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Open auditions for Theatre 7’s Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 written by John Bishop will be on August 26 and 27 at 6:00 p.m. at Theater 7, 131 N. Water St., Decatur. We welcome actors of all ages and experience levels. Please bring your calendar to provide any schedule conflicts. The audition will be a cold reading.
The show will be October 25, 26, 31, November 1, 2 at the Decatur Civic Center. The play is directed by Angela Thomas and Kathy Zientara.
Questions? Email [email protected]
ABOUT THE SHOW
Show Synopsis: December 1940. Elsa Von Grossenknueten, an eccentric theatre financier, has gathered a team at her mansion in Chappaqua, New York. Everyone believes that they will have a backer’s audition for Elsa in order to get financing for the newest musical by Roger Hopewell and Bernice Roth, directed by Ken De La Maize, and produced by Marjorie Baverstock. However, the shadow of the team’s last show hangs over the group--deemed a flop, Manhattan Holiday was ravaged by the “Stage Door Slasher,” a mysterious killer who stabbed chorus girls. The undercover police officer Michael Kelly is hoping to flush out the killer from this group of suspects--but the killer has other plans. More than that, the threat of Nazi saboteurs lurks among them. Throw in blizzard conditions, secret passageways, and some musical snippets to create an Agatha-Christie-meets-Clue formula of whodunnit parody. Popular for high schools, universities, and community theatres, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 is full of delightful slapsticks for audiences of all ages.
THE CHARACTERS
Helsa Wenzel - 30’s – 40’s Can be played by either man or woman 63 lines
Helsa is the maid of the Grossenknueten estate. She is killed in 1st scend of the play only to be impersonated by her homicidal twin brother, Dieter. The actor who plays Helsa also appears at the end of the play as “Katrina” the cook from Koblenz
Elsa Von Grossenknueten – 40’s + 143 lines
Elsa is the eccentric owner of the mansion and the financial backer of many musicals. Elso summons the group together in an attempt to find out who murdered her “friend” Bebe McAllister. She is extremely eccentric and thinks that the idea of chasing after a killer is great un. Her grandfather was a spy, and she claims that espionage runs in her blood.
Michael Kelly – 30-40’s 104 lines
Kelly is an undercover cop. Elsa appeals to him to help solve the mystery of the Stage Door Slasher, and Kelly at first pretends to be her butler. Kelly’s tough, no-nonsense attitude puts him at odds with Elsa and the dramatic types that visit. He eventually reveals his identity as a New York police officer. In the second act, he is kidnapped by an unseen figure and disappears into a secret passage andis later found with his hands tied and gagged.
Patrick O’Reilly – 30 – 50’s Must be able to do Irish brogue, Bronx accent and German accent 66 lines
He claims to be an Irish tenor, but he is very suspicious, especially regarding the mysterious Helsa. The 2 engage in a physical brawl. Eventually, O’Reilly claims to be “Tony Garibaldi”, an undercover cop with a Bronx accent- only to reveal himself as a Gestapo Agent name Klaus Stansdorff, sent to find German defectors. Nikki confronts him, but before he can reveal the truth, Helsa stabs him through a copy of Moby Dick in the 2nd act killing him.
Ken De La Maize – 40’s 164 lines
He is a typical director, speaking of theater as a pure art. He likes to name drop in the most annoying way. Everyone claims to have seen his films, only for him to reveal they have not been yet released. He is eventually revealed as the Stage Door Slasher andexplains that his hatred of ballet dancers stems from his father, who ran off with one and abandoned his mother.
Nikki Crandall – 20+ 227 lines
A beautiful young girl considered typical chorus girl. She is eventually revealed to the Ensign Nicole Crandall, of US Naval Intelligence. Her secret mission was to find the Germans who were sent over to sabotage the American war efforts. She is also interested in solving the mystery of the Stage Door Slasher, and helps to break the code in Bebe’s notebook.
Eddie McCuen – Late 20’s 212 lines
He is an out-of-work comedian that ties the different story lines together and goes from being cowardly at the beginning to heroic at the end. He is attracted to Nikki, but fumbles when he tries to talk to her. He is a replacement for an actor, thus has no connection to Manhattan Holiday. He realizes the connection between the Slasher and the party and later helps to defeat Ken and Dieter. He ultimately ends up saving the day and getting the girl.
Marjorie Baverstock - 30 – 60’s 44 Lines
She is a Broadway producer. She dresses expensively and carries herself like royalty. She constantly flatters everyone and speaks in elevated language. Her new work is “divoon”. She is accidentally killed by Dieter and the end of 1st act and Ken, Eddie, and Kelly bury her dead body in the beginning of Act 2
Roger Hopewell - 30 – 40’s 13 lines
Composer and Bernice’s partner. He is outrageous and flamboyant. He enjoys teasing Ken about his artistic ways but flares up when someone insults his musical style. He reveals a surprising knowledge of ciphers and helps Nikki and Bernice break the code in Bebe’s notebook.
Bernice Roth – 40-50’s 67 lines
A lyricist who is very odd and emotional. She spends entire 2nd act trying to fix the play even when held hostage. In finale, she is struck with inspiration toward a new cowboy play called “Nebraska”. A spoof on “Oklahoma”
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
131 N Water St, Decatur, IL, United States
