Humorous mystery continues this weekend

“Audition for Murder,” Offshoot Productions’ fall 2006 comic mystery presentation which made its debut November 3 at Tyrone’s Roger Spencer Community Center, will continue this weekend with to more performances Nov. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. This dessert theatre production aims to delight audiences with humor and improvisation.

As on so many occasions during its 13-year-history, the company transforms an unlikely space into a theatre through set, lights, and outstanding performances from its professional cast.

The inventive plot centers on auditions for a murder mystery, “Every Actor’s Nightmare.” Three actors with secrets and a director who may not actually be what she pretends to be come together and clash during the auditions. The plot takes an ironic twist when an actual murder occurs during call-backs. Audience members, enacting the roles of other auditioners and backers of the play, participate in the happenings, reading the script with the actors to help them prepare for the audition, making suggestions for always-hilarious improvisation, and providing clues and feedback. At the end of the show, it’s the audience that determines the murderer.

Written by the mother-daughter team of Susan M. Steadman, Ph.D. and Paige Steadman, the play is immersed in the atmosphere that the two know best: the theatre. Susan, a Dramatists Guild member who has had many plays produced in Texas, Florida, New Jersey and Georgia, has also written articles and a book on theatrical literature and practice. Since earning her doctorate in theatre from Louisiana State University, she has taught on the college level and at private schools and has directed dozens of plays for educational, professional, alternative and community theatre.

Paige, a young theatre practitioner and composer who has frequently provided original music and accompaniment for theatre groups, private parties, the Renaissance Festival and elsewhere, also penned “The Frog Prince,” a children’s participation play which toured middle Georgia in the spring and summer. She wrote or adapted the score for Offshoot’s four Shakespearean productions and recently contributed music for a Theatre Gael fund raiser.

The play features a cast which is up to the challenge of enacting the quirky characters and improvising from audience suggestion. Wendy Fulton-Adams, Nico Ward, Justin Sims and Parks Stamper boast a spectacular array of degrees in theatre and broadcasting, as well as stage, film and radio experience.

In addition to the comedy and improve which mark the presentation, jazz from an offstage saxophone enhances the event, courtesy of Kyle Sims, an accomplished musician and music teacher who previously worked with Offshoot on “But Was It Murder?” and “The Tempest.”

“Audition for Murder,” which is a fund raiser for Offshoot’s educational and outreach programs, will be performed as a dessert theatre at Tyrone’s Roger Spencer Community Center, 145 Commerce Drive, at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10 and 11. Tickets, which are $15 each and include dessert and beverage, are available in advance at the Peachtree City Library, 201 Willowbend Road, at the Roger Spencer Community Center (open between 10 and 2 weekdays) or online at www.offshoot.org. Remaining tickets will be available at the door. However, as seating is limited, it is recommended that tickets be purchased ahead of time.

Offshoot is currently booking additional performances at parties, fund raisers, and corporate events for later this year and early 2007.

For additional information including group rates, contact Offshoot Productions at 770-631-2362 or offshoot pr@aol.com.

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