AACC Presents “This Murder Was Staged,” Where Even The Audience Is Suspect

Imagine being cast in a play with a cantankerous director, who, on opening night, turns up dead onstage! A hilarious whodunit investigation ensues where the entire theater becomes a crime scene; even the audience members are suspects! Don’t worry, Arnold resident and first-time full-length director Andrew Agner-Nichols isn’t injured in the making of his debut, but a murderer is on the loose!

Expect side-splitting humor in the face of a tragedy, and twists and turns to keep you guessing right ‘til the last scene. “This Murder Was Staged,” written by Patrick Greene and Jason Pizzarello in 2024, comes to the Robert E. Kauffman Theater in the Pascal Center for Performing Arts at Anne Arundel Community College April 10-19.

“Switching from the stage to the director’s chair has been a great experience so far, thanks to an amazing cast and a phenomenal assistant director, Oliva Comeau,” said Agner-Nichols, who has had leading actor roles and smaller production director roles. “You don’t realize how many answers you have to have ready as a director until you jump in. We have an excellent team that helps keep me on track and be prepared.”

The murder mystery takes fun jabs at anyone who’s ever been behind the curtain with over-the-top theater “real life” characters amped with stereotypes.

“It’s a little love letter to theater,” Comeau said. “It’s really entertaining for people inside the theater world but also outside the theater world. I think there is something for everyone. And there is a murder to solve.”

The end-of-January snowstorm, performance changes, and scheduling issues all threatened the on-time delivery of the show, but Agner-Nichols said the entire crew took a the-show-must-go-on attitude to produce a comedic show.

“The curve balls have been many, but the team has been terrific. I’m grateful that things have gone as well as they have,” Agner-Nichols said. “Our time together has gone by so quick. I am amazed with our cast and their level of memorization and work. They are doing a stellar job and I’m incredibly impressed with our actors.”

Severna Park High School graduate James Reed Estepp plays Carl P. Custodian. “This isn’t the biggest role I’ve ever had, but it is certainly the most fun role!” Estepp said. “The script is hilarious, and the cast does its best not to break character … but the writing is just too good! The audience will love it.”

Broadneck High School alum Aryana Chamberlain shares the stage with Estepp as Mrs. Constance Flugelbert, a crotchety old woman quite set in her ways. “I love the relationship this character has with the other actors in the show,” Chamberlain said.

In just her third AACC production, she is thrilled to perform a production so new and unseen and is excited to bring it to life for the community. “Andrew and Olivia (the directors) are immensely talented directors,” she said. “This is my most favorite production of my career.”

Everyone is invited to a company talkback on Sunday, April 12 following the 2:00pm matinee. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com/cc/aacc-performances-2606819 or on the AACC website at aacc.edu/campus-life/attend-a-performance.