"The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens" by Billy St. John at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts

The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) Theatre Department will kick off its 2025-26 season with The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens by Billy St. John, October 24-26, 2025. Inspired by Agatha Christie, this play takes a comic and contemporary spin on the classic whodunit. With a playwright leading the audience through his process, characters who break the fourth wall, and some audience participation to help solve the case, The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens, will keep the audience on the edge of their seats in more ways than one.  

This comedic murder mystery promises a delightful evening of suspense and surprises! Director, Anelise Rodriguez shares: “The audience can expect the same excitement and intrigue from a classic murder mystery but with a lot more humor. That’s what appealed to me most about this play - St. John’s ability to take something familiar, maybe a bit predictable, and make it feel new.”

Show times include: evening performances on October 24 & 25 at 7 PM and a matinee performance on October 26 at 2 PM.  Tickets are $14 Adult, $8 Student/Child and can be purchased at CharterArts.org or at the door.

ABOUT THE CHARTER ARTS THEATRE DEPARTMENT:

The Charter Arts Theatre Department offers a pre-professional training program for high school-aged performers. The goal is to provide students with the skills they will need to move on to competitive college programs as well as professional theatre experiences.

Classes are designed to encourage students to create imaginative and compelling characters, to regard their voices and bodies as creative instruments, to expose them to theatrical literature and to instill in them a sense of respect and professionalism for the art form that will stay with them throughout their lives.

ABOUT THE LEHIGH VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS (Charter Arts):

Charter Arts is an audition-based public charter school, funded by PA taxpayer dollars, that provides a comprehensive curriculum for high school students, grades 9-12, who have a dedicated passion for the creative or performing arts.   Students major in one of seven artistic areas: Dance, Instrumental Music, Literary Arts, Production Arts (film & technical theatre), Theatre, Visual Arts, or Vocal Music.  

Charter Arts' rigorous curriculum fosters both academic and artistic excellence for its students. The school’s impressive Advanced Placement (AP) exam statistics, Keystone Exam statistics, SAT scores, prestigious artistic accolades, and graduation rate, are testaments to the outstanding education that Charter Arts provides.

An award-winning, nationally recognized institution, Charter Arts is ranked #1 Best Charter High School in PA and  #1 Best Public High School Teachers in PA on Niche's 2025 Best Schools in America Rankings. The school also placed among the Top 10 Charter Schools in PA on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 Best Schools Rankings.

Prospective students and families who are interested in learning more about the theatre program and the school are encouraged to attend an upcoming Virtual Information Session or request a tour. Visit charterarts.org for more information.

Charter Arts is located in the heart of Bethlehem’s Southside Arts District at 321 East 3rd Street, Bethlehem.