Gaslight Theater Announces a collaboration between Gardiner Elks and Gaslight Theater “Murder on the Menu” By Bill Hand Published by Pioneer Drama Service.

Comedy mixes with a good mystery in this easy-to-produce dinner theatre show that could also be produced traditionally.  Artemus Ward, head of the lucrative family publishing business, falls face first into his mashed potatoes, revealing a knife in his back.  Luckily Dr. Bullfinger, an over-eager, newly elected county coroner, was dining at the restaurant and is eager to lead an investigation…  and give herself a career boost in the process!  It’s hard to say who did it considering everyone has a motive.  Reginald, heir to the business?  Major, who wrote the company’s bestseller but hasn’t received his royalties?  Alexis, four time widow of husbands who died at the dinner table?  The destitute nephew, Bernie, from the mailroom?  Or Eileen Morrow, a backstabbing attorney? 

Between scenes, there’s plenty of time for the audience to interact with cast members and discover additional clues so they can fill out their ”Whodunit?”  sheet.  The humor, twists, and surprises don’t end in this cleverly crafted mystery that’s ideal for high schools and community theatres.

• Cast of characters
• Artemus Ward—elderly murder victim: Philanthropic, crank, and opinionated owner and publisher of Ward books.
• Bernie Jones—Artemus Ward’s young nephew; an insecure loafer from the wrong side of the tracks.
• Eileen Morrow—Artemus Ward’s attorney at Law and executor of his will; Crisp and Professional, but cold and defensive.
• Jeannie Dell— young owner of The Manor, a barely surviving, but tasteful little restaurant; a trifle daft.
• Alexis Ward-Regent-Middlefield-Abernathy-Gillicuddy-Boskowicz— Artemus Ward’s oft-widowed Dickinson quoting daughter, whose sanity is more than a little suspect; acquisitions editor for Ward Books and signer of their one best seller, Steamy Nights in N’Awlins; she and her brother are heirs to Ward Books
• Reginald Ward—Artemus Ward’s son; warm as fish scheming as a snake; the other heir to Ward Books
• Dr. Bullfinger— the ambitious but incompetent newly elected county coroner.
• Major— an Ambitious and quick thinking journalist whose father was a big fan of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22

Auditions To be Announced

Auditions for Don Zolidis’ “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” will be at 6:30pm on Sunday, May 21 and Monday, May 22 at Hallowell City Hall Auditorium, located at 1 Winthrop Street in Hallowell.

The fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are turned on their heads in this fast-paced, rollicking ride as two narrators and several actors attempt to combine all 209 stories ranging from classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel to more bizarre, obscure stories like The Devil’s Grandmother and The Girl Without Hands. A wild, free-form comedy with lots of audience participation and madcap fun. 

Audition will be cold reading. There are no set ages for the cast which features two narrators and at least three other actors playing the characters in the fairy tales.  Outdoor performances are scheduled for the weekends of July 14, 15, 16 (note that July 15 is Old Hallowell Day) and 21, 22, 23.

First, thank you to everyone who came out to audition for this show! The talent each one of you brought was spectacular and we at Gaslight welcome all of you to return and audition for all of our thrilling and exciting shows lined up for 2023.

We also hope to see you come out in support of your fellow actors in Love Is Murder! Show dates are the weekends of February 10, 11 & 12 and 17, 18 and 19  at Hallowell City Hall Auditorium.

LOVE IS MURDER CAST:
Valentina Hart – Kathleen Brainerd
Effie – Alicia Belmore
Tom Burns/Handsome Marine – Matthew Ferrin
Lydecker – Mike Clements
Leon Ketchem – Henry Quintal 
Jane Err – Tamara Lilly
Calamity Lovett – Marcia Gallagher
Pearl Sweet – Wendi Richards
Dr. Wintergreen/Pirate/Simon Grundy – Randolph Jones
Ed Fish/Don Alfredo – Melvin Morrison

March

Two one acts- “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, and “Sonata for Armadillos” by Jon Tuttle

Show dates March 2, 3, 4 & March 9, 10, 11
Showtimes are 7:30 pm Fridays & Saturdays, with Sunday matinees at 2pm.

June

“Witness for the Prosecution” by Agatha Christie

show dates June 15, 16, 17 & June 22, 23, 24
Showtimes are 7:30 pm Fridays & Saturdays, with Sunday matinees at 2pm.

August

“Marriage is Murder” by Nick Hall

Show dates  August 24, 25, 26  & 31, Sept 1 and 2
Showtimes are 7:30 pm Fridays & Saturdays, with Sunday matinees at 2pm.
Read more about this show.>>

November

“Not About Nightingales” by Tennessee Williams

Show dates  October 19, 20, 21,  26, 27, 28
Showtimes are 7:30 pm Fridays & Saturdays, with Sunday matinees at 2pm.
Read more about this show. >>