PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 8/22/2022

Contact: Andrew Rothman
From: Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

40 River Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44122
Phone: 440-247-8955
E-mail: cvlt@cvlt.org
Website: www.CVLT.org

CVLT’s annual interactive mystery returns to in-person sleuthing for fun and prizes

CHAGRIN FALLS, OH - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre’s MURDER BY THE FALLS event has served as the venerable non-profit’s season kickoff fundraiser every fall for many years, helping to pay for the upcoming slate of productions. Although the pandemic forced the cancellation of the event in 2020 and a shift to an original interactive online game in 2021, the organization is thrilled to bring it back to the live stage in support of their 93rd Season. 

MURDER BY THE FALLS takes place the weekend after Labor Day, with performances on Friday September 9 and Saturday, September 10, 2022. Admission is $50 for General Admission and $75 for VIP admission. Discounted admission is available for groups of eight or more and a limited number of complimentary student tickets have been made available through our generous sponsors.

MURDER BY THE FALLS offers a unique and entertaining experience. Audience members arrive at CVLT (40 River Street in historic downtown Chagrin Falls) at 6 PM, to enjoy a reception featuring a cash wine/beer bar, and hors d'oeuvres in the theater’s lobby and vestibule. VIP ticket holders are invited to arrive at 5:30 for early sign-in, as well as complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the Sears River Room on CVLT’s second floor and throughout the event. The play itself begins at 7:00 PM.

Audience members will leave the theater during intermission to search for hidden clues in the windows of Chagrin Falls stores, and to gain additional information from live actors stationed on the street. After submitting their solutions, audience members will return to the auditorium for the second act, in which the killer will be revealed and the winners of prizes and free CVLT tickets will be announced. A 50/50 raffle is also planned for the weekend, with a winner announced live online on Monday, September 12th.

This year’s MURDER BY THE FALLS play, the 33rd edition, is entitled Murder, Center Stage. It has been adapted by writer Bob Abelman from his novella of the same name. Mr. Abelman is a syndicated theater critic and entertainment feature writer whose reviews of local theater regularly appeared in Cleveland Jewish News, The News-Herald, and Chagrin Valley Times. All members of the audience will receive a complimentary copy of the novella and an opportunity to meet the author/playwright. The show is directed by Don Bernardo.

The dastardly plot revolves around a fictional production of the Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd, during which someone swaps a prop straight razor for the real thing, leading to an unexpected on-stage killing by the lead actor. Audiences will hear from suspects and law enforcement officers alike in this macabre and humorous tale, as they try to figure out who wanted to see the victim’s throat slashed and why. The cast includes actors Doug Vanek, Kate Williams-Bernardo, Jan Jones, Abby Longshore, Brenda Redmond, Jim Marzullo, Jessie Pollak, Adam Young, Eric Oswald, Rob Walter, Steven R. Tiederman, and Michael J. Rogan. 

Tickets for MURDER BY THE FALLS can be purchased online at CVLT.org, and are 50% tax-deductible as a donation to Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Tickets are also available by phone at (440) 247-8955. The event is generously supported by donations and gifts from Unto Others, Roe Green, Hamlet Retirement, Lowe's TV Audio Video, Cleveland State Global, Chestnut Hill Home, Libby Larrabee, The Karen Eagle Group, Emily & Matt Honsa-Hicks, Brandy Steinhauser & Darren Dieleman, Vintage Wine Distributors, Jan Jones, Missy & Stan Davis, Kristine Tesar, Stephen & Marilyn Eva, and Sugar Me Desserterie.

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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