A play you'll be dying to go to at Lake Tahoe Community College

Bodies will be dropping like flies as mystery, chaos, and laughter prevail during The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, a Hollywood murder mystery being performed by by the Theatre Arts Department at Lake Tahoe Community College.

The play, written by John Bishop and directed by Susan Boulanger, will be at the school's Duke Theater March 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees on March 13 and 20 at 2 p.m.

The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 is a fast-paced and deliriously funny who-done-it play about the creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop, in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious "Stage Door Slasher.” They assemble for a backer's audition of their new show at the Westchester estate of a wealthy "angel.” The house contains sliding panels, secret passageways, and a German maid who is apparently four different people—all of which figure diabolically into the mayhem that follows when the infamous "Slasher" returns to strike again—and again! As the composer, lyricist, actors and director prepare their performance, and a blizzard cuts off all escape, bodies start to drop in plain sight, knives spring out of nowhere, masked figures drag victims behind swiveling bookcases, and accusing fingers point in all directions.

An ingenious and wildly comic romp that enjoyed a long and critically-hailed run both on and Off-Broadway, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 pokes fun at the more ridiculous aspects of "show biz" and the corny thrillers of Hollywood's heyday. The play is a non-stop barrage of laughter as those assembled (or at least those who aren't killed off) untangle the mystery of the "Stage Door Slasher."

LTCC’s cast brings familiar and new faces to the Duke Theatre stage. Frank Riley is the bumbling detective intent on finding the “Slasher;” Carolin Hansa is the owner of the mansion who is obsessed with espionage; Chris Taylor is the artsy director with a bad habit of name-dropping every celebrity he has supposedly worked with; Fritz Schlottman is the flamboyant and slightly neurotic composer; Pam Taylor is the high-strung lyricist who always has a drink in her hand, if not the entire bottle; Diana Evans plays the overly-dramatic producer; Jered Stowell is a seriously struggling comedian and Samantha Bender is the spunky chorus girl who brings out the best in him; Elliott Smart is the Irish Tenor with a questionable dialect; and Ashley Wallick is the maid who ends up murdered…or does she?

High school and college students with a valid student I.D. card can see the show for free on Thurs. Nov. 17. Simply present a valid student I.D. at the Duke Theatre Box Office the night of the performance for a free ticket, for as long as tickets are available. Free tickets for this performance are not available in advance.

Tickets for The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 are $10 general admission, and $5 for seniors, groups of eight or more, and students with a valid student I.D. Tickets may be purchased in advance at LTCC’s Bookstore Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. starting March 7. The Bookstore is located in LTCC’s Main Building, (530) 541-4660 ext. 227. LTCC’s Box Office will be open for ticket sales one hour before all performances. The Box Office can be reached at (530) 541-4660 ext. 207.

For more information about this production, please check the Theatre Arts webpage at www.ltcc.edu/theatrearts, or the Theatre Arts Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/LTCCTheatreArts. You can also call the Theatre Department at (530) 541-4660 ext. 240, or send an email to Boulanger@ltcc.edu.