MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS Adapted For The Stage By Ken Ludwig Now Available For Licensing Through Samuel French

Samuel French, the world's premier theatrical publishing and licensing company, has announced the representation of English language performance rights in the US and Canada for Agatha Christie's Murder On The Orient Express, which has been adapted for the stage by two-time Tony nominee and Olivier Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig.

Murder On The Orient Express is based on Agatha Christie's murder mystery thriller set aboard the Orient Express as it travels from Istanbul to Western Europe in 1934. Detective Hercule Poirot must sort through a train full of suspects who each have their own alibi.

The play was originally staged by McCarter Theater Center, one of the nation's leading regional theatres located on the campus of Princeton University. It was directed by Emily Mann and opened on March 17, 2017. The production subsequently transferred to Hartford Stage in Hartford, CT in February 2018.

"I'm delighted that Ken Ludwig's superb adaptation of my great-grandmother's timeless story is now available to theatre producers across North America, through our partners at Samuel French," says James Prichard, executive chairman and CEO of Agatha Christie Ltd. "It is a fantastic complement to the definitive Agatha Christie Collection of plays written by or with the direct involvement of my great grandmother herself."

Now that the title is available for licensing, amateur groups and regional theaters throughout North America can look forward to bringing this well-loved masterpiece to their stages.

"I'm honored that Agatha Christie Limited asked me to write this adaptation for the stage," commented Ken Ludwig, "and I'm delighted that Samuel French is looking after it."

Just last week, Mr. Ludwig appeared for the sixth time as one of the most produced playwrights on Theatre Communications Group's annual list. TCG tabulates its list based on responses from member theatres with Mr. Ludwig claiming the 12th spot in a list of 20 playwrights.

"Murder on the Orient Express combines the talents of two literary giants in the retelling of this masterful mystery," remarked Bruce Lazarus of Samuel French, Inc. "Ken Ludwig's adaptation captures all the suspense that you expect from well-known crime novelist Agatha Christie."

In 2017, a film version was released directed by Kenneth Branagh with a screenplay by Michael Green, and became a box office hit. The film is the fourth screen adaptation of Christie's novel, following the 1974 film, a 2001 TV film version, and a 2010 episode of the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot.

For more information or to request rights, please contact a Samuel French Licensing Representative at (866)598-8449 or visit www.samuelfrench.com.

Photo: Ken Ludwig
Photo Credit: Leslie Cashen

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