition, strange things begin to happen: murders, disappearances, odd hors d'oeuvres and a 'plot twist' which tells the tale of a killer known as "The Stage Door Slasher" who has been murdering chorus girls from Broadway shows and who is on the loose at the mansion.
Trapped for the duration by the snowstorm, the group is left with no choice but to play whodunit, in fear for their lives as the eccentric von Grossenknueten, races to foil the killer (who wastes no time choosing his first victim), before the whole cast get slashed!! And no one is free from suspicion!
Eddie McCuen - Chad Avery
Nikki Crandall - Abby Kennebrew
Understudy for Nikki Crandall - Sophia Swain
Bernice Roth - Eileen Kerr
Ken De La Maize - Mike Lacy
Elsa Von Grossenknueten - Patti Vic-Lee
Marjorie Baverstock - Tam Mason
Sgt. Michael Kelly - Daniel Parrish
Roger Hopewell - Jamie Robinson
Patrick O'Reilly - Chad Whitmire
Helsa Wenzel - Alison Kinnebrew
Slasher - Mystery Person
Behind The Scenes:
Director - Ann Kinnebrew
Executive Producer - Patricia Webb
Producer - Tina Maslankowski
Sound and Light Manager - Lee Maslankowski
Box Office - Elizabeth Hunt, Sue Green, Linda Clabaugh
Costumes - Ann Kinnebrew, Ann Thompson & Cast
Props - Daniel Parrish, Elaine Owen & Cast
Sound and Lights - Lee Maslankowski, Ken Williams
Set Design - Dan Pruitt
Publicity - Mike Lacy, Susanne Lee
Playbill Design - John Fritchie
Cover Art - Dan Pruitt
Fundraising - Joe Webb, Elaine Owen
Set Construction - Joe Webb, Bill Marsh, Ted McWilliams, Bill Jefferson & Frank Moore
Set Painting - Tina & Lee Maslankowski, Steve Martin, Sophia Swain, Bobby Whitley, Mike Lacy & Daniel Parrish
Dialectic Coach - Trudy & Albert Kraft
Dramaturg - Ann Kinnebrew, Elaine Owen
Volunteer Coordination - Pat Baker, Helen McMahon, Tina Maslankowski
Administrative Assistance - Barbara Phillips, Ellie Simon & Ashley Thomas
musical comedy murders of 1940
by John Bishop
may 28 - june 27