Agatha Christie's THE MOUSETRAP to Bring Mystery to Long Beach Playhouse This Winter

Long Beach Playhouse, commences the second half its 87th season with Agatha Christie's murder mystery masterpiece, THE MOUSETRAP. The production will be performed on the Mainstage, Jan 16 - Feb 13 2016. Jeff Brown directs the production.

THE MOUSETRAP is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

THE MOUSETRAP is the longest running theatrical production in history. The iconic play has been running continuously in London for the past sixty years - accumulating over 25,000 performances. THE MOUSETRAP is based on a radio play called Three Blind Mice which Agatha Christie originally wrote for the occasion of Queen Mary's 80th birthday in 1947. Christie subsequently adapted it into a stage play several years later.

Mysterious twists and thrilling turns abound when a group of strangers stranded in a guest house during a snowstorm discover that a murderer is in their midst. Whodunnit? Is it one of the suspicious newlyweds or the spinster with the curious background? Perhaps it's the architect, the retired Army major or the strange man running from his past. In an evening of exhilarating intrigue, Agatha Christie's greatest mystery unfolds to a surprising conclusion. The identity of the killer in the play is a closely guarded secret and, famously, audiences for THE MOUSETRAP must take a pledge not to reveal whodunit.

"All I previously knew of Christie's play before selecting the play was its astonishing performance history and the legendary contract of secrecy forged between its performers and audiences," said Andrew Vonderschmitt, the Playhouse's executive and producing artistic director. According to Vonderschmitt, the classic play continues to pose provocative questions to contemporary audiences sixty years after its creation. "What is it that we love so much about stories of murder and revenge? In the sixty-plus years since Agatha Christie first told the tale, our hunger for such material seems only to have grown more voracious and more sophisticated."

The play features some stalwart Playhouse performers and some new to the LBP boards.

In order of appearance: Andrea Pincus, Sri Chilukuri, Lee Samuel Tanng, Kathleen Fabry, Doug Seagraves , Anissa Loer, Cort Huckabone, Bradley Roa II

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS PLAY:

- Pay what you can Thursday January 14

- Two for One Preview Friday January 15 - Tickets are $12.00

- Opening Night Champagne Reception with cast on January 16 - Tickets are $27.00

Adults are $24.00, seniors $21.00, and Students $14.00. Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1. Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3:00-8:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00-2:00 pm on scheduled matinees.

Promotional Design: Daisy Gutierrez