Photo Flash: First Look at Selma Arts Center's A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER

Selma Arts Center presents A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, running Friday, March 22nd through Saturday, March 30th at the Selma Arts Center.

"Why are all the D'Ysquiths dying?" The day of his mother's funeral, Monty Navarro, a penniless clerk, learns that he is ninth in line to inherit the earldom of Highhurst. It is revealed to him that his mother was a part of the D'Ysquith family but she was disowned for marrying for love and not for money. Monty attempts to connect with his relatives but they disregard his claims of kinship. After the eighth D'Ysquith dies, Monty decides to hasten his inheritance and bolster through the family line. Each D'Ysquith is played by one actor, making the ridiculous plot even more entertaining. On top of all the insanity, Monty is stuck in a love triangle between the money hungry Sibella Hallward and the young D'Ysquith Phoebe. How will all these convoluted storylines come together?

Gentleman's Guide received a very successful run on Broadway, earning ten 2014 Tony Award nominations and winning four including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Costume Design. Selma Arts Center is excited to bring this hilarious dark comedy to the local stage for the Central Valley premiere. Directors Dakota Simpson and Michael C. Flores are hard at work to make this show unique while keeping true to its Vaudeville roots and Edwardian setting. This requires highly strategized physical comedy and very specific physicality.

"The show is witty and quirky and I think we've kept true to the humor the show possesses but have made it our own by incorporating stylized movement throughout", says Michael C. Flores, co-director and choreographer. "Everyone in the cast has a physicality in each individual character they play that is very specific. Their movements intertwine with each other. I think audiences will enjoy that very much while finding it visually appealing."

The cast is led by Aaron Pierce (Monty), Taylor Delgado (Sibella), Cady Mejias (Phoebe), Randy Kohlruss (The D'ysquith Family), Jessica Reedy (Miss Shingle) and supported by the ensemble cast, each of which play around 12 characters, Laura Hay (Woman #1), Karina Balfour (Woman #2), Maria Monreal (Woman #3), Michael Fidalgo (Man #1), Daniel LaJune (Man #2), and Christopher Ortiz-Belcher (Man #3). Swings Emmanuel Ceja and Emma Raymond.

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is directed by Michael C. Flores and Dakota Simpson, with vocal direction by Dakota Simpson and choreographed by Michael C. Flores. The production features scenic design by Erik and Nicolette C. Andersen, lighting design by Dan Aldape, costume design by Damen Pardo, specialty properties and puppetry design by Kimberly Houston, makeup and wig design by Jacob Moon, stage manager Sami Moore Valles, assistant stage manager Damen Pardo, and is produced by Claudio Laso.

Tickets are available at selmaartscenter.com or at the Selma Arts Center box office located at 1935 High Street, Selma, CA 93662. Box office hours are Tuesday-Friday, 1PM-6PM. Tickets are $19 for adults, $17 for seniors/students. Rated PG-13 for mild adult content. Tickets will also be available at the door for the same price until sold out. Doors open half hour before show time. For information, call (559) 891-2238, email nicolettea@cityofselma.com, or visit the Selma Arts Center website at selmaartscenter.com.

The production is sponsored by the Selma Arts Council, TeeRico by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Adventist Health.

Taylor Delgado, Aaron Pierce, Cady Mejias

Aaron Pierce

Taylor Delgado & Cady Mejias

Randall Kohlruss

Jessica Reedy & Aaron Pierce

L to R: Chris Ortiz-Belcher, Laura Hay, Maria Monreal, Karina Balfour, Daniel LaJune, Michael Brandon Fidalgo

L to R: Karina Balfour, Laura Hay, Michael Brandon Fidalgo, Randall Kohlruss, Chris Ortiz-Belcher, Daniel LaJune, Maria Monreal