By Ana Zeikidze, Staff Writer
Newman University’s theater department will present two productions this fall, including a murder mystery dinner theater and a musical. Both will take place over several weekends in October and November.
The first show, “Murder on the Menu”, will happen at the Jabara Black Box Theater on the last two weekends of October, with performances on Oct. 18, 19, 25, and 26. The show will include a four-course dinner provided by Great Western Dining.
Austin Schwartz, technical director at Newman University, said the evening will offer an extra layer of entertainment.
"The big catch about this one is that it's a dinner theater, which means that audiences won't just be paying to watch a show. They'll also be paying for dinner," Schwartz said.
“Murder on the Menu” will feature a seven-member ensemble cast of Newman students, with no specific lead role.
"It's going to be funny, it's going to be thrilling, and it's going to be a mystery, as that's what it is,” Schwartz said.
The price for the dinner and show is $35. Newman students will also have the chance to attend a special preview at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17, which will not include the full dinner.
The department’s second production, “Between the Lines”, will be held in the Performance Hall on Nov. 1, 2, 8, 9. This musical, which debuted off-Broadway in 2017, will be performed for the first time in the Midwest at Newman University, Schwartz said.
The musical follows the story of a lonely teenager, Delilah, who finds herself escaping into a fantasy world through the pages of a book, where she meets and falls in love with Prince Oliver.
Directed by Deanne Zogleman, with Paul Graves as music director, the production is set to feature a 10-member cast, with junior Alysha Keck portraying Delilah and senior Corbin Molina playing Prince Oliver.
Schwartz expressed excitement about the musical’s debut.
"This show has never been done in the Midwest until we've done it, so that's very cool," he said.
He also said that the team is working hard to make the show unique to Newman.
"Deanne and I have been trying to keep it different and be unique and not just do the exact same set design and artistic design that's been done by the professional theater," Schwartz said.
Showtimes will be at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on the first Saturday at 2 p.m.
PHOTO: Dannicka McGrath, Photographer
