HCCT-03-18 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAST NAMED FOR DEATHTRAP;
SUSPENSE-THRILLER OPENS HCCT SEASON

Expect twists, turns, shocks and, yes, laughter, in two acts.

COTTONWOOD SHORES, TEXAS (Sept. 18, 2003) -- Guest Director Beverly Crawford-McIntire of Horseshoe Bay has selected the five-member cast for Deathtrap and is busy putting the actors through rehearsal paces. Playwright Ira Levin’s suspense thriller opens Oct. 16 for nine performances at the Hill Country Community Theatre near Marble Falls.

Deathtrap, a popular success for many years, is a cunningly constructed murder mystery combining two entertaining elements – gasp-inducing thrills and spontaneous laughter. The drama-comedy, first produced 25 years ago, also was made into a well-received movie.

The storyline involves a hugely successful playwright of thrillers who has recently penned several flops. He devises a plan, with his wife’s help, to collaborate with a student of one of his writing seminars on a highly promising mystery. The lengths to which he goes to improve his fortune leads the audience through spellbinding twists, turns and sudden shocks interspersed with unexpected humor.

McIntire welcomes one new actor to the HCCT stage and four performers who have appeared in previous productions.

∑ Kirk Tatum of Marble Falls portrays Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer struggling to overcome a dry spell. Kirk is an audience favorite from his roles as the coach in That Championship Season, the CPO in Leave It to the Navy and the bus driver in Bus Stop.

∑ Pam Verette of Sunrise Beach, last seen as an Amazon and Topsy in The King and I, is Myra Bruhl, the playwright’s wife and his biggest fan.

∑ Jared Lasseter, last seen as Lun Tha in The King and I, takes on the role of Clifford Anderson, a budding playwright who works in an urban welfare office. The Houston native is a loan officer with Austin Capital Mortgage.

∑ Audrey Chase of Central Texas plays Helga Ten Dorp, a Dutch psychic visiting America and living in a neighbor’s cottage near the Bruhls. Audrey has been associated with HCCT in the area of costuming and props for years, but never before on stage. Audrey is a veteran of educational theatre and an awarded designer.

∑ John Mengden of Horseshoe Bay is cast as Porter Milgrim, age 50 to 65, the Bruhl family attorney. He has had roles in The Miracle Worker and The King and I, and previously been involved in productions at Houston’s Alley Theatre and Jewish Community Center Musical Theatre.

The two-act play will run from Oct. 16-26. The box office opens Oct. 6.

McIntire, the director, is a native Texan who recently relocated to the Hill Country. She debuted on the HCCT stage as Aunt Ev in The Miracle Worker this past spring. She began acting 22 years ago in Dallas and has directed many plays during that time. She studied film and television acting at Adam Roarke’s Film Acting School and has appeared in many feature films and TV series. She has worked as the Children’s Creative Director at the Trinity Arts Theatre in Dallas.

While in Florida, she created, produced, directed and acted in The Florida Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Players and performed at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

The playhouse is located at 4003 FM 2147 West, across from Bob’s Exxon and at the entrance to Cottonwood Shores, between Marble Falls and Horseshoe Bay.

For more information on the current performances or tickets, membership, volunteer opportunities (box office, costumes, make-up, props, lighting, set building and painting) or auditions, please contact the HCCT Box Office at 830-798-8944, or Executive Director Bruce Hennie at 830-693-2474.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS:
Preston F. Kirk, APR
HCCT Governor
Spicewood, TX
830-693-4447;
F 693-9898,
kirk@281.com

Bruce Hennie, Executive Director
Hill Country Community Theatre
Cottonwood Shores, TX,
830-693-2474
bruce@hcct.org