Great Lakes Theater Adapts Agatha Christie's THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES for Free Tour

By: Kelsey Denette Jan. 17, 2012

Great Lakes Theater (GLT) will launch a world premiere adaptation of Agatha Christie's THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES, a free one-hour touring production scheduled to visit twenty-one neighborhood venues throughout northeast Ohio, to kick off the company's 2012 series of Surround outreach programming.

The play, adapted from Christie's novel by NE Ohio playwright and Associate Supervisor of GLT's School Residency Program, David Hansen, features a touring company of five actors and is directed by Lisa Ortenzi. The tour commences on February 14th, continues through March 7th and is designed to support Great Lakes Theater's upcoming mainstage production of The Mousetrap at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, this March. All performances of the touring production are free and open to the public, with the exception of performances at area schools, which are private. The touring play is appropriate for all audiences.

"We are so grateful as a company to be able to bring free, professional theatre to people right in their own communities," said Daniel Hahn, Great Lakes Theater's Director of Education about the company's annual tour. "Whether it's performing in an auditorium packed with high school students, or visiting our friends at an assisted living facility, or presenting our play at your local community theatre or library, there's something wonderful about taking professional theatre to the people, and having the opportunity to have an open discussion with our audiences and actors after each and every performance."

THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES, Agatha Christie's first novel, features the debut of iconic detective Hercule Poirot, one of fiction's most beloved characters. The story that launched the Golden Age of Detective Fiction and a precursor to The Mousetrap, Christie's most famous mystery, Styles abounds with twists and turns to keep the audience guessing until the final moments.

The five-actor touring company features Cleveland actors David Hansen, Michael Gatto, Anne McEvoy, Emily Pucell, and James Rankin. The design trio of Terry Martin (scenic design), Esther Haberlen (costume design) and Richard Ingraham (sound design) complete the play's production team. Lisa Ortenzi, the director of the touring production, also serves as the Supervisor of Great Lakes Theater's acclaimed School Residency Program. "Lisa just wrapped up her master's degree in directing in Chicago, and we are so excited to have her apply her fresh insights into David Hansen's marvelous adaptation," said Hahn. He continued, "It has become somewhat of a happy tradition to have the gifted design trio of Terry, Esther and Richard come together on an annual basis to imagine the world of our touring plays, and we can't wait to see what they bring to this, our first mystery tour."

THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES is a sixty-minute program that includes an introduction and post-performance discussion. The production is appropriate for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Times and dates are subject to change. Call individual venues for more information.

THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES is part of a series of community outreach programs surrounding Great Lakes Theater's upcoming mainstage production of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap (March 9 – 25, 2012), Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare). Great Lakes Theater's spring Surround offers multiple educational programs designed to connect the issues in the plays that Cleveland's classic company produces to the issues in people's own lives. All Surround events are free and open to the public when at non-school venues.

For more information, visit www.greatlakestheater.org or contact Great Lakes Theater's education department at (216) 241-5490 x307.

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