Gadsden State Theatre to Present Agatha Christie’s ‘A Murder is Announced’
GADSDEN, Ala. — The Gadsden State Community College Theatre Program will present A Murder is Announced at 7 p.m. Oct. 23-25 in the Inzer Hall Black Box Theatre on the Wallace Drive Campus.
“The Black Box Theatre has grown with the number of student cast members and the talent,” said Joe Fuselli, director of the theatre program. “This was one of the most difficult shows to cast.”
This year’s production features several new actors. Amelia St. John will portray Letitia Blacklock, Daelynn Caldwell will play Mitzi, Mae Ussery will appear as Mrs. Swettenham, and Sana McCarther will take on the role of Bunny.
“They all have the chops to hang with the veterans,” Fuselli said. “Amelia is a natural. She has a genuine quality that I know will resonate with the audience.”
Based on Agatha Christie’s classic novel, A Murder is Announced is set in the 1950s, where detective work relied less on forensics and more on interrogation and deduction. The story centers on an announcement published in a local newspaper in the quiet village of Chipping Cleghorn, inviting residents to a murder—one that turns out to be very real.
“It makes the noir style of the play delightfully melodramatic,” Fuselli said. “The dynamics between Craddock and Marple keep the mood light. Marple manages to annoy him initially but soon proves to be his ace in the hole.”
Fuselli said the show is lighthearted and accessible to both younger and older audiences, with eccentric characters and humorous moments throughout.
“Sana is a little powerhouse,” he said. “She has that quality that makes you want to watch her to see what she does next. Mae is incredibly expressive as Mrs. Swettenham and can effectively convey a character’s choice. Daelynn seems completely fearless as Mitzi and super high-energy, which is perfect for her role.”
Tickets are $8 for the public and $6 for students and Gadsden State employees. They may be purchased online or at the door.
For updates and behind-the-scenes content, follow the Division of Fine Arts – Gadsden State on Facebook. More information about Gadsden State’s Fine Arts Programs is available at gadsdenstate.edu/student-life/fine-arts.
The cast includes:
Addie Jenkins as ‘Julia Simmons’
Amelia St. John as ‘Letitia Blacklock’
Sana McCarthur as ‘Dora Bunner’
Nolan Fletcher as ‘Patrick Simmons’
Daelynn Caldwell as ‘Mitzi’
Buffey Bailey as ‘Miss Marple’
Diana Alhegazen as ‘Phillipa Haymes’
Mae Ussery as “Mrs. Swettenham’
Ian Kilgore as ‘Edmund Swettenham’
Dylan Rogerson as ‘Rudi Scherz’
Ian Johnson as ‘Inspector Craddock’
Josh Kimbril as ‘Sergeant Mellors
Phoenix Rich as ‘ASM’
https://weisradio.com/2025/04/29/gadsden-state-evening-of-fine-arts/
