TRENT'S LAST CASE Opens at Broadway Onstage Tonight

TRENT'S LAST CASE, an original dramatization by John Arden McClure of the mystery novel by E.C. Bentley, is the first show of 2013 at Eastpointe's Broadway Onstage Live Theatre when it opens tonight, January 11. Running Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm and Select Sundays at 2pm through Saturday, February 9, this intriguing mystery provides suspense and murder in three variations.

Select Sunday Matinees are only performed at Broadway Onstage when a prearranged group of 30 or more is scheduled to attend. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 ½ Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe. The theatre is the home of the patented TeeVeeStage Presentation system, which employs cameras above the audience and monitors above the stage to provide audience members with different viewing perspectives of the live stage performance. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is also the home of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc., which began producing Non-Equity professional live theatre on the Eastside of Detroit in February of 1980.

TRENT'S LAST CASE introduces us to Philip Trent, an English writer and artist who is drawn in to investigate the murder of an American Millionaire living in England, Sigsbee Manderson. It is 1911. Manderson was married to a much younger woman, and there are intriguing insinuations that the young wife was carrying on with John Marlowe, Manderson's assistant. There is also Manderson's Secretary, Celestine Bunner, who also must be investigated and Trent makes his way to the Manderson Estate with the help of his friend, Burton Cupples, the Uncle of Manderson's young wife, Mabel. Once they arrive, they are given a clearer picture of Manderson and his relationships. In fact, the actual murder is played out in three different variations, but it is not until the very end that the real vision of Manderson's death is portrayed.

A fine cast has been assembled to present this original dramatization. John Arden McClure, the author, will portray Philip Trent. Mr. McClure has been seen in a number of productions at Broadway Onstage and he also dramatized THE PROBLEM OF CELL 13 two seasons ago. Jack Abella will be seen as Sigsbee Manderson. Mr. Abella has been seen in a number of local venues on a professional and community level and has appeared at Broadway Onstage on several occasions. Patrick Sharpe takes on the role of John Marlowe. Mr. Sharpe was seen in CAHOOTS at Broadway Onstage in January and February of 2012 and will be seen in TAPDANCE! there later this season. Dan Woitulewicz takes on the role of Burton Cupples. Mr. Woitulewicz was just seen as Raynard in CHRISTMAS BELLES to great acclaim. Elizabeth Rager will portray Celestine Bunner. Ms. Rager also just appeared in CHRISTMAS BELLES as Honey Raye at the Eastpointe Theatre to the joy of the audience. Stella Rothe will appear as Mabel. Ms. Roth is an experience choreographer and director and first appeared at Broadway Onstage when she was eight years old. The production is under the direction of Dennis Wickline, Producer of all shows at Broadway Onstage.

Tickets for Opening Night, tonight, January 11 are $14. Tickets for all other performances are $16. Again, Broadway Onstage is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 1/2 Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe, Michigan. Ticket Reservations are strongly recommended by calling (586) 771-6333.

Pictured: John McClure as Philip Trent and Stella Rothe as Mabel in Broadway Onstage Live Theatre's TRENT'S LAST CASE.