The Twin Lakes Playhouse is bringing an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s iconic murder mystery, “Murder on the Orient Express,” to the stage starting this weekend.
Joanne Helms, the playhouse’s director and the producer of the show, says the production relied on a shoe-string budget and local talent to bring the story to life, with the cast and crew navigating several challenges during preparations.
The play is directed by Dianne Pankau, who leads a backstage crew of six members responsible for coordinating scene changes and ensuring even the smallest details of the performance run seamlessly. With 12 actors moving behind the scenes, the team has worked to develop precise choreography to manage the limited backstage space effectively. "Getting everyone where they need to be is a top priority," Pankau noted, adding that every aspect of the live production, from positioning on stage to timing entrances and exits, has been carefully orchestrated.
The audience response has been strong, with 75% of available seats already sold for the first three weekends of performances. Due to high demand in pre-sales, the playhouse has added a fourth weekend to the production schedule.
For tickets or additional information, interested parties can contact the Twin Lakes Playhouse by calling 870-424-0444 or visiting their website at twinlakesplayhouse.org.