Submitted by Lori Peterson, Spring Valley Stagehands
SPRING VALLEY, WI – Auditions for the March Stagehands production of Murder’s in the Heir, a murder mystery-comedy by Bill St. John, will be held on Sunday and Monday, December 10-11 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Spring Valley Community Center.
Turn the game Clue into a play and you have this show. The tyrannical billionaire Simon Starkweather has gathered his family and employees to announce the contents of his will. His lawyer, Lois van Zandt, reveals that he has bequeathed vast fortunes to his befuddled niece Fiona, her playboy son Jordan, his great-niece Paula, and his grandson Simon III, as well as to his many staff (a butler, housekeeper, cook, maid, and handyman). Then Lois and Simon’s personal secretary deliver the bombshell!
Within hours this will becomes invalid. Of course, the rejected heirs are not pleased, so it’s not surprising when they roam the old mansion carrying such items as an ax, a gun, and poison. Predictably, the lights go out, and Simon’s nurse discovers him murdered. Simon III is determined to find his grandfather’s killer, with the help of detective Mike Davis.
The play’s ending, utilizing secret ballots gathered at intermission from the audience, determines the killer.
The show is planned to run March 1-3 and 7-10, 2024. Rehearsals will begin late December. Director Lori Peterson is looking for 14 cast members: 8 females (3 20-35years old and 5 40-70+ years old) and 6 males (2 20-35 years old and 4 40-70+ years old).