MURDERER, by Anthony Shaffer, is the fifth show of the season at Eastpointe's Broadway Onstage Live Theatre when it opens on Friday, January 8, 2010. Running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Select Sundays at 2pm through Saturday, February 6, the intriguing mystery thriller tells a story of a second-rate Ann Arbor artist whose hobby is acting out famous murders of the past.
Select Sunday Matinees are only performed at Broadway Onstage when a prearranged group of 30 or more is scheduled to attend. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 ˝ Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe. It is the home of the patented TeeVeeStage™ Presentation system, which employs cameras above the audience and monitors above the stage to provide audience members with different viewing perspectives of the live stage performance. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is also the home of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc., which began producing Non-Equity professional live theatre on the Eastside of Detroit in February of 1980.
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MURDERER introduces us to Norman Cresswell Bartholemew, an eccentric artist whose obsession with famous English murders and murderers of the past is even shared by his young mistress Millie Sykes. His murder games draw the attention of a nosy neighbor and an Ann Arbor policeman is drawn to the house. Sergeant Stenning comes upon the scene and scolds Bartholemew and his girlfriend for "not knowing the game you are playing." As Stenning leaves, we also meet Elizabeth, Norman's supposed stern and humorless wife. It is Norman's plan to really kill his wife in the near future so that Millie will not leave him. Unfortunately, Elizabeth shows up as Millie and Norman are ready to share an intimate moment and Elizabeth quickly reveals that she is not as gullible, humorless, or unknowing as Norman would have Millie believe. As the story progresses we wonder if Norman will really carry out his plot to kill Elizabeth, or is something else going on? MURDERER is a mystery thriller that will have everyone guessing until the end.
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The cast of MURDERER at Broadway Onstage is talented and exceptional. Portraying Norman is Broadway Onstage favorite Joe Urkshus. Mr. Urkshus just finished portraying Hector for the ninth consecutive year in Broadway Onstage's holiday show THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. Jennifer Hirsch, who has been seen in a number of professional venues throughout the area, and who appeared at Broadway Onstage in last season's ART OF MURDER and DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, will take on the role of Millie Sykes. Beth Duey, seen at Broadway Onstage in October and November as Mrs. Bosch in THE WEREWOLF OF THE FULL MOON, will appear as Elizabeth. Patrick O'Lear, also seen at Broadway Onstage this past fall as Paul in MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S, completes the cast as Sergeant Stenning. The production is directed by Dennis Wickline, producer of all shows at Broadway Onstage and the author of a number of plays including the NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. |  |
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Tickets for Opening Night Friday, January 8 are $14. Tickets for all other performances are $16. Group Rates and Performances are available. Again, Broadway Onstage is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at
Toepfer (8 1/2 Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe, Michigan. Ticket Reservations are recommended by calling (586) 771-6333.
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JOE URKSHUS (Norman) - Joe was just seen as as Hector in our holiday comedy THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS for the ninth straight time. He portrayed Frank in our summer show LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS. He was seen as Herman in our spring comedy MIXED EMOTIONS. He was seen as Dr. Chumley in HARVEY and Victor Fleming in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS last fall. He appeared as Edvard, the groom, in our summer 2006 production IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE and as Inspector John Smith in OVER MY DEAD BODY that same season. He appeared as D.W. DeWitt in our spring 2005 comedy EPIC PROPORTIONS. He also acted as Stage Manager for our season closer in 2005, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and stage managed THE LADIES OF HARMONY last summer, and last January's ART OF MURDER. Joe appeared as Henry, a thoughtful philosophy professor, in our production of CLIFFHANGER several seasons ago. He has also appeared as Hector in all of our productions of THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS, including the one coming up this December. He also portrayed Jonathan Small in SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CURSE OF THE SIGN OF FOUR several seasons ago. Joe appeared as Gary in our production of I HATE HAMLET in the fall of 2001 to great acclaim. He first appeared for us in 2000, as Father Mac and the Bingo Caller, in THE QUEEN OF BINGO. Joe has been seen in a number of local venues on a community and professional level. He was seen in NOISES OFF for Avon Players several seasons ago, and he was recently seen in the comedy MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S for RJO Productions. It's a pleasure to have him back with us again! |  |
BETH DUEY (Elizabeth) - Beth is a very talented lady. She was seen as Mrs. Bosch in our fall production THE WEREWOLF OF THE FULL MOON.
