Lakewood Theatre Company concludes its 55th season with the Rupert Holmes musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Winner of 5 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this hilarious musical comedy is based on Charles Dickens' unfinished novel of the same name. The actors of the "Music Hall Royale" reenact the story of the upstanding young Edwin Drood, who mysteriously disappears and is presumably murdered. But who did it? Was it his treacherous rival, John Jasper? The infamous Princess Puffer? Reverend Crisparkle? Somebody else? In the end, the audience decides by voting on the ending!

The production, directed by Ron Daum, opens Friday, May 2nd at Lakewood Theatre Company and continues Thursdays - Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 7:00 PM until June 8th. There are also Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM on May 11, June 1 and June 8. The theatre is located at Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State Street in Lake Oswego. Ticket prices are $28 for adults and $26 for students and seniors and are available through the Lakewood Theatre Box Office at (503) 635-3901 or on-line at www.lakewood-center.org

The story: In 1870, wildly popular author Charles Dickens suddenly died. To his readers' misfortune, he left his last novel without an ending. However, beginning May 2, 2008, Lakewood Theatre Company audiences will become part of the mystery by actually deciding the ending to the musical version of this unique story. With more than 200 possible endings - it is up to the audience to make a decision about who is and who isn't guilty, who gets romantically involved, and most importantly, whether the story concludes with a happy or unhappy ending. You decide!

In 1986, Rupert Holmes, the talented playwright/composer of The Mystery of Edwin Drood won several Tony Awards for the show including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score.

Principal roles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood are played by Portland favorites Jay Pevney, Margie Boulé, Lindsay Michelet, Tim Smith and Don Stewart Burns. Featured performers include Joe Klei, Jennifer Miser, Stephanie Hueston, Matt Alston, Roman Martinez, Darren Hurley, Ryan Duncan and Lisa Herman-Gagnon.

Stage direction for LTC's production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood is by Ron Daum. Musical direction is by Alan D. Lytle and choreography is by Amy Palomino. The assistant director is Alan Anderson, set design is by John Gerth, lighting design is by Chris Whitten, sound design is by Dan Hallberg, wigs by Kathryn Durkin and costume design is by Lindsay Kleinman. Props are by Felix Kelsey, the stage manager is Lisa Herman-Gagnon and the producer is Kay Vega.

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History of the Play: In 1986 The Mystery of Edwin Drood received five Tony Awards, eight Drama Desk Awards and 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards. After its inception as part of the New York Shakespeare Festival, headed by Joseph Papp of the Public Theatre, The Mystery of Edwin Drood moved to Broadway and played for a total of 608 performances at the Imperial Theatre, where the title was changed to Drood halfway through the run. After its run on Broadway, Drood was staged in London's West End. When the musical began its national tour the title changed back to The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

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THE FACTS IN BRIEF:

What?
Lakewood Theatre Company concludes its 2007-2008 season with The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Lakewood Theatre Company concludes its 55th season with the musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Bursting with energy, this dazzlingly clever and rambunctious Tony Award-winning musical is loosely based on the unfinished final novel of the same name, by the masterful Charles Dickens. Composer and playwright Rupert Holmes has fashioned the musical into a "play-within-a-play," culminating in a grand moment of audience participation where, through a series of unique votes, the audience determines the conclusion of the show.

Where?
LAKEWOOD THEATRE COMPANY
Headlee Mainstage: A 220-seat stage at Lakewood Center for the Arts. This new hall provides excellent sight lines with no one further than 30 feet from the front of the stage.
Location: 368 S. State Street, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

When?
Runs: May 2 - June 8, 2008

Thurs. Fri. & Sat. at 8 PM, Sundays at 7:00 PM, and three Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM on May 11th, June 1st and June 8th.

Ticket Reservations:
503-635-3901 or on line at www.lakewood-center.org

Tickets:
$28 Adults, $26 Student/Senior

LAKEWOOD THEATRE COMPANY WEBSITE:
www.lakewood-center.org

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About Lakewood Theatre Company

55 Years of Live Theatre: Founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1952, Lakewood Theatre Company is a semi-professional theatre dedicated to the study and presentation of drama in all its forms; the training and development of actors; and the creation, maintenance and operation of a theatre in which to present plays and other forms of entertainment. Lakewood Theatre Company is the oldest continually operated, not-for-profit theatre company in the Portland Metropolitan area. It annually provides more than 700 theatre artists the opportunity to learn and display their craft and attracts more than 40,000 people to its shows.

- 55th Season -

Productions in the 2007-08 Season are underwritten, in part, by

The Regional Arts & Culture Council and the Work for Art Program

The Oregon Arts Commission

The National Endowment for the Arts

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