Brooke Playhouse details final show of 50th season

WELLSBURG -- Brooke Hills Playhouse will present the final show of its celebratory 50th season with "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" by John Bishop.

It will be presented Aug. 20-22 and Aug. 27-29. Municipal Mutual Insurance Co. and Traubert's Pharmacy are season sponsors.

Bishop's plot reveals that the creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop -- in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious "Stage Door Slasher" -- assemble for a backer's audition of their new show at the Westchester estate of a wealthy "angel." The house is replete with sliding panels, secret passageways and a German maid who apparently is four different people, all of whom figure diabolically in the comic mayhem which follows when the infamous "Slasher" makes his reappearance and strikes again and again.

Amy Balog of Follansbee makes her directorial debut at the Playhouse and shared her concept about the play. "I was inspired by the classic mysteries of the 1940s and 1950s as well as the comic take on those films of the 1980s and present," Balog said. "I like the process to be collaborative and give the actors some freedom to develop their characters."

Five women and five men make up the cast. They include Andrew Dillie from Wellsburg as Helsa Wenzel; Michelle Turner from Wintersville as Elsa Von Grossenknueten; Dan Harry from Bethany as Michael Kelly; Rob DeSantis from Follansbee as Patrick O'Reilly; and James "Gig" Purcell from Weirton as Ken De La Maize.

Also performing in the cast are Carly Balog from Follansbee as Nikki Crandall; Richard "Twist" Oliver from Chester as Eddie McCuen; Shannon Box from Wellsburg as Marjorie Baverstock; Justin Swoyer from Wheeling as Roger Hopewell; and Sarah Tennant from Follansbee as Bernice Roth.

Balog shared her previous connection to theater. "I auditioned for my first show in 1997, when I was in my late 20s. I had never really thought about acting before then, but thought it was something I'd like to try," she commented. "I wasn't cast for that initial show but did get cast for the next show I auditioned for, here at the Playhouse. I definitely caught the theater bug and have been involved in theater, either on stage or behind the scenes, in some way ever since," she said.

"I love the way theater can bring so many people together. The run of a show can be brief, but lasting friendships are formed, and it becomes a family," Balog continued. "I have watched my own kids grow up in the theater environment, and the confidence it has helped them gain, as well as many others, is inspiring. There is something indescribable about walking out onto that stage and bringing the audience in, and making them feel, laugh and cry," noted Balog, who directed her first show in 2019 and expressed excitement to be directing at the Playhouse during its 50th season.

Rehearsals began in late July, and Balog said the cast is working together well. "I was very fortunate with my auditions for this show. Even though, not everyone knew each other, or had worked together previously, there was instant chemistry with everyone and the auditions themselves made me laugh and excited. I could have put any actor in any role.

"The actors are all phenomenal and make my job so easy. Between the 10 actors, there is a combined total of more than 100 years of acting on that stage. I couldn't have asked for better. They really complement each other, and play off each other really well, and I am truly blessed to work with such a 'killer' cast," she said.

Tickets may be purchased at the box office and are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors 55 and older and students; and $8 for children 12 and under. Reservations and information are available by calling or texting (304) 737-3344.

Brooke Hills Playhouse is located in Brooke Hills Park in Wellsburg.