Beth graduated with a B.A. in Drama from
the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). She is very active with
professional theatre and film. Her favorite past roles include Annie
Wilkes in MISERY with Barefoot Productions, Mae in REEFER MADNESS at
the Ringwald Theatre, and Emilia in Paula Vogel's DESDEMONA with
ReActive Productions. She also traveled to Moscow, Russia, to perform
at the Chekhov International Theatre Festival. She was seen recently
in MURDER ABOARD for Aboard and Abroad Productions on the Murder
Mystery Train in Charlotte, Michigan. Look for her in
the online sitcom, ?The LoveNest?. Additionally, Beth has worked
behind the scenes as prop designer for ORPHEUS DESCENDING at the
Blackbird Theatre. She is also an accomplished playwright and
painter. Somehow, she even manages to find the time to run a
successful business as an Avon Representative. She's been a pleasure
to work with again and we hope she will perform with us many times in the future. Thanks, Beth!
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PATRICK R. O'LEAR (Sergeant Stenning) - Patrick first appeared for us this past fall as Paul in MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S. It was his first stage appearance in several years. He was very active in theatre as a young man and minored in theatre at Mercy College (now U of D/Marygrove). He appeared in a number of productions at Macomb Community College including AUNTIE MAME and LOOK HOMEWARD, ANGEL (as W.O. Grant). He was also in a variety of productions at Mercy College, including LUV and THE CHERRY ORCHARD (as Simon Yephikodov). Patrick was also involved in local improvisational theatre, and created various roles for the annual Sterling Heights Fire Fighters Christmas Show, including "Mrs. On-Fire." Welcome back, Patrick! |  |
JENNIFER HIRSCH (Millie) - Jennifer appeared as Diana Carew in last spring's DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. She is a theatrical veteran. She was seen as Annie Brooks in our January/February 2009 mystery thriller ART OF MURDER. She recently appeared as Sandy in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST for the Matrix Theatre in Detroit, as well as being seen at the Planet Ant Theatre as the waitress in IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL. She was also seen in GOODBYE CHARLIE, as Charlie, for the Rainbow Dinner Theatre in Pennsylvania as well as appearing as Francis in NO SEX PLEASE, WE'RE BRITISH there. She has taken on a number of varied and exciting roles, including Dorothy in OZ, the Witch/Lucy in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, Puck in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and Celia in AS YOU LIKE IT. We're thrilled to have her in our cast this evening. Welcome back, Jennifer! |
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DENNIS WICKLINE (Director) - Dennis portrayed David O Selznick in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS and Elwood P. Dowd in HARVEY in the fall of 2008. He was seen as Major Powell in CORPSE and Frank in WEEKEND COMEDY here earlier this year. He just directed JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT for Grosse Pointe Theatre. Dennis portrayed Marc in ART and Weller Martin in THE GIN GAME here at Broadway Onstage three seasons ago. He was seen as Henry in THE BOOK OF MURDER in the winter of 2005, as Bradley in THE COCKTAIL HOUR in the fall of 2004. He is the producer of all shows at Broadway Onstage. He began producing theatre in February of 1980 at Stouffer's Eastland. This season is his twenty-eighth of producing non-Equity professional theatre in the Detroit Metropolitan area. He is the author of a number of plays and musicals, including THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. Dennis portrayed Vernon in THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG in the spring of 2000 here, and portrayed Herbert Bracewell in THE RETURN OF HERBERT BRACEWELL in 2001. He also appeared as Fagin in Grosse Pointe Theatre's 2001 production of OLIVER! and was seen as Joe Keller in their production of ALL MY SONS in March of 2005. Dennis was also seen here in the thriller THE WOMAN IN BLACK in the fall of 2002, portraying 5 separate characters. He also directed GPT's 2005 SHOWBOAT and 2008's JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. |  |
ELIZABETH RAGER (Stage Manager) - Elizabeth just appeared as Alberta in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS and as Susan in our summer show LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS. She was seen in last season's closer DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE as Pauline. She was seen as Leah in our summer 2008 production of LADIES OF HARMONY. She was also seen in the 2007-2008 season closer, ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, as "Wolf Moon Dance." Elizabeth also portrayed Mrs. McGee in CORPSE! in January 2008 here at Broadway Onstage. She was also Stage Manager for ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT and our fall 2007 production of A THOUSAND CLOWNS. She made her acting debut with her performance as Stella in our September/October 2007 production of SOMETHING TO HIDE. She is no stranger to the stage, peforming parody songs as part of a singing group as well as performing skits in theatre-in-the-round. She is also an able pianist, playing in a variety of venues including accompaniment for soloists and musicals. She believes her occupation as a trainer helped prepare her for the stage: "In training others, you design and present everything for learning with a little entertainment spread throughout; with theatre, you design and present everything for entertainment with a little learning spread throughout." We welcome you back, Elizabeth. |  |
