Murder, mystery and Miss Marple on stage at Elizabethtown College Theatre

Agatha Christie adaptation performed April 10 through 27

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (03/20/2014)(readMedia)-- A local newspaper's personal ad with a very strange message is of concern and curiosity for the visitors at the Victorian manner of Miss Letitia Blacklock as Elizabethtown College Theatre performs Agatha Christie's "A Murder is Announced."

Even more concerned is homeowner Miss Blacklock because, according the ad, a murder is to occur ... tonight!

It must be a joke, but no one living in her home seems to be the lighthearted type: Dora Bunner has fallen on hard times; Phillipa Haymes takes life quite seriously; Mitzi, a Hungarian refugee, is paranoid; and Miss Blacklock's cousins, Patrick and Julia Simmons, are just odd and aloof.

Miss Blacklock continues with her plans of having guests over to the house, and is in true shock when, in the company of Clara Swettenham and her son Edmund and the others, a murder does occur directly at 6:30 p.m. as predicted.

What follows is a classic Agatha Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, a second death, a determined Inspector grimly pursuing the evidence and Miss Marple on hand to provide the final solution, in a dramatic confrontation just before the final curtain.

"A Murder is Announced," adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon, is on stage at the College's Tempest Theatre at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 10, 11 and 12; at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27.

Director of the murder mystery is Michael Swanson, director of theatre and dance and associate professor of theatre; Richard Wolf-Spencer, assistant professor of theatre, is scenic and lighting designer; and guest artist Jen Dasher is costume designer.

Tickets are $6; call 717-361-1170 or email boxoffice@etown.edu for tickets.

Contact: Michael Swanson at swansonm@etown.edu or 717-361-1160

Read about additional events at Elizabethtown College.

Elizabethtown College, located in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Learn more: http://www.etown.edu/about/

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Harvey

Manager, Marketing and Communications

Marketing and Communications

Elizabethtown College

harveye@etown.edu

717-361-6412 (o)

717-371-2631 (c)

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