Shiffer, Crutcher cast as leads for "Rehearsal for Murder"
When almost 40 people audition to make a 15-person cast, there are bound to be disappointed people who miss out ... and there is bound to be a director forced to make difficult decisions. That certainly is the case for Mrs. Susan Rettew, director of the 2015 fall production at L-S, entitled "Rehearsal for Murder."
"It is extremely difficult to cast any show because of the talent we have at L-S," she says. "Overall I was very pleased with the turnout."
Rettew noted that the characters must have a certain reactive quality to be a successful performer in the show, and she is confident the cast she assembled is up to the task.
Ultimately, the cast who will perform this show from November 12-14 in the Lampeter-Strasburg Performing Arts Center is:
Rettew settled on the play after reading seven scripts over the summer, all of which included murder in some fashion.
"My idea has always been to do a dinner theater murder mystery," the second-year director says.
Although there will not be audience participation in this show, the plot will surely enrapture the audience.
According to Dramatic Publishing, which licenses the show, "[Rehearsal for Murder] is a thrilling 'theatrical' mystery in which your theatre becomes the set for the play. The playwright turns on the stage work light and prepares for the first reading of his new play. The actors, producer, director and others connected with the show come onto the stage, and under their humorous (and utterly real) theatrical talk, tension grows. We discover that everyone connected with this play was involved with another play by the same playwright. At its opening night, exactly a year ago and in this same theatre, the beautiful leading lady, who was also the playwright's fiancee, was murdered! As these people start with he new play, startling connections to the murder begin to unfold. The growing tension reaches the boiling point with surprising revelations, countered by others even more surprising. The dazzling, yet basically logical twists build to a climax and solution that are theatrically stunning! The authors of this thriller have all had direct Broadway experience, and their dialogue has a special sting of wit and reality."
Editor's Note: We thank Mrs. Rettew for her cooperation in allowing us to get this story published in such a timely manner.
--Benjamin Pontz, LSNews.org Editor-In-Chief
"It is extremely difficult to cast any show because of the talent we have at L-S," she says. "Overall I was very pleased with the turnout."
Rettew noted that the characters must have a certain reactive quality to be a successful performer in the show, and she is confident the cast she assembled is up to the task.
Ultimately, the cast who will perform this show from November 12-14 in the Lampeter-Strasburg Performing Arts Center is:
Alex Dennison (Male Lead)…………………………………………….Joey Shiffer
Ernie…………………………………………………………….……..Logan Emmert
Sally Bean………………………………………………...………Jordanne Brodersen
Monica Welles (Female Lead)…………………………………..….Ashley Crutcher
Loretta……………………………………………………………..…Samantha Tropp
Lloyd Andrews………………………………………...……………Justin Burkett
Bella Lamb…………………………………………………….…….Cassidy Ingram
Karen Daniels………………………………………………………Samantha Ingram
David Mathews…………………………………………………..…Brendan Massar
Leo Gibbs……………………………………………………….……Jarrod Lloyd
Male Police Officer…………………………………………….….Andrew Lines
Female Police Officer…………………………………………….Megan Doolittle
Frank Heller……………………………………………...…………David Johnson
Mr. Santoro………………………………………………………….Sean Burke
Lt. Henry McElroy………………………………………….…Steven Greenwood
Rettew settled on the play after reading seven scripts over the summer, all of which included murder in some fashion.
"My idea has always been to do a dinner theater murder mystery," the second-year director says.
Although there will not be audience participation in this show, the plot will surely enrapture the audience.
According to Dramatic Publishing, which licenses the show, "[Rehearsal for Murder] is a thrilling 'theatrical' mystery in which your theatre becomes the set for the play. The playwright turns on the stage work light and prepares for the first reading of his new play. The actors, producer, director and others connected with the show come onto the stage, and under their humorous (and utterly real) theatrical talk, tension grows. We discover that everyone connected with this play was involved with another play by the same playwright. At its opening night, exactly a year ago and in this same theatre, the beautiful leading lady, who was also the playwright's fiancee, was murdered! As these people start with he new play, startling connections to the murder begin to unfold. The growing tension reaches the boiling point with surprising revelations, countered by others even more surprising. The dazzling, yet basically logical twists build to a climax and solution that are theatrically stunning! The authors of this thriller have all had direct Broadway experience, and their dialogue has a special sting of wit and reality."
Editor's Note: We thank Mrs. Rettew for her cooperation in allowing us to get this story published in such a timely manner.
--Benjamin Pontz, LSNews.org Editor-In-Chief
