Riverdale Repertory Company to Present THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, 2/22-3/2

Direct from its triumphant 2012 Broadway run, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD is coming to Riverdale! Riverdale Repertory Company presents the daffy Tony Award-winning musical comedy for six performances only, from February 22 to March 2, 2014.

Join a raucous troupe of hammy actors at a turn of the century British music hall as they present a musical entertainment based on Charles Dickens' final, incomplete novel, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. In an ingenious twist, the audience votes on how the show ends: Who's the murderer? Who's the incognito detective? Who are the lovers? There are over one hundred possible permutations, so no two performances will be the same!

Performances will be held at the Riverdale YM-YWHA, located at 5625 Arlington Avenue (just off of Riverdale Avenue and West 256th Street), in Riverdale, Bronx, NY.

Except for special $10 performances on February 27 at 7:30pm and March 2 at 7pm, tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for seniors and students if purchased online at www.RiverdaleRisingStars.com, or $22 for adults and $14 for seniors and students if purchased at the door prior to showtime. Tickets are also available by visiting www.BrownPaperTickets.com. For group sales, please email mraider@riverdaley.org.

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD features music, lyrics, and book by Rupert Holmes (songwriter of the chart-topping "Escape - The Piña Colada Song", as well as the book for the musical Curtains, and the recent Broadway adaptation of John Grisham's A Time To Kill). The original production opened in 1985 as part of the New York Shakespeare Festival, and soon transferred to Broadway, where it won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Roundabout Theatre Company's critically-acclaimed 2012 Broadway revival at Studio 54, starred Chita Rivera, Stephanie J. Block, and Jim Norton, and received six Tony Award nominations.

The Riverdale Repertory Company production of THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD is directed by Riverdale Rising Stars Founder Laurie Walton, with choreography by Emily Walton and Laurie Berich, and music direction by Justin Fischer. The design team includes David Pentz (lighting) and Denise Eberly (sound).

The show features a cast of 27 hailing from the Bronx, Yonkers, Upper Manhattan, and beyond, including Caren Austin, Gene Berger, Sheryl Berger, Sara Crowe, Mona Cushnie, Jim DeBlasi, Caitlin Dunne, Patrick Dwyer, Julian Faranda, Paul Geidel, Joe Gonzalez, Deborah Lupkin Gross, Elaine Helmrich, Mary Lahti, Leo Lopez, Timothy Mathis, Philip Meranus, Luz Montez, Elizabeth Muñoz, Keila Muñoz, John Palacio, Marilyn Raider, Katie Rhoades, Michelle Rosario, Rhea Segal, Irwin Seltzer, and Serena Stanley.

Riverdale Rising Stars was created to provide the teens of the Riverdale community and beyond a professional repertory company experience. Since its inception 13 years ago, the organization has expanded its programming to include Rising Stars Jr., Riverdale Repertory Company, and the Riverdale Performing Arts Conservatory (RPAC), an educational program for adults and children. Of greatest importance is the way that all build self-esteem, learn enormous respect for others, develop camaraderie and create lifelong friendships. Together, these award-winning companies provide a world of expression, passion and creativity for all ages.

Upcoming productions include the annual BROADWAY GALA BENEFIT (March 23, with Broadway stars performing with local adults and teens), RENT: SCHOOL EDITION (beginning April 5, featuring teen performers), THE DIARY OF Anne Frank (April 26-28, with actors of all ages), HAIRSPRAY JR. (beginning May 18, with actors ages 7-12), and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (June 1-15, with performers of all ages).

For more information about upcoming productions, visit www.RiverdaleRisingStars,com.