Theatre on the Hill Actors in Murder Mystery Weekend

Friday-Sunday, February 16-18, 2018

"Murder on the Cloudcroft Express", a spoof of Murder on the Orient Express, a play written and directed by Connie Breding, drama professor at NMSU-A in Alamogordo, was presented for a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Weekend at the Lodge Resort and Spa in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The hotel was sold out with people coming from several states around as well as across New Mexico for this FUN, interactive experience.

It is set in the early 1920's so the cast dressed appropriately for the era. The back story is that we are on the Cloudcroft Express from Phoenix, Arizona to Santa Fe, New Mexico. However, when we are on the Mexican Train Trestle at Cloudcroft there is an avalanche trapping us on the tracks. The engineer is able to back the train up enough so that the ski patrol and the Lodge employees are able to rescue us and bring us to the Lodge until the tracks can be cleared. As we are leaving the train a dead gentleman is discovered in his sleeping quarters and it appears he has been murdered and so it goes from there.

We have a cast of seventeen plus two crew members (Connie Breding, the director and Geowie Mosqueda, her able assistant).

We all had a marvelous time as did the attendees and I say this because they had many complimentary remarks to make about our actors.

On Friday night, we attended a champagne cocktail party with all the hotel clients and had dinner with them as well. They asked many questions about the dead man while trying to solve "who dunnit".

We had a repeat of the cocktail party and dinner on Saturday night and someone else gets murdered during that time. Now things get complicated for everyone! I did manage to get some great pictures of the cast that I will share with you.

Prince Advilromanoff played by Philipp Hedfeld

Anthony Falconetti (Fast Tony) played by Patrick McDonald

Sergeant Morrisey played by Gabe Mauger and Miss Jane Marple played by Ellie Mauger

Gerda Schmolsson played by Carla Kerr

Myron Buck played by Tony Calderon

Geowie Mosqueda, all around go-to guy for whatever you need and Connie's able assistant

Ed Minuteman played by John Burnie

Princess Advilromanoff played by Keddy Richardson with her prince

Hercules Parrot, played by JD Hilliard

Professor Connie Breding giving last minute instructions in the green room

Anthony Falconetti and Hercules Parrot

Heather Evans played by Hester McQueen

Contessa Dragonitsky played by Ulrike Burgheim

Marilee Devonshire played by Susan Gallegos

Helga Mortenson played by Andrea Garcia

Hercules Parrot, Prince Advilromanoff and Princess Advilromanoff, strategizing

Cornelia Cuppboard played by Deborah Cobb

Most of the Cast

The above pictures were taken on Saturday night. The following pictures were taken on Sunday morning, February 18, 2018, where we reveal the winners who solved the murders and award prizes right after an excellent breakfast. First, second and third prizes are given by the Lodge Resort and Spa and the Booby Prize and Costume Prize are given by the NMSU-A Theatre Guild.

JD Hilliard with the winner of the First Prize

Winner of the Second Prize with JD

Winner of the Third Prize with JD

Winner of the Booby Prize, a bottle of New Mexico wine, flanked by Carla Kerr and JD

Rachel, winner of the Best Costume Prize, a bottle of New Mexico wine, with Carla and JD

I do apologize for not getting the rest of the names of the prize winners. We will be doing this again on April 27-29, 2018 at the Lodge Resort and Spa in Cloudcroft because they sold out and had a waiting list of people wanting to come and I will make sure to get the prize winners names this time.

I also failed to get a picture of Monica Desjardins who played the part of Dr. Tina Constant, Coroner and Julia Newton who played the part of Hildegarde Schmitten. My apologies to both of you. I'll catch you on the next one.

If you ever have a chance to play in one of these murder mysteries, don't hesitate. For the most part, it is improvisational and you have a chance to really get into your character. Tons of FUN.

This is all I have to say for now.

NMSU-A Class of 101 Theater Create Costumes for Contest

October 31, 2016

Students of New Mexico State University-Alamogordo in Theater 101 Class really put their creative juices to use to make Halloween costumes. Prizes of $50, $35 and $25 for first, second and third places were awarded. This was the first Annual Costume Contest and there are plans for continuing it each year.

Judges were Carolyn Dittmer, Geowie Mosqueda and Carla Kerr.

