Sue Grafton/Christie Premieres At Int'l Mystery Writers' Fest In KY

VETERAN BROADWAY PRODUCER ZEV BUFFMAN ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL MYSTERY WRITERS' FESTIVAL TO PREMIERE 4 Agatha Christie CLASSICS AS9 PART OF THE 3^RD ANNUAL  MYSTERY FESTIVAL - AUGUST 12-16, 2009 RIVERPARK CENTER IN OWENSBORO, KY.

(Sue Graton Pictured)

*Sue Grafton To Receive First Lady of Mystery Award*  

Zev Buffman, whose colorful Broadway career delivered such theatrical milestones as ElizaBeth Taylor's Broadway debut in "The Little Foxes," Andrew Lloyd-Weber's "Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Muhammad Ali in the musical "Buck White,"  Dustin Hoffman in "Jimmy Shine, and Angela Lansbury in the current hit "Blithe Spirit", announced the 3^rd Annual International Mystery Writers' Festival opening August 12 through August 16, 2009 At RiverPark Center in Owensboro, Kentucky.

During the past five years, Buffman shifted his attention to Kentucky, having launched over a dozen national, international Broadway tours and new mysteries and produced the now acclaimed International Mystery Writers' Festival. 

This year's recipient of the coveted "First Lady of Mystery" Award is acclaimed Kentucky's own author Sue Grafton. An invitation went out to KY First Lady Jane Beshear to repeat the honor of the presenter.  Sue Grafton is also this year's "Grand Master" Winner of the Mystery Writers of America in New York City. 

Over the past 18 months, the Mystery Festival has hosted such talent as Gene Hackman, Mary Higgins Clark,  Josh Hutcherson (Journey to Center of the Earth), Anthony E. Zuiker (creator of C.S.I.), Rene' Balcer (creator of Law and Order :Criminal Intent), Bill Link (creator - Columbo and Murder She Wrote) Sue Grafton (The Alphabet Mysteries) and a dozen of others. All took active parts in a number of duties & activities during the Festivals. 

The "Discovered" new works from the festival have garnered multiple Edgar Award nominations and wins in 2008 & 2009. Also, Angela Lansbury was the first recipient of the Festival's "ANGIE" award as First Lady of Mystery 2007 presented by Kentucky's Governor Fletcher. Mary Higgins Clark was crowned as First Lady of Mystery in 2008; Kentucky's First Lady Jane Beshear presented her with the award from the stage of RiverPark Center.  

The 2009 Festival will present four Agatha Christie mysteries. These four exclusive works are "Three Blind Mice," "Yellow Iris," "Butter in a Lordly Dish," and "Personal Call."  Mathew Prichard, Agatha Christie's grandson and manager of her estate, says "I'm delighted that Zev's team are putting on my grandmother's wonderful BBC plays which number among some of her best works. I'm sure that the USA live audience will enjoy them enormously." The shows will be presented as two double billed plays during the course of the festival. 

• "Three Blind Mice" was part of a May 30, 1947 evening of program in honor of the eightieth birthday of Queen Mary. The BBC approached the Queen some months prior and asked for her special favorites. Amongst a selection of music and variety, she requested a new mystery by Agatha Christie, a writer the Queen deeply admired. The world's longest running play "The Mousetrap" was inspired by "Three Blind Mice".        
• "Yellow Iris" was first presented on the BBC National Program in 1937. The main part of the story takes place in a London restaurant. The play is unusual in that its original producer, interspersed the action with the performances of the cabaret artists who were supposedly on the bill at the club where the murder took place. It features the famous Belgian Inspector Hercule Poirot, one of Christie's audiences' favorite detectives. 
• "Butter in a Lordly Dish" was first performed on the BBC on Tuesday, January 13, 1948 in a strand entitled Mystery Playhouse presents, "The Detection Club." The play title comes from the Bible: Judges, 5:25: "He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish". "He" refers to Sisera and "she" is Jael. (This work was never published before). 
• "Personal Call", the last thriller, was presented on the BBC Light Program on Monday, May 31, 1954. The play reuses the legendary character of Inspector Narracott from the 1931 novel "The Sittaford Mystery." (This work was never published before)

The Producer/director team of these works will be third year International Mystery Writers' Festival veterans and legendary Grammy winning David Ossman and Judith Walcut.

Amazingly, the Festival traditionally draws 50% of its visitors from out of State. Hotels, car rentals and restaurants achieve record business. Several hundred people are employed during the star studded festival. 

Other events surrounding the festival include: classic outdoor movies series with star hosts, Celebrity master classes, writing workshops, guest speakers, meet and greets, book signings and the Sunday, August 16 Angie Awards - named after Angela Lansbury. 

The Festival's RiverPark Center will again host its Young Adult Theatre Academy (Y.A.T.A). The Academy gives University and high-school students opportunities to completely immerse themselves within the creation of new live theatre. Y.A.T.A. students come from around the country seeking real-world insight into their development as theatre artists, technicians, writers & designers. The goal is to directly introduce students to practical theatre experience amidst award winning professionals of Broadway-caliber productions. The programs are college accredited. 

For more information, visit www.newmysteries.org.

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