Meadow Brook Theatre Season Opens with Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express’

The New Adaptation of Classic Whodunit Runs October 2 through 27

Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the elegant Orient Express in its tracks. There’s been a murder. Who can solve the puzzle of the American tycoon, found dead in his compartment which was locked from the inside? Only Hercule Poirot can hope to find the murderer before he or she strikes again.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, adapted by Ken Ludwig, runs October 2 through 27 at Meadow Brook Theatre (MBT) on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester Hills.

“Ken Ludwig is one of our audience’s favorite playwrights,” says Travis Walter, MBT artistic director. “Over the years, we’ve produced a lot of his comedies, from Lend Me a Tenor to Baskerville to last season’s hit, A Fox on the Fairway. I know our audiences will love his adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express.

Meadow Brook favorite Ron Williams plays Hercule Poirot. The rest of the passengers/suspects are played by Craig Bentley (Monsieur Bouc), Stephen Blackwell (Colonel Arbuthnot and Samuel Ratchett), Ruth Crawford (Princess Dragomiroff), Chip DuFord (Head Waiter and Michael), Lynnae Lehfeldt (Helen Hubbard), Hannah Niece (Mary Debenham), Peter Prouty (Hector MacQueen), Cheryl Turski (Countess Andrenyi) and Sara Catheryn Wolf (Greta Ohlsson).

“We have so many talented actors,” continues Walter. “This is a great way to kick off our new season.”

Murder on the Orient Express is directed by Travis W. Walter. Terry W. Carpenter is the stage manager with scenic design by Brian Kessler, costume design by Corey Collins, lighting design by Reid G. Johnson and sound design by Mike Duncan.

Tickets range from $36 to $46 and are available by calling the Meadow Brook Theatre box office at 248-377-3300 or going online at www.ticketmaster.com. Student discounts are available at the box office. Groups of eight or more should call 248-370-3316 for group pricing.

Murder on the Orient Express is made possible through the generous support of The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Kresge Foundation, The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and the Meadow Brook Theatre Guild.

Meadow Brook Theatre is located on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. For additional information, please call 248-377-3300. Meadow Brook Theatre is a nonprofit, cultural institution serving southeast Michigan for more than 50 years.