Let's solve a murder - fun for the whole family
Jamie Ulmer • April 22, 2025
Nothing says "fun family night" like solving a murder.
Judging by the enduring popularity of the board game Clue, one could surmise that’s exactly the case. The 1985 movie, while not a hit at the time, has since become a cult classic. This stage adaptation has proven to be a success for theatres across the country. So, we must deduce that solving a murder is fun.
The evidence backs this up. The board game, conceived in the UK in 1943, was originally called Cluedo—a play on words combining “clue” and the Latin word ludo, meaning “I play.” Due to wartime shortages, the game wasn’t produced commercially until 1949. When released in the U.S., the Latin wordplay was dropped, and it became simply Clue, distributed by Parker Brothers. The game continues to be produced and updated, but the basic premise has remained the same.
The 1985 film featured an all-star cast of comedic actors, including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, and Christopher Lloyd. It famously had three different endings, and which one you saw depended on the theater you attended. Though it wasn’t a financial success at the time, it has since developed a major cult following.
In 2017, the first version of this stage play debuted, drawing heavily from the 1985 film. The script has undergone several revisions and adaptations through 2021. The show has proven wildly popular, often landing on lists of the most-produced plays in community, professional, and academic theatres.
It’s also popular with actors—our auditions saw the largest turnout for a play in many years!
So what makes it so beloved? It’s a combination of many factors: the familiar title and premise, the classic over-the-top characters, and the chance to don our detective hats and solve a mystery. It creates a kind of “comfort food” feel. We know what to expect, we can relax and enjoy the ride, and maybe even pat ourselves on the back when we think we've solved the mystery before the characters do.
Sometimes, you just need to take a break and enjoy some good, old-fashioned fun—solving a murder.
Enjoy the show!
Jamie Ulmer
Executive Director
Theatre Lawrence News & Announcements
Thank you to everyone who auditioned! We are so excited about this cast and getting to work with all of you! Cast List Percy Jackson...........................James Green Annabeth ....................................Katie Mastrosimone Grover.............................................Elliot Polson Luke .................................................Walker North Sally Jackson ............................Eva Farmer Clarisse .........................................Lily Davis Mr. Brunner aka Chiron.......Nolan Stewart Charon ..........................................Lily Stewart Mrs. Dodds .................................Audrey Shull Gabe Ugliano ...........................Liam Melendez Ares .................................................Silas Warrior Poseidon ......................................Coleman Hodges Hades ............................................Megan Peterson Mr. D aka Dionysus ...............Oscar Gnojek Selena Beauregard ..............Alaina Shipley Kate Gardner ............................Adelaide Kiene The Oracle ..................................Atticus Lauer Aunty Em .....................................Ida Hegeman Squirrel...........................................Abby Horn Greyhound Passenger 1.....Annie Dahlstrand Greyhouse Passenger 2....Ellie Strickland Train Conductor......................Lydia Beat Echidna.........................................Olivia Fritz Newscaster ...............................Edward LaPlant Farmer ..........................................Aiden Toms Bianca ...........................................Megan Rinnert James Brown ............................Nelson Lewis Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.......Oliver Jepsen Pike Kurt Cobain ...............................Ezra Nelson Janis Joplin.................................Ash Palmateer DJ Cerebus.................................Spencer Carroll Nancy Bobofit...........................Sapphire Comfort Young Thalia ............................Madelyn Phillips Young Annabeth ...................Bridget Kirkpatrick-Tripler Young Grover...........................Micah Shipley Young Luke.................................Luca White Mrs. Dodd’s Furies ................Evie Thiessen and Eva Gammill Echo’s, the Oracle Chorus Eden Gehri Sam Hamill Eloise McKeever Alayna Terfler Vienna Children’s Choir Olivia Clifford Leanna Deitrich Elise DeVader Grace Goodison Annie Leahew Kinley Thiessen Statues for Medusa Molly Black Karianna Hall Evelyn Hurst Lucy Kneidel Willow Terfler The Dead Harper Cordt Izzy Hoskinson Aria Hutchinson MJ Kramer Sloan Spader
Theatre Lawrence is currently accepting applications for creative positions for the 2025-2026 regular season. To apply please send an email to julmer@theatrelawrence.com stating what show and position you are interested in being considered for, along with a resume. For consideration please apply by May 2. Shows and positions are: NEXT TO NORMAL (Sept. 19-28, 2025): Music Director, Choreographer WHITE CHRISTMAS (Dec. 5-21, 2025): Director, Music Director, Choreographer THE MOUNTAINTOP (Jan. 30-Feb 8, 2026): Director THE COTTAGE (March 13-22, 2026): Director DIAL M FOR MURDER (April 17-26, 2026): Director THE ADDAMS FAMILY (June 5-21, 2026): Director, Music Director, Choreographer
Thank you to everyone who auditioned!