Photo Flash: MainStage Irving-Las Colinas Pays Homage to Hitchcock with THE GAZEBO

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas will present Alec Coppel's suspenseful and funny comedy THE GAZEBO, running January 19 through February 3, 2018, at the Irving Arts Center's Dupree Theater (3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062). All evening performances are at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Single tickets range from$21-31 and are on sale now at the Irving Arts Center Box Office (972.252.2787/ www.irvingartscenter.com). Ticket discounts are available for seniors and students.

THE GAZEBO opened on Broadway in 1958 and was subsequently adapted into a hit movie starring Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford. After his wife falls victim to blackmail, a writer of TV whodunits himself commits a real do-it-yourself murder, silencing the ol' so-and-so with a six-shooter. The writer plots to plant the blackmailer's corpse in their new gazebo's fresh concrete foundation. Miraculously, he later discovers the body has reappeared on his living room floor. Suddenly cops and gumshoes are on the scene and this writer of crime fiction finds himself on the other side of the typewriter!

Director Doug Miller, whose recent credits include A Charlie Brown Christmas at Dallas Children's Theater and Light Up the Sky at Theatre Three, is approaching this comedy thriller with a strong nod to the master of suspenseful thrillers, Alfred Hitchcock.

"I was interested in this project because I have always been a fan of Alfred Hitchcock," says Miller. "What's going to set my production apart from other productions of this play is the fact that I'm going to pay homage to Hitchcock, while also leaning on the comedy of the piece. I have assembled an incredible group of actors and designers to achieve this goal. This comedic thriller is full of mystery and interesting characters, and there's sure to be lots of love, laughs and murderous fun!"

THE GAZEBO stars Jeff Wells as Elliott Nash, Kate Paulsen as Nell Nash, Jared Culpepper as Harlow Edison, Theresa Phillips as Matilda, Ivy Opdyke as Mrs. Chandler, Jackie Kemp as Mr. Thorpe/a Cop, Amir Razavi as The Dook/Dr. Wyner, Griffin Hammel as Louie/Druker and Kelley Garland as Jenkins.

In addition to Miller, the creative team includes Admin Producer Evelyn G. Hall, Tech Producer Nathan Bredfeldt, Set Designer Claire Floyd DeVries, Lighting Designer Jason Foster, Sound Designer Rich Frohlich, Costume Designer Janelle lutz, Properties Designer Dawn Blasingame and Stage Manager Cathy Parks Bardin.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Irving Arts Center's Box Office at 972.252.2787 or by ordering tickets online at www.irvingartscenter.com.

For information on MainStage Irving-Las Colinas, visit www.irvingtheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Mike Morgan Photography

Jared Culpepper, Jeff Wells and Ivy Opdyke

Kate Paulsen and Jeff Wells

Kate Paulsen and Jeff Wells

Kate Paulsen and Jeff Wells