Scooby Doo meets Agatha Christie in Stetson University’s production of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 by John Bishop. The comedy, directed by Stetson professor of theatre arts Ken McCoy, Ph.D., will run from Thursday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 24.

The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 takes place in the library of an old mansion in Chappaqua, upstate New York. The owner of the mansion, an amateur sleuth named Elsa von Grossenkneuten, has invited a group of theatre people, supposedly to audition for a new play for funding, but actually to lay a trap for the backstage “slasher,” whose murders have followed the group on their last year’s tour. When a blizzard traps the cast in the mansion, the slayer strikes and the cast must work together to catch a killer and save their own lives. Add knives, guns, swords, a piano, and hidden passages, and the comedy is afoot!

“This is a play that has it all,” says McCoy. “It’s a mash up where Scooby Doo meets Clue meets Quentin Tarantino meets Judy Garland, and Mickey Rooney meets Hogan’s Heroes, with a song or two thrown in for fun.”

The ensemble cast includes Kyle Maley, Rachel Markunas, Olivia Moeschet, Samantha Manning, Marcia Myers, Jonathan Greer, Stephanie Wattigny, Roxanna Ghamgosarnia, Andrew Noel, and  Alex Schelb. Pictured, left to right: Marcia Myers, Stephanie Wattigny, Andrew Noel, Samantha Manning, Jonathan Greer, Thomas Ecker, Kyle Maley. Photo by Ken McCoy.

The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 will be presented at Stetson Theatre Arts’ “Second Stage” Theatre, located in the Museum of Art at 600 N. Woodland Blvd. Parking is free. Performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 21, 22, and 23, are at 8 p.m. The performance on Sunday, Nov. 24 will begin at 3 p.m.

Stetson students, faculty, and staff presenting valid I.D. will be admitted free of charge.

For those without Stetson IDs, admission each performance is $12 for adults and $10 for senior citizens and non-Stetson students. Tickets will be available at the door, and can be purchased by either cash or check. Reserved tickets must be picked up 30 minutes prior to the start of each show.

For information or reservations, call Stetson Theatre’s “Second Stage” box office at (386) 822-8700. Box office will be open one hour prior to curtain of each performance. For more information, contact Stetson University’s Department of Creative Arts  at (386) 822-7266,  [email protected].