Wright State Theatre opens the 2022-23 season with Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’

Wright State University Theatre’s production of Agatha Christie’s iconic murder mystery “The Mousetrap” runs in the Creative Arts Center’s Festival Playhouse from Sept. 23 to Oct. 2. (Photos by Erin Pence)

Wright State University Theatre opens its 2022–23 season with Agatha Christie’s iconic murder mystery “The Mousetrap” in the Festival Playhouse in the Creative Arts Center from Sept. 23 to Oct. 2.

Performances are Sept. 23, 24, 30 and Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 24, 25, Oct. 1 and 2 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and $15 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the Creative Arts Center box office between noon and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or at wrightliberalarts.universitytickets.com.

“The Mousetrap” is the first stage production of Wright State’s new School of Fine and Performing Arts and the first Agatha Christie play produced by Wright State Theatre since 1977.

Best known for her mystery novels, Christie wrote more than 20 plays. “The Mousetrap” opened in London’s West End in 1952 and is the longest-running play in western theatre history.

A classic whodunnit, “The Mousetrap” is set in an old English country home, filled with twists and turns and a surprise ending that audiences are asked not to reveal after leaving the theatre.

Guest director Jason Podplesky described “The Mousetrap” as the “stuff of legends” that sets the formula for all other murder mysteries.

“There’s something about these murder mysteries that appeals to our sense of fear. They allow us to deal with these scary things from a safe aesthetic distance,” said Podplesky, a Cincinnati-based director and actor. “‘The Mousetrap’ is really well done; it keeps you intrigued and keeps you on the edge of your seats until the very end.”

On the stage, “The Mousetrap” features Kathryn Carter as Mollie Ralston, Ben Smallwood as Giles Ralston, Matt Shanahan as Christopher Wren, Bella Marcigliano as Mrs. Boyle, Dylan Roll as Major Metcalf, Julia Hoff as Miss Casewell, John Cuozzo as Mr. Paravicini and Theo Karras as Detective Sergeant Trotter.

Wright State’s production features scenic design by guest artist Dick Block, associate head of drama at Carnegie Mellon University; lighting design by Matthew Benjamin, professor of lighting design at Wright State; costumes by Carrie Wieland, a senior costume design student; sound design by James Dunlap; and properties by John Lavarnway. It is stage managed by guest artist Kelly DeLisle.

2022–23 theatre season

Wright State Theatre’s season continues with “Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy” in the Festival Playhouse from Nov. 4–20. The season also includes: