Berkshire Theatre Group Stages THE CAT AND THE CANARY, Beg. Tonight

Berkshire Theatre Group presents the thrilling mystery, The Cat and the Canary at The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge opening on August 3 at 8pm. Previews begin tonight, August 1 at 8pm and closes on August 24 at 8pm.

Tickets to The Cat and the Canary are $45, all preview tickets are $35. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield; at the Fitzpatrick Main Stage Ticket Office at 83 East Main Street, Stockbridge; by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org. All plays, schedules, casting and prices are subject to change.

This thrilling and cutting edge production of the classic mystery, The Cat and the Canary, is led by Yale School of Drama directing student Ethan Heard. The cast, which features eight Yale School of Drama acting students and returning Brandeis acting student and BTG alumnus, JoNathan Young, will take the audience on an immersive journey to the haunted mansion of Cyrus West filled with frightening and fun surprises around every corner. An homage to classic mysteries and horror films in look and feel, The Cat and the Canary will introduce audiences to the best in up and coming theatrical talent, while providing suspense and entertainment galore.

"People should expect thrills and chills," says Director Ethan Heard. "This is a suspenseful, funny, murder mystery, full of outrageous characters and unexpected twists. For our production, we transform the Unicorn Theatre into Glencliff Manor, and welcome audience members as guests of Cyrus Canby West."

As the clock strikes midnight, the relatives of Cyrus West assemble at his mansion to read his will twenty years after his death. In an unexpected twist of fate, young Annabelle is named heir to Cyrus' large fortune, under one condition: that she is deemed legally sane. When the group finds out that a lunatic has escaped from the nearby asylum, inexplicable things begin to happen and Annabelle begins to fear for her sanity and for her life. A suspenseful and delightful "who-dunnit," this mystery will transform the entire Unicorn Theatre and have audiences on The Edge of their seats and begging for more.

This play comes to life not only on the stage but in the audience, theatre lobby, and BTF campus. Audience members are also invited to "Secrets of Glencliff" Backstage Tours after Saturday matinees to delve into the mysteries of Glencliff Manor, take pictures with the cast, and perhaps discover mordacious and haunting surprises from the West family history.

"I love directing this play because it mixes terror and comedy, convention and surprise," says Director Ethan Heard. "The actors, designers, and I have to find just the right composition of elements. Rehearsals are full of experimentation and laughter. We try all sorts of wild ideas, but in the end, we have to craft an extremely precise score of events."

The cast includes Willa Fitzgerald as Cicily Young, Chris Geary as Roger Crosby, Ashton Heyl as Annabelle West, Matthew McCollum as Harry Blythe, Tom Pecinka as Paul Jones, Will Turner as Hendricks, Ariana Venturi as Mrs. Underwood, Sophie von Haselberg as Susan Sillsby and Jonathan A. Young as Charlie Wilder.

For more information, visit www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.

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