KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
September 17, 2020
By Jennifer Miko
The Studio VII Theater Company brings the classic board game, “Clue” to life this weekend with a virtual production of the murder-mystery-comedy. The Seven Lakes High School thespians will present the hysterical whodunit? via a Zoom performance for audiences to view from the comfort of their home.
The Seven Lakes High School (SLHS) theatre department debuts “Clue: The Stay-At-Home Version” tonight at 7 p.m. The entirely virtual production gives more students a safe opportunity to be involved with theatre at the school. The actors will be performing the show from their individual homes.
Based on the 1940s board game and cult classic film, “Clue” turns an innocent dinner party into a farcical murder mystery. Any of the iconic characters could be guilty. Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, and Mr. Green keep the audience guessing until the very end.
Cast and Crew Overcomes Production Challenges
“The show has challenged us to be creative in our storytelling so the audience forgets they are watching a virtual Zoom production and gets sucked into the mystery of ‘whodunit?’” says Julia Carrington, Director of Acting at SLHS. “We are ecstatic to present this classic story to our community!”
The technical theatre crew, led by Technical Director Joshua Heerssen, created portable backgrounds, as well as prop and costume kits that were delivered to the students’ homes.
Christina Chavez, the master carpenter for “Clue” says the time crunch was one of the biggest challenges on the technical side of the production. The crew had three weeks to convert a full set into walls for each of the characters, building 26 4’x8’ flats that they joined together.
“Our objective was to create a backdrop that would give the illusion of the characters being in the same room even though they are not,” says Carrington.
Adam Chen plays the accident-prone Mr. Green in the show. He says the actors faced challenges too when adapting from the stage to a virtual environment.
“My greatest challenge during this production was making the interactions between the characters believable while being separate from each other,” says Adam Chen. “This production is unlike anything any SLHS students have ever done before.”
"There is a narrator in the play that helps to describe where we are and the action that is going on which helps to set the scene for the audience,” says Carrington. “The actors have done a fantastic job creating believable characters and relationships that keep us guessing.”
“This production is unlike anything any SLHS students have ever done before,” says Chen.
New Director Takes the Stage
Julie Carrington replaced long-time Studio VII Theatre Director Chocs Landgrebe when he retired this year. For Carrington, she was filling a role on a familiar stage. She was a member of the SLHS class of 2009 – the first group of students to attend the school their freshman to senior years. During those years, she performed in four musicals including Once Upon A Mattress as "Princess Winnifred,” and received a Best Actress nomination at the Tommy Tune Awards.
Carrington says this production is important, “to continue the love of theatre despite the fact that we’re apart.” She says “Clue” has “lots of love, suspense and lots of murders, everything that you need for a fantastic night at the theatre.”
Showtimes and Ticket Information
Thursday, September 17 at 7 p.m.
Friday, September 18 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 19 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
For tickets to "Clue: The Stay-At-Home Version," click here.
The next Studio VII production, “The 39 Steps” will be a live, in-person event in the SLHS Performing Arts Center. Visit their website for performance dates.