Murder by Membership Only

This murder mystery-comedy takes place in the exclusive (fictional) Orczy Club, an "inner sanctum" for women mystery writers in London. Most of them hate the arrogant Octavia Sturges, the most successful mystery writer of the day, so it is no surprise when she is found dead—poisoned by one of the poisons she was so fond of using in her stories. But what happens now? Should these specialists in murder try to solve the case themselves—at the risk of their own lives, since obviously the murderer is one of them—or should they call Scotland Yard? "How would it look if a roomful of mystery writers had to go to the police to solve a murder that took place under their very noses?" one of the characters in this play asks. The group decides to solve the murder themselves. Those present are the owner of the club, (a "big name" herself some years ago), two other writers, a critic, a journalist, a visitor from America who has just had her first mystery novel published, the cook (whose food Sturges hates), and Sturges' long-suffering secretary. It is no surprise when Sturges turns up murdered. Each of the remaining eight have an untold secret which causes suspicion to rise and there are many other surprises in this intriguing mystery play filled with humor, suspense, and fun for the audience in trying to guess "whodunit?"

CAST

4 roles are "double-cast", with each actress playing in 6 of the 12 performances

Hester Tandy - Kohl Comtess & Stefanie Seng

Lydia Beaton -Mikki Nucci & Marci Robinson

Mrs. Plimpton - Marie Schmukal & Carrie Phillips

Clarice Furgusson - Cynthia Seckler & Danielle Dukette

Eve Hawkins - Irene Halibozek

Madame Le Coq - Joanne Puente

Mrs. Balser - Charlotte Robinson

May Cobbs - Anna Brundage

Octavia Sturges - Robbie Harold

PRODUCTION CREW:

Director - Ruth Ann Pattee

Stage Manager - Joanne Puente

Lighting Designer - Irene Halibozek

Set Build Crew Chief - Mikki Nucci

Photos - Photos by Kintz

Playbill - Shannon Sanborn

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PERFORMANCE INFO:

March 2-19

Thursdays @ 7 pm - tickets only $10!

Fridays & Saturdays @ 7 pm - tickets $18

Sundays @ 2 pm - tickets $14

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

(This schedule is for the 4 double-cast roles listed above only; all other actresses appear at each performance unless otherwise noted. All appearances subject to change)

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Thursday, March 2 - OPENING NIGHT!

Kohl Comtess as Hester Tandy; Marci Robinson as Lydia Beaton; Marie Schmukal as Mrs. Plimpton; Cynthia Seckler as Clarice Furgusson

Friday, March 3 -

Stefanie Seng as Hester Tandy; Mikki Nucci as Lydia Beaton; Carrie Phillips as Mrs. Plimpton; Danielle Dukette as Clarice Furgusson.

Saturday, March 4 -

Kohl Comtess as Hester Tandy; Marci Robinson as Lydia Beaton; Marie Schmukal as Mrs. Plimpton; Cynthia Seckler as Clarice Furgusson

Sunday, March 5 -

Stefanie Seng as Hester Tandy; Mikki Nucci as Lydia Beaton; Carrie Phillips as Mrs. Plimpton; Danielle Dukette as Clarice Furgusson.

Thursday, March 9 -

Kohl Comtess as Hester Tandy; Marci Robinson as Lydia Beaton; Marie Schmukal as Mrs. Plimpton; Cynthia Seckler as Clarice Furgusson

Friday, March 10 -

Stefanie Seng as Hester Tandy; Mikki Nucci as Lydia Beaton; Carrie Phillips as Mrs. Plimpton; Danielle Dukette as Clarice Furgusson.

Saturday, March 11 -

Stefanie Seng as Hester Tandy; Mikki Nucci as Lydia Beaton; Carrie Phillips as Mrs. Plimpton; Danielle Dukette as Clarice Furgusson.

Sunday, March 12 -

Kohl Comtess as Hester Tandy; Marci Robinson as Lydia Beaton; Marie Schmukal as Mrs. Plimpton; Cynthia Seckler as Clarice Furgusson

Thursday, March 16 -

Stefanie Seng as Hester Tandy; Mikki Nucci as Lydia Beaton; Carrie Phillips as Mrs. Plimpton; Danielle Dukette as Clarice Furgusson.

Friday, March 17 -

Kohl Comtess as Hester Tandy; Marci Robinson as Lydia Beaton; Marie Schmukal as Mrs. Plimpton; Cynthia Seckler as Clarice Furgusson

Saturday, March 18 -

Kohl Comtess as Hester Tandy; Marci Robinson as Lydia Beaton; Marie Schmukal as Mrs. Plimpton; Cynthia Seckler as Clarice Furgusson

Sunday, March 19 - CLOSING SHOW!

Stefanie Seng as Hester Tandy; Mikki Nucci as Lydia Beaton; Carrie Phillips as Mrs. Plimpton; Danielle Dukette as Clarice Furgusson.