On Saturday, May 31, Thompson Playhouse presented Murder at the Tonylou Awards, an audience participation murder mystery - and play on their names - written by Tony Schwartz and Marylou Ambrose of the Lakeside Players in Tafton, Pennsylvania in 2002.
A sold-out audience of 160 fine folk of Thompson dressed in their fancy duds for the awards night where big name celebrities such as T.J, Hardcastle (Anthony Wake), M.J. Hardcastle (Angela Wolfe), Constance Gabbles (Robyn Foley), Lorna Lush (Serena Puranen), Angelo Canoli (Simon Jack), Celia B. De Milo (Katy Sweet), Monty Carlo (Alex White), Funky Brewster (Delsie Jack), Claude-Jean Van Dumbe (Ryan Barker), and director Donna Wilson piled out of a limo in front of the Juniper Centre. The backstage manager and television announcer, played by Wally Itson, was waiting for their arrival.
It was the biggeststar-studded event of the year featuring themost famousstars and studs from Thompson Playhouse. Some of the biggest names in the industry were in town trying to win the award but most of the awards were given to locals! Behind the scenes, there was plenty of jealousy, greed, and good old-fashioned backstabbing going on.
As in any murder mystery somebody had to die and Lorna Lush, the has-been actress, was killed by poisonous gas planned by Claude-Jean Van Dumbe!
A three-course meal of celebrity status was prepared by Joe Pereira and enjoyed during the entertaining play. When all was said and done the red carpet was tucked away and Rachel Templeton, executive director of the Juniper Centre, was thrilled with over $7,000 raised for the centre.
Donna Wilson is the president of Thompson Playhouse. You can contact her by e-mail at: donnajoywilson@gmail.com
