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Not many theater productions can successfully
combine music, murder and breakfast.
But Fort Salem Theater isn’t very
typical.
With "Breakfast Epiphanies," the
theater brings an original murder mystery
with music to its Washington County venue.
The play runs Friday through Monday.
Written by local playwright Al Budde,
the production includes musical numbers
by Jay Kerr, the Fort’s artistic
director.
Kerr had seen a production of Budde’s
last show, "FOR SALEM," and thought
music would have enhanced the experience.
When Budde approached Kerr with a new script,
Kerr suggested adding songs.
"We feel our expertise is in producing
musicals," Kerr said.
Kerr worked with Budde on reworking the
script.
"We condensed some scenes. We took
the essence of some scenes," Kerr
explained. "The opening covers six
pages in the script. It’s a song
that sets out who everyone is and why they
are there."
Set in a small town diner, the play follows
the local police detective’s efforts
to solve the murder of the restaurant’s
owner, which takes place during an electrical
storm blackout.
The cast includes Quentin Beaver, Pat
Reilly, Jessica O’Keefe, Ted DeBonis,
Jennifer Borntraeger, John Hubbard, Dan
Garfinkel, Tom Kerr and Jamie McMahon.
Tim Nelson, who directed the theater’s
production of "Gypsy" two summers
ago, directs the quirky whodunit.
"It’s a neat cast which includes
all different levels – from community
members to professionals," Kerr said.
Although the show isn’t exactly
community theater, Kerr said the venue
feels like home to many local residents.
"One of my favorite aspects of the
show is how it brings new people and old
people to the theater. We’ve owned
it for a year and a half, but it is continuing
its history. It has nurtured the entire
community," Kerr said. |
