[NEohioPAL] PRESS RELEASE: CVLT's 80th Season Begins with Murder

[Chagrin Valley Little Theatre]

  *PRESS RELEASE*
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 8-21-09

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Contact: Andrew Rothman
From: Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

40 River Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44122
Phone: 440-247-8955
E-mail: cvlt at cvlt.org <mailto:cvlt at cvlt.org>
Website: www.cvlt.org <http://www.cvlt.org/>


        PLEASE DOWNLOAD HIGH-RESOLUTION PRESS PHOTOS from
        www.CVLT.org/promo <http://www.cvlt.org/promo>


    CVLT's 80th Season Starts with Murder

CHAGRIN FALLS, OH - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre commences it's 80th 
consecutive season this September, making it one of the oldest 
continuously operating community theaters in the country. The official 
kickoff of each season for the last 18 years has been /Murder By The 
Falls/, a murder mystery event with a distinct comedic bent that serves 
as the organization's main fundraiser.

This year's /Murder/, produced with generous support from South Franklin 
Circle and other sponsors, is entitled "80 Years of Knockin' 'Em Dead" 
and is directed by Greta Rothman, who co-wrote the script with her 
brother Andrew. The show celebrates CVLT's history with a plot that 
revolves around a fictional 80th season benefit concert, in which lead 
characters from well-known musicals like /The Sound of Music/, 
/Oklahoma/, /The Music Man/, and others are assembled to perform. The 
mix of characters from various stories and times creates absolute havoc 
for the director and his team, but when someone kills the overworked 
costumer, the concert is preempted by a pun-laden investigation that 
pokes loving fun at the world of musical theater.

The format of the event has remained roughly the same over the years; 
the evening begins with a pre-show hors d'oeuvre reception, followed by 
Act I, in which a murder is committed.  During intermission, the 
audience searches Chagrin Falls Village for clues hidden in store 
windows and interview live actors on the street.  A catered dessert 
buffet follows, where audience members fill in 'whodunit' guessing forms 
in teams of eight.  The evening completes with the revealing of the 
killer's identity in Act II and prizes being awarded to the winning 
team.  Money raised from the event helps with operating expenses as the 
theatre kicks off its new season.

This year's /Murder by the Falls/ follows the tradition of casting the 
theatre's frequent performers along side local notables.  Andrew Rothman 
and Michelle Kaiser lead the proceedings as the wise-cracking Inspector 
Gotcha and Detective Ketchum, with Pat Mazarrino and Laurel Bryant as 
the director and stage manager of the fictional benefit, Lisa Kraemer as 
its producer, and Tara Holman as the beleaguered costumer. There will be 
special appearances by Chagrin Falls Mayor Tom Brick, Chagrin Falls 
Police Chief James Brosius, and Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland. 
The musical suspects include Jan Jones (/Morning Exchange/) as "Eliza 
Doolittle", Paula Pike as "Maria von Trapp", Frank Mularo as "Tevye", 
Don Edelman as "John Adams", Bob Voegerl as "Don Quixote", Pamela 
LaForce as "Mama Rose", Ashleigh Nagy as "Annie", Amy Pelleg as "Maria 
(West Side Story)", Brian Diehl as "Danny Zuko", Don Bernardo as "Prof. 
Harold Hill", Eric Oswald as "Cabaret Emcee", Scott Zolkowski as "Jesus 
Christ Superstar" and Kevin Derrick as "Curly".

Tickets for /Murder by the Falls: 80 Years of Knockin' 'Em Dead/ are $50 
per person, with $25 of that cost being a tax-deductible donation to 
Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Tickets are available by phone at 
440-247-8955, Monday through Saturday from 1-6 PM. Complete details on 
CVLT's 80th Season are available online at www.CVLT.org. The theater is 
located at 40 River Street in historic Chagrin Falls Village.

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is generously funded by Cuyahoga County 
residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and is supported by the Ohio 
Arts Council.

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