The play, by playwright John Bishop, is set in the Von Grossenknueten mansion of Chappaqua, NY in December of 1940.  In the storyline, the creative team from a recent Broadway production has been reassembled under the pretense of a backer’s audition for a new show, when in reality, the pursuit is on for “the stage door slasher” who is responsible for the deaths of three chorus girls during the aforementioned Broadway production.  

Consistent with murder mysteries of its generation, the mansion holds many surprises including secret passageways, sliding bookcases, and accusations of guilt at every turn. The comedic nature of the show stems from the convoluted tale of the stage door slasher with witty humor and incessant twists and turns that grow sillier as the plot reaches resolution.

The cast includes the eccentric matriarch of the mansion, Miss Elsa Von Grossenknueten (portrayed by Penelope Wegner) and her mercurial maid Helsa Wenzel (Linzy Walters). The characters also include an impatient, undercover police officer, Michael Kelly (Eric Weldon), a mysterious Irish tenor, Patrick O’Reilly (Ryan Bedwell), a fanatical stage/screen director, Ken De La Maize (Kamden Long, and a savvy chorus girl, Nikki Crandall (Avery Wegner). Add to this a struggling young comedian, Eddie McCuen (Talen Garner), a pompous producer, Marjorie Baverstock (Leah Mitchell), and a bickering, condescending music/lyrical team of Roger Hopewell (Dylan Guilford) and Bernice Roth (Ryleigh Blankenship). There are also appearances by cast members Raiden Riddle and Grant Rogers, along with stage managers Elisha Burns and Claire Goodman. Sophomore, Levi Brown, is returning as the light designer.

The play will be directed by WCHS teacher Patrick Schuttrow, now in his 28^th year as the school’s drama director.

Bishop's comedy/mystery was first performed by the Circle Repertory Company in January 1987 in their theatre in New York City. A few months later the show moved to Broadway, opening on April 6, 1987, in The Longacre Theatre. 

Pre-sale, seat-specific tickets are available at the WCHS office (715 School Drive) 574-946-6151 ext. 210. Pre-sale tickets are $7. Remaining tickets will be available at the door for $10.