Overview

Synopsis

December, 1940. Elsa Von Grossenknueten, an eccentric theatre financier, has gathered a team at her mansion in Chappaqua, New York. Everyone believes that they will have a backer’s audition for Elsa in order to get financing for the newest musical by Roger Hopewell and Bernice Roth, directed by Ken De La Maize, and produced by Marjorie Baverstock. However, the shadow of the team’s last show hangs over the group--deemed a flop, Manhattan Holiday was ravaged by the “Stage Door Slasher,” a mysterious killer who stabbed chorus girls. The undercover police officer Michael Kelly is hoping to flush out the killer from this group of suspects--but the killer has other plans. More than that, the threat of Nazi saboteurs lurks among them. Throw in blizzard conditions, secret passageways, and some musical snippets to create an Agatha-Christie-meets-Clue formula of whodunnit parody. Popular for high schools, universities, and community theatres, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 is full of delightful slapstick for audience of all ages.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1987
Genres
Comedy, Dark Comedy
Settings
Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
December 1940, Chappaqua, New York, mansion
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
Dramatists Play Service
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Elsa Von Grossenknueten

Lead

Female

Nikki Crandall

Lead

Female

Eddie McCuen

Lead

Male

Helsa Wenzel

Supporting

Male

Michael Kelly

Supporting

Male

Patrick O’Reilly

Supporting

Male

Ken De La Maize

Supporting

Male

Marjorie Baverstock

Supporting

Female

Roger Hopewell

Supporting

Male

Bernice Roth

Supporting

Female

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress