What a killer role!

Murder-mystery next up at Oak Street Playhouse

A murder-mystery about an eclectic group of actors auditioning for a play is the next production at Oak Street Playhouse.

“An Audition for a Murder” opens Friday night, April 28, for six performances at the theater inside First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 399 McCallie Ave. The play-within-a-play features a well-rounded ensemble of local actors.

Maria Chattin is directing this show in which a theater director is auditioning actors for a play called “Death of a Disco Dancer.” The usual suspects show up to audition: Mia Monahan, the militant method actress; Amber Frost, the ditzy drama queen; and Chad, the energetic actor who never gets a part in anything.

Also auditioning are Alan, the theater major who works in a fast-food place, and Troy May, an egocentric actor who always lands a role. Tantanya is May’s gorgeous assistant, who holds his bottle of imported water and carries his portfolio. Last, but not least, is Mrs. Needleman and her precious little girl, Julie, fresh from the Little Miss Pumpkin Pageant finals.

However, the play’s director, Vivian Vinderlou, and her assistant, Reed Moore, don’t have enough copies of the script for everyone; in fact, the script isn’t even finished. Playwright Jimmi Culter arrives with a few more copies — and a few more finished pages — just as one of the actors mysteriously dies.

As luck would have it, Jimmi brought Inspector Bonnie Bravura to the auditions to serve as a technical adviser for the play. Will she find the killer? Will the playwright finish her script?

Christine Keefe is playing Inspector Bravura. Patti Gross is Jimmi Culter; Kendra Gross plays ditzy Amber Frost. Cristy Clark plays Mia the method actress and Justin Bolinger is cast as Troy May.

Others in the cast are Mason Carter, Denise Frye, Joey Winslett, Megan Clark, James Bath, Kathryn Kropp and Kitty Reel.

There are two options for purchasing tickets: 1-800-838-3006 or online at www.brownpapertickets.com then type in “Oak Street Playhouse.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Preparing for the opening of “An Audition for a Murder” are, bottom row, from left, Patti Gross, Katherine Kropp, Kitty Reel and Denise Frye. Standing, second row, from left, are Mason Carter, Kendra Gross, Joey Winslett and Megan Clark. At rear are Christine Keefe, Justin Bolinger and James Bath.