Int'l Mystery Writers' Festival 2008 Productions

(Image Courtesy Of Festival)

Mystery Festival Announces 2008 Productions

Premieres include works by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury, Rupert Holmes & Mary Higgins Clark

OWENSBORO, Ky. -- The first International Mystery Writers' Festival announced new mystery works to premiere on stage this June in Owensboro, Ky."The committee was overwhelmed by the quality of submissions – both from established writers and new talent," said RiverPark President & CEO Zev Buffman, who produced 40 Broadway shows receiving 27 Tony Award nominations. "There is no other mega-event in the country like it. Where else could you see the debut of work from legends such as Agatha Christie and Ray Bradbury, Mary Higgins Clark & Rupert Holmes alongside a newly discovered author from Madisonville, Kentucky?"

"We set the standard extremely high last year, which was the first year of the festival. All three Best play nominations for the 62 year old Edgar Awards – the world's top mystery award – were swept by our festival."

Professional readers from leading literary agencies selected the plays for the 2008 International Mystery Writers Festival from thousands of submissions.

The plays to be fully staged and performed are:

• "Chimneys," the U.S. premiere of Agatha Christie's play, directed by "Guest Star" Director Brian Bedford. This thrillerwaslost for nearly 70 years before a Canadian theater director uncovered it and returned it to the Christie family. The Christie Family Estate has graciously agreed that the 2008 International Mystery Writers' Festival is the perfect setting to rediscover for the classic mystery that combines royal intrigue, blackmail, murder and a dash of romance;
• "The Final Toast," the world premiere of Stuart Kaminsky's Sherlock Holmes adventure. The Edgar-winning author Kaminsky presents the great detective Sherlock Holmes in a clever new plot where Holmes unravels a murder only to find himself a new target of the murderer. With the help of his faithful friend, Dr. Watson and an 11 year old "dancing street urchin" called Charles Chaplin, Sherlock Holmes uses his masterful deduction to make a complex situation seem simply elementary;
• "The Last Appointment," by Donald C. Drake. This intriguing psychological mystery drama revolves around a beautiful female detective must fight her own demons while searching for a deranged serial killer. Clues begin with the victim's last appointments, but don't wrap up where you might think;
• "Flemming: An American Thriller," by Sam Bobrick. This mystery farce full of twists and turns will leave you laughing as well as longing for a good drink. An unassuming middle-aged man decides to become a private detective in the midst of a mid-life crisis – but the life crisis is only beginning. Bobrick's play is full of witty dialogue that fades in-and-out-of murders, madness and many, many mixed drinks;
• "Cell" by Judy Klass. A haunting and disturbing play, "Cell" divides scenes between flashbacks and the present -- two brothers struggling to accept life's challenges. One brother is a crippled diabetic wanting to end his own life, his younger brother trying to keep him alive and to help him make his life worthwhile. The mystery of this play is as much in the relationships as is it is the who-done-it behind what could even be an accidental death.

In addition, two one-act plays will be performed: 

• "The Third Rule" by Dan Aibel. A brotherly love facing betrayal. This suspenseful tale of tension and danger weaves magic and murder through thestory of a missing young boy and the investigation to find his killer. 
• "Someone To Care For" by Christy Hall. This powerful play touches your heart and leaves your senses reeling. A story of loss, the toll it can take, and the lives it can break.

Eight Wide-Screen Audio – Live! performances will premiere:

• "Armchair Detective – A 'Remember WENN' Mystery Musical," by Tony, Emmy, and Edgar-Award Winner Rupert Holmes. (New live audience adaptation!) Find yourself in the Golden Radio Age of 1939 set in Pittsburgh. A radio station's small but dedicated crew takes on a pistol-waving escaped convict, thunderstorms and power-outages, and a mysterious ghostly voice echoing through the studios, all the while giving their listeners comedy, drama and musical variety as if nothing out-of-the-ordinary was happening. Holmes is the creator and writer of Broadway hits "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," "Accomplice" and the current mystery-musical success "Curtains;"

• "Murder Times Two: Take My Word for It and You Don't Have to Answer & Between Sins" Two short mysteries– by Robert S. Levinson. A catchphrase and a life-changing moment. Levinson once again brings levity to a Hollywood tale of passion, love and longing in "Take My Word for it and You Don't Have to Answer". He then pairs that mystery with "Between Sins", a sexy drama in the court of blackmail and intriguing murder.

• "The Help" by Bill Kerby. (New Live Audience Adaptation) This murderous tale of stolen identity involves an unscrupulous young housekeeper and a none-too-bright poolman, who conspire to take over the lives of a wealthy couple. From the writer of USA Network's "On the Beach" and "Little Richard", and the story man behind "The Rose" with Bette Midler and"Hooper" starring Burt Reynolds;

• "It Burns Me Up," by legendary Ray Bradbury, author of "The Martian Chronicles," "Fahrenheit 451" and "Something Wicked This Way Comes."A murdered man lies on the floor, and his stunned wife sits nearby. A police detective and the coroner discuss the victim while other police do their jobs. Reporters and neighbors crowd in at the door… but, the dead man on the floor tells the story before the ambulance arrives; *PAIRED WITH*

"My Gal Sunday" adapted from Mary Higgins Clark's Crime of Passion - a delightful detective couple, the rich and handsome ex-president of the United States and his wife, an attractive Congresswoman, investigate the affair of a former Secretary of State and his murdered mistress.

• "The Cajun P.I.," by PJ Woodside and Jude Roy of Madisonville, Ky. (First work) Former cop and now struggling Private Investigator John LeGrand is a junior college criminology instructor who begins a dangerous search for one of his own students who ends up missing during a class assignment. Some good-ole-boys – and not-so-good-ole-boys – and some attractive, but slightly dangerous, women round out the characters of this betrayal in the Bayou;

• "Mapes for Hire," by Lee Goldberg. Private-eye novels and old TV shows can teach you a lot about mysteries. But as a young rent-a-cop for a prominent gated community discovers, life teaches you more about murder. Young Harvey Mapes struggles to stay alive on a perilous trip taking him from San Fernando Valley to the rural woods in Washington state; and

• "Hallie Bowers," by Harris F. Mack & Laura Campbell. War-time Christmas of 1941 leads a seasoned female private investigator and her younger brother from a nightclub dance floor to the tracks at L.A.'s Union Station when they take on a missing-girlfriend case from a handsome Navy Lieutenant. 

.    Ticket information

The audiences for the festival, which will take place from June 12 – 22 at the RiverPark Center in Owensboro, Ky., will help select the winners. Ticket prices will range from $9.95 - $29.95 or ($49.50 for Crimson Quill seating while seats last,) while Widescreen Audio plays will be under $10. Master classes and special guest presentations will be offered during the festival at no charge. Group discounts available for groups larger than 20. For more information about the festival or to reserve tickets, log on to www.newmysteries.org.

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