Miss Marple Makes Her Long-Awaited U.S. Stage Debut at Alley Theatre
Alley Theatre is making mystery history this summer with the U.S. stage premiere of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d, featuring the legendary Miss Marple in her first-ever American stage appearance. Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, this Summer Chills production is a glamorous whodunit set in a quiet English village disrupted by a film crew and a chilling murder that only Miss Marple can solve.
“Our production of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d marks not only the U.S. Premiere of the play, it also marks the very first appearance of Miss Marple on an American stage,” remarked Artistic Director Rob Melrose. “Agatha Christie’s other renowned detective, Hercule Poirot, is famous for traveling the globe. Miss Marple, on the other hand, stays in her small town and relies on the network of relationships she has there. What makes each story new is who comes to her town. In the case of The Mirror Crack’d, it is a Hollywood movie cast and crew that has come to town to film. They bring all the glamour, jealousy, and scandal that comes with being movie stars.”
“Please join me in celebrating Elizabeth’s 100th show as a member of the Resident Acting Company at the Alley,” Melrose continues.
Sonnenberg, known for her boldness and creativity in storytelling, shared her insights on the production, “This glamorous mystery play is layered with twists and turns as our self-appointed detective, Miss Marple, solves the death of a fan-crazed local. Marina Gregg brings Hollywood to the small English town and gives us insight into how fame can have one live in isolation, the decisions working women face when it comes to motherhood, and how minute interactions can manifest your fate. I can’t wait for Houston to be entertained as these characters unpack this crime with humor, style, and grace.”
The cast features Resident Acting Company Members Elizabeth Bunch as Marina Gregg, Michelle Elaine as Dolly Bantry, Dylan Godwin as Chief Inspector Dermot Craddock, Chris Hutchison as Jason Rudd, Melissa Molano as Lola Brewster, David Rainey as Cyril Leigh, and Christopher Salazar as Giuseppe Renzo.
They are joined by Susan Koozin (Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None) as Miss Jane Marple, Jamie Rezanour as Heather Leigh, Alexandra Szeto-Joe as Cherry Baker, and Ashlyn Evans as Ella Zielinsky. Understudies include Brandon Hearnsberger, Julia Krohn, and Teresa Zimmermann.
The creative team includes Scenic Designer Paige Hathaway, Costume Designer Nicole Jescinth Smith, Lighting Designer Cat Tate Starmer, Original Music and Sound Designer John Gromada, Assistant Director Amber D. Gray, Fight Director and Intimacy Consultant Alan Brincks, Dialect Coach Vivian Majkowski, Stage Manager Amy Ramsdell, and Assistant Stage Manager Trinity A. Nobles.
Alley Theatre’s Summer Chills returns with a stylish and suspenseful start, offering audiences a theatrical event that celebrates both a literary legend and a major company milestone. Don’t miss the chance to see Miss Marple’s long-overdue stage debut and celebrate Elizabeth Bunch’s 100th show with the Alley.