There were a total of sixteen entrants and the judging wasn't easy by any means. They were required to either turn in a synopsis of a play they are writing or pick a well known play and create and construct the costume to reflect that play. Costumes were, for the most part, done from scratch.

 Rosa Garcia, "The Walking Dead" and she was scary

Director Connie Breding, interviewing Alyssa Linville who is Mrs. Lovett of "Sweeny Todd" fame

L to R: Connie, Deborah Cobb as the Queen Bee in "Tribulation", Jackie as Sandra in "Little Rock High School", Kim Carona as grapes in "The Purple Farm"

L to R: Gavin Locke as "Phantom of the Opera" - he had removed his half mask, Alyssa Linville, Rosa Garcia and Tori Christians as the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland

L to R: Austin as Rover, a tree man in "Lost in the Forest", My as My Sumo in "Searching for a House", Mary Cobb as Franknlizzie  in "Saving the World One Monster at a Time", Marissa Larson as Nurse Kelley in "The Zombie Infection Gone Wrong", Stoeshia Gentry as the crazy ex-wife of the Scarecrow in "The Scarecrow of Oz".

L to R: Rosa, Tori, Alyssa Martinez as Lulu in "Some Friends Aren't so Imaginary", Kennedie Maribad as the Zombie Barista in "The Coffee Apocalypse" and Sandra as Octusa in "The Legend of Octusa"

L to R: Winners are Austin 3rd place (his costume was actually made from tree bark), Deborah Cobb 1st place and Rosa Garcia took 2nd place (the teeth created in that mask were actually acrylic fingernails).

As you may have surmised, some of the plays were originals by the students and others are easily recognized. It was a great experience for everyone and next year should be even better. Congratulations to all the students in the contest as well as the winners. Everyone did a great job.

This is all I have to say for now.

NMSU-A Theater 105 Acting Class Murder Mystery Dinner Play

Thursday, March 24, 2016

On Thursday evening, March 24, 2016 members of Theater Acting Class 105 at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo, New Mexico acted in a murder mystery improvisation set in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury District in the 1960's which they wrote as a Spring 2016 Midterm Project. They produced murder, mayhem, mystery and flower power! Each member created their own costumes as well. Spectators were encouraged to attend in 60's attire. Professor Connie Breding directed this fun and funny production which started out at 5:30 PM in the Campus Deli for pizza, salad and beverages. The show continued with everyone walking over to the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill for the final act.

The cast included Julia Newton as Sunshine Moonshine, Cheryl Carroll as Smokey McWeed, Laurie Clark as Purple Butterfly, Susan Gallegos as the former Mrs. Timothy Leery, Kimba Nichels as Mayor Marlene Moonbeam, Harry Crinklaw as Rickster Rockstar and his Gerbils, Mary Cobb as Wanda Schizzle, and Deborah Cobb as Mama Schizzle.

The photos will tell the story better than I can.

Connie Breding directing

Front L to R: Susan Gallegos, Julie Newton, Cheryl Carroll, Back L to R: Kimba Nichels, Mary Cobb, Harry Crinklaw, Deborah Cobb and Laurie Clark

Cast and Attendees

Rickster Rockstar and Wanda Schizzle

Mama Schizzle

Attendees Tet and Alan Gonzales

Attendee Carla Kerr

Sunshine Moonshine

Purple Butterfly

Smokey McWeed

Mayor Marlene Moonbeam

Attendee with baby son

Wanda Schizzle talking with Purple Butterfly

Carla Kerr with Grace and Victoria Kennedy

Mrs. Timothy Leery

Wanda Sizzle with Rickster Rockstar

Two youngest audience members meet each other

Smokey McWeed

Smokey, Connie and Purple Butterfly having some interesting cookies

Uh-oh! Looks like Mama Schizzle has found a joint

L to R: Wanda, Rickster, Mayor Moonbeam, Mrs. Leery and Mama Schizzle

Mrs. Leery looking sad

The murder mystery has now moved to the theater.

Apparently Sunshine Moonbeam has been murdered

The accusations start

Mrs. Leery asking for respect for the dead

Mayor Moonbeam questioning suspects

Questioning continues

Mrs. Leery breaking up over the death of Sunshine Moonshine

Grace Kennedy, young hippie

Grace and her Daddy

The show was a lot of fun and everyone enjoyed the evening, especially the actors in their improvised roles. This was definitely a great way to spend an evening.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.