Three horror stars, one congressman and one aspiring leading lady.
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Interactive Musical-Comedy Murder Mystery
Tales from the Script
The monsters are make-believe. The murder needs a rewrite.
Hollywood, 1950
Hollywood has assembled its favorite monsters.
The real trouble came from Washington.The Mystery
Lights. Camera. Congressional interference.
It is 1950, and Universatile Studios is betting on a comeback for three familiar horror stars: vampire Bela Lagrossi, monster Boris Kissoff and Woofman Ron Cheyney Jr. Television is stealing their audience. This picture could save their careers.
Then Congressman Beauregard “Foghorn” Jackson IV arrives with a promised list of Hollywood subversives and a secretary who would rather see her name in lights. The press conference threatens the picture; the picture threatens to become something considerably more dangerous.
When a staged horror scene produces a real corpse, the guests become investigators. A studio full of professional monsters suddenly has a very practical reason to identify a killer.
At a Glance
Built for a room full of suspects.
Hollywood ambition, an interrupted shoot and a final reckoning.
Guests play the director, producer, crew and other brief roles.
A horror-movie soundstage during the Red Scare.
The Audience Has a Role
The audience has a part in this picture.
Guests join the action as the movie’s director, producer and technical crew, with additional short exchanges woven into the scenes. The director has one ambition: finally getting to say “Cut!”
After the murder, the room questions the four surviving suspects and completes Detective Cards before the last act reveals the solution.
Meet the Characters
Five performers.
A roomful of motives.
Bela Lagrossi
A veteran vampire actor determined to keep his screen career alive.
Boris Kissoff
The studio’s green monster, with a past he would prefer to keep off the record.
Ron Cheyney Jr.
The Woofman, with plenty of bite and a sharp tongue.
Beauregard “Foghorn” Jackson IV
A congressman who sees Hollywood as a route to national attention.
Honeydew Thistlewhistle
His secretary, who would do nearly anything for a big break.
Read & Produce
Open the case.
Read the 22-page excerpt, explore the complete script on New Play Exchange, or request a reading copy directly.
The excerpt is available here without registration. The complete script is available to NPX subscribers, or by requesting a reading copy. For production inquiries, contact Butch Maxwell.
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