Kathy Graham, Steven Trainor, and ensemble members in "A Murder Is Announced" at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre -- May 6 through 15.
Friday, May 6, through Sunday, May 15
Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Avenue, Moline IL
Lauded by Broadway World as a production that “will delight fans of Christie's mysteries” and “keeps the audiences guessing as to who the murderer is right up until the very end,” author Leslie Darbon's Agatha Christie A Murder Is Announced enjoys a May 6 through 15 run at Moline's Playcrafters Barn Theatre, this tale of twists and turns, mistaken identities, and purposeful deceptions featuring one of Christie's most beloved characters in the figure of amateur sleuth Miss Jane Marple.
In A Murder Is Announced, the residents of the large English village of Chipping Cleghorn are astonished to read an advertisement in the local newspaper that a murder will take place this coming Friday at Little Paddocks: the Victorian home of Letitia Blacklock. Some assume the announcement is a hoax; others imagine that it’s an invitation to a fun party game. Unable to resist, a group gathers at the house at the appointed time, but when the lights go out, a gun is fired, and suddenly, someone is dead. Among the assorted suspects are several boarders at the house, neighbors, and relatives, with a detective inspector soon arriving to follow the situation's many twists and turns. Assisting him on the case is the intrepid Miss Marple, who must unravel a complex series of relationships and events to solve the mystery of the killer’s identity, resulting in a classic Agatha Christie puzzle involving mixed motives, concealed identities ... and a second death.
Making her Quad Cities directing debut with A Murder Is Announced is Madelyn Dorta, with her 11-person cast composed of both Playcrafters veterans and newcomers led by Kathy Graham as Miss Marple: Shyan DeVoss; Madison Duling; Bailey Hager; Valerie Hansel; Ventsislav Ivanov; Pam Kobre; Noah Sivers; Steven Trainor; Elle Winchester; and Zach Zelnio. Jesse Mohr, meanwhile, is the show's producer and sound designer, and the presentation's poster design is by Katie Newport.
A Murder Is Announced runs at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre May 6 through 15, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Admission is $15-15, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)762-0330 and visiting Playcrafters.com.
