The University of Findlay has added a performance of the musical, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. in the John and Hester Powell Grimm Theatre.
The musical opens on stage at The University of Findlay on Wednesday, Feb. 20, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 24, in the John and Hester Powell Grimm Theatre. Performances are at 8 p.m., except for Sunday and the added Saturday performance, at 2 p.m.
Micheal F. Anders, Ph.D., is producer and musical director, with Vicki McClurkin as stage director. Brenda Hoyt-Brackman choreographed the show. Greg Griffin is scenic and lighting designer, and Kathy Newell did costume design.
This hysterical but warm-hearted theatrical experience begins when the loony Victorian musical troupe, Music Hall Royale, stages its own flamboyant rendition of an unfinished Charles Dickens’ mystery. On a dark and stormy night, Drood suddenly disappears and is assumed to be dead.
At the point of the story where Dickens dies, the audience must vote on the conclusion of the story. The audience will decide on the killer of Edwin Drood and the detective. Since this is a musical, and every musical deserves two lovers, the audience then votes on the two lovers that happily conclude the story. In all, there are about 120 different endings to the show.
An award-winning musical by Rupert Holmes, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” was originally produced in 1985 by
Shakespeare in the Park and opened on Broadway in December of 1985 with rave reviews. At the 40th annual Tony Awards in 1986, Holmes became the first person in theatrical history to win Tony’s for both Best Book and Best Score for "Drood," and then on to win the Best Musical.
Today, the musical is a Broadway revival playing at
Studio 54 as the hottest ticket of the 2012-13 season.
The University encourages community members to reserve tickets as soon as possible. Tickets may be reserved by visiting the box office in the Alumni Memorial Union or by calling 419-434-5335. General admission tickets are $10; students and senior citizen tickets are $5; and UF students, faculty and staff tickets are $3.