The Blue Hill Troupe, a musical theater company that raises money for New York City charities while providing high quality theater performances, is kicking off the holiday season on November 8 with a production of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes. The show is directed & choreographed by Gary Slavin with music direction by Matthew Stephens.
They write:
Based on Charles Dickens’ final, unfinished novel, this musical comedy whodunit is presented as a play within a play. Come cheer the Musical Hall Royale, a delightfully loony Victorian theater troupe, as they bring this cryptic tale to life with songs such as “Moonfall,” “Off to the Races,” and “Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead.”
Best of all, the outcome of each performance depends on the most ingenious sleuths around: YOU! And when the audience gets to vote on not just the murderer but other important elements of the ending, hilarious fun ensues.
Troupe members, playing the dual roles of “a zany Victorian theater company and the Dickens characters they embody in the show-within-a-show,” include local performer Neal Young, along with Kevin Murray, Paul Mitchell Wilder, Suzanne R. Taylor, Brady Lynch, Lauren Cupples, Capron Levine, David Pasteelnick, Chazmond Peacock, Tom Staggs, Harry Bickford, Alison Plotkin, Sarah Glaser, Rebecca Rozzoni Amy Hughlett, Emily Ruderman, Geoff Gaebe, Michael Macaione, John C. Taylor, Christian Smythe, Shannon Barr, and Scott Smith.
The Blue Hill Troupe is known as NYC’s only “philanthropic musical theater group,” donating their annual proceeds to a New York based non-profit organization. This year’s net proceeds will be donated to Rocking the Boat, a nonprofit organization based in the South Bronx, where students work together to build wooden boats, learn to row and sail, and restore local urban waterways.
November 8-16, 2019 at The Theatre at St. Jeans, at 150 East 76th St. Learn more and buy tickets here.
