*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * January 15, 2019 *CONTACT/PRESS PHOTOS:* Trista Duval, Artistic Director, *trista@centerstagetheatre.com* (253) 661-1444 *Centerstage Theatre* * presents * *The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940* *Book by: John Bishop* *Presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Services* *RUN DATES: Feb 1 - 24* *TIMES: Fridays – 7:30 pm; * *Saturdays – 2:00 (Feb 16th and 23rd only) & 7:30 pm; * *Sundays – 2:00 pm* *TICKET PRICES: $29 for adults; $25 for seniors/military; $15 for ages 18 – 23; * *$12 ages 17 & under. Taxes and city fees apply.* *Tickets available online at **www.CenterstageTheatre.com <http://www.centerstagetheatre.com/>* *or by phone: (253) 661-1444* *LOCATION: Knutzen Family Theatre, 3200 SW Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA* Centerstage Theatre presents the farcical murder mystery, *The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940*, a hilarious whodunit that will keep you guessing and laughing all at once! The show opens Friday, February 1st, and plays through Sunday, February 24th. Shows will take place on the following dates and times: Fridays, February 1 st, 8th, 15th, & 22nd at 7:30pm; Saturdays, February 2nd, 9th, 16th, & 23rd at 2:00pm (16th & 23rd only) and 7:30pm; and Sundays, February 3rd, 10th, 17 th, & 24th at 2:00pm. The show brings together a dynamic and diverse cast and crew of arts professionals from all around the Sound region. In the role of hostess and patron Elsa Von Grossenkneuten is the versatile ARWEN DEWEY, whose resume includes multiple professional singing credits as well as theatre. Stage and screen veterans (and Centerstage favorites!) PAT SIBLEY and G. KENT TAYLOR play the mysterious maid Helsa Wenzel and undercover cop Michael Kelly. Seattle critical favorite BRAD WALKER returns to Centerstage after a multiyear hiatus to play endearingly struggling comedian Eddie McCuen. Joining the cast as the young chorus girl Nikki Crandall is NOEL PEDERSON, (who also works at The Village Theatre as a marketing associate), and videographer TIMOTHY DUVAL in the role of the Irish tenor Patrick O’Reilly. ELOISA CARDONA brings decades of experience on and backstage as the ambitious producer Marjorie Baverstock, while popular South Sound actor JACOB TICE plays the-Director-who’s-worked-with-everyone Ken de la Maize. Finally, rounding out the cast as the composer and lyricist pair Roger Hopewell and Bernice Roth are professional artists COLIN BRISKEY and COLLEEN BJURSTROM, both exciting new additions to the Centerstage roster. The show is directed by Centerstage’s Managing Director ANGELA BAYLER, in her first production role since her tenure at Centerstage began. Ms. Bayler’s theatre resume is extensive and varied, and includes direction, stage management, and design at professional theatres across the country. ABOUT THE SHOW: We dare you to stop laughing long enough to figure out whodunnit in this play filled with sliding bookcases secret passageways, bizarre characters, and mystery galore! On a snowy winter night in a mansion in upper New York state, a group of people gathers to pitch a new show to a wealthy benefactress. But this isn’t just any group of people…it’s the same creative team whose most recent Broadway musical flopped…due to a string of highly publicized and *highly* inconvenient murders! Will the reconvening of this team bring magic or mayhem? Maybe both! ABOUT OUR THEATRE: Believing the theatre is an agent of challenge, change, and education, Centerstage presents and produces quality performances to enhance the lives of people and communities in Western Washington. Centerstage Theatre has been a feature of the South Sound Arts Community since 1977. Moving into the brand new Knutzen Family Theatre in 1998, the company continued to grow, eventually stepping into the professional theatre world by beginning to pay all of its actors and production crew and garnering awards from local publications and papers. *For more information on THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940, call the box office at (253) 661-1444, or email Artistic Director Trista Duval at * *Trista@CenterstageTheatre.com* *END* -- Trista Duval Artistic Director Centerstage Theatre (253) 661-1444 http://www.centerstagetheatre.com