#1
Posted: 11/13/12 at 3:32am
Today is Tuesday, November 13, marking the official opening night performance of the first-ever, twenty-years-in-the-making Broadway revival of THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. This whodunnit mystery-musical comedy transports audiences to Victorian-era London to help resolve Charles Dickens' final, and unfinished tale, at Studio 54. The Rupert Holmes musical, which stars Stephanie J. Block, Chita Rivera and Will Chase, allows audiences to vote on the ending of the intricate tale.
The musical is set up as a show-within-a-show, with a troupe of celebrated music hall performers enacting Dickens' incomplete 1870 novel. Holmes wrote the book, music and lyrics, inviting audiences to take part in the action with a choose-your-own-adventure-style ending where they vote on which character murders Drood (as well as choosing a romantic pairing and the identity of a mystery detective). Holmes has penned multiple endings, confessional songs and plot twists for DROOD, which keeps its actors on their toes.
The musical first premiered as part of Shakespeare in the Park in 1985. The celebrated production, stuffed with chamber pieces and English Music Hall-style songs, transferred to Broadway and picked up Tony Awards for Best Book, Best Score and Best Musical.
The cast of possible suspects and shadowy characters include Chita Rivera as Princess Puffer, Jim Norton as Chairman, Will Chase as John Jasper, Gregg Edelman as Reverend Mr. Crisparkle, Jessie Mueller as Helena Landless, Betsy Wolfe as Rosa Bud, Andy Karl as Neville Landless, Nicholas Barasch as Deputy, Peter Benson as Bazzard, Robert Creighton as Durdles, Alison Cimmet , Jim Walton, Nick Corley, Justin Greer, Shannon Lewis, Kiira Schmidt, Eric Sciotto, Janine DiVita, Jenifer Foote and Spencer Plachy.
"Who killed Edwin Drood?" Roundabout asks. "It's a question that has stumped audiences for years — now it's your turn to answer one of Broadway's most baffling mysteries. Take a trip back in time to a Victorian music hall where a rowdy ensemble of actors mounts a staging of Charles Dickens' unfinished novel. Everyone on stage is a suspect in the murder of young Edwin Drood — and it's up to you to choose the killer! Is it John Jasper, Edwin's protective but slightly maniacal uncle? Rosa Bud, his reluctant betrothed? The debauched Princess Puffer? Each performance ends differently, depending on what the audience decides!"
Wishing a very Happy Opening to the misfits at the Music Hall Royale!
The musical is set up as a show-within-a-show, with a troupe of celebrated music hall performers enacting Dickens' incomplete 1870 novel. Holmes wrote the book, music and lyrics, inviting audiences to take part in the action with a choose-your-own-adventure-style ending where they vote on which character murders Drood (as well as choosing a romantic pairing and the identity of a mystery detective). Holmes has penned multiple endings, confessional songs and plot twists for DROOD, which keeps its actors on their toes.
The musical first premiered as part of Shakespeare in the Park in 1985. The celebrated production, stuffed with chamber pieces and English Music Hall-style songs, transferred to Broadway and picked up Tony Awards for Best Book, Best Score and Best Musical.
The cast of possible suspects and shadowy characters include Chita Rivera as Princess Puffer, Jim Norton as Chairman, Will Chase as John Jasper, Gregg Edelman as Reverend Mr. Crisparkle, Jessie Mueller as Helena Landless, Betsy Wolfe as Rosa Bud, Andy Karl as Neville Landless, Nicholas Barasch as Deputy, Peter Benson as Bazzard, Robert Creighton as Durdles, Alison Cimmet , Jim Walton, Nick Corley, Justin Greer, Shannon Lewis, Kiira Schmidt, Eric Sciotto, Janine DiVita, Jenifer Foote and Spencer Plachy.
"Who killed Edwin Drood?" Roundabout asks. "It's a question that has stumped audiences for years — now it's your turn to answer one of Broadway's most baffling mysteries. Take a trip back in time to a Victorian music hall where a rowdy ensemble of actors mounts a staging of Charles Dickens' unfinished novel. Everyone on stage is a suspect in the murder of young Edwin Drood — and it's up to you to choose the killer! Is it John Jasper, Edwin's protective but slightly maniacal uncle? Rosa Bud, his reluctant betrothed? The debauched Princess Puffer? Each performance ends differently, depending on what the audience decides!"
Wishing a very Happy Opening to the misfits at the Music Hall Royale!
