[NEohioPAL] PRESS RELEASE: Annual Chagrin Falls murder mystery event gets the scoop from local novelist

[Chagrin Valley Little Theatre]

*PRESS RELEASE*
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 6/26/2023
------------------------------

From: Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

40 River Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44122
Phone: 440-247-8955
E-mail:  cvlt at cvlt.org
Website:  www.CVLT.org <http://www.cvlt.org/>
Annual Chagrin Falls murder mystery event gets the scoop from local novelist

*Subheading:* Chagrin Valley Little Theatre adapts Abby Collette mystery
novel for 95th Season fundraiser

CHAGRIN FALLS, OH - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre will commence its 95th
consecutive season with the annual  *Murder by the Falls* event on
September 6th and 7th, 2024. This event has served as CVLT's season kickoff
fundraiser for over 30 years and marks the official beginning of their
exciting 2024-25 series, which includes three musicals ( *The Sound of
Music, Jersey Boys, *and   *Freaky Friday)* and three plays ( *Erma
Bombeck: At Wit's End, Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient
Express,* and * Clue:
On Stage)*.

Although proceeds from the theater's regular ticket sales cover the cost of
mounting each production, money raised from  *Murder by the Falls* goes to
the theater's general operating and facilities expenses. Chagrin Valley
Little Theatre, a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization, operates its
properties on River St. in Chagrin Falls primarily  with a volunteer staff
and relies on donations and grants to support the enjoyment of live theatre
and entertainment in the community. CVLT is seeking event sponsors and
prize donors for this event (cvlt at cvlt.org for arrangements).

*Murder by the Falls *has grown in popularity over the years, often selling
to capacity. The fun begins with a pre-show reception at 5:30 PM with hors
d'oeuvres and a wine/beer cash bar. The curtain rises on Act I at 7:00 PM,
where the story, suspects, and crime are revealed through the on-stage
performance. At intermission, audience members are deputized to help solve
the murder. They leave the theatre to prowl N. Franklin and Main Streets in
Chagrin Falls Village searching for clues hidden in the shop windows.
Audience members also gain critical information and clues from actors
stationed on the street. A catered dessert buffet with complimentary coffee
and wine follows in Chagrin Falls Village Township Hall, where audience
members gather to solve the murder and complete an answer sheet with their
solutions. The evening continues back at the Theatre where Act II reveals
the killer's identity and prizes are awarded.

Each edition of  *Murder by the Falls* features an original mystery. This
year's script,  *A Deadly Inside Scoop*, is based on the 'cozy mystery'
novel by the same name. The book was penned by Wall Street Journal
bestselling author Abby Collette. The stage adaptation was written for CVLT
by Andrew Rothman. The book is part of Collette's "Ice Cream Parlor"
mystery series about a millennial who returns to Chagrin Falls after
earning her MBA to take over her grandparents' historic ice cream shop.
The                 first installment of the series finds the main
character racing to solve a murder in her own backyard while trying to keep
the police from suspecting her father.

"I read an interview with Ms. Collette in the community newsletter for
South Euclid, where we both live," says Rothman, a long-time CVLT volunteer
and performer who has co-written several previous MBTF scripts. "I
immediately recognized the 'Ice Cream Parlor' mystery setup as an ideal
plot for our fundraiser. Several CVLT board members saw Ms. Collette in a
local TV morning show interview and had already reached out to her!" The
novelist was excited about the possibilities and gave the adaptation her
blessing. Rothman said that turning Collette's 384-page paperback into a
manageable stage play and adjusting it to the needs of MBTF's unique
audience-participation format was challenging. "Fortunately, Abby was not
only very accommodating with the many cuts and alterations I had to make
but is an absolutely charming person to work with. I hope the audience has
as much fun solving it as we had planning it."

Tickets for MBTF are $75 and can be purchased online 24/7 at CVLT.org or by
calling the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre Box Office at 440-247-8955,
Tuesday - Friday afternoons from 1:00pm - 6:00pm. Early reservations and
arrival are highly recommended, especially with a major reconstruction of
the bridge above the Chagrin Falls underway. CVLT is located at 40 River
Street in Chagrin Falls Village.

###

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded through
individual and corporate contributions. Our programming is made possible in
part by the citizens of Cuyahoga Country through Cuyahoga County Arts and
Culture and by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the
Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports
quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally,
educationally, and economically.

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