Two years ago, the theater department’s production of “Murder on the Orient Express” was abruptly canceled because they were unable to secure the production rights. The department then decided to perform Oscar Wilde’s play “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Now, with the rights for “Murder on the Orient Express” obtained, the mystery is back on schedule for next semester, spring 2025.
“We’ve never been denied a request for licensing a production before, so I assumed that we’d get the rights,” said Theater and Dance Department Chair Chrissy Steele.
Steele said that after going through with auditions for “Murder on the Orient Express,” that year, months passed with no word on the licensing request.
Eventually, the department received news that their request was denied. “I found out later that St. Louis Repertory Theatre was doing the show in their season the next year,” Steele said. “So I started looking for a show that didn’t have any royalties that was just in the public domain. That’s when we looked at ‘The Importance of Being Earnest.’”
Though she said Earnest was a bustling success, she also said she is thrilled to bring back “Murder on the Orient Express” to the stage. “We haven’t done a murder mystery,” Steele said. “In the 17 years I’ve been here, we’ve never done one.”
For Steele, this production gives a chance to diversify the students’ theater experience and bring out something refreshing on stage. “We want to give our students an opportunity to try all these different styles of theater. It’s important to have that wide range of experience,” she said.
Senior Victoria Geyer, who performed in Earnest, wasn’t strongly affected by the change, but she is now considering auditioning for “Murder on the Orient Express,” despite her busy schedule. “I’m actually really excited. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do it ‘cause I will have a very busy semester,” she said. “I hope I can find some time to play a little small character.”
Junior João Ribeiro, who originally auditioned for “Murder on the Orient Express,” said he was looking forward to the comeback. “I was getting myself hyped up at the time, then it didn’t happen,” Ribeiro said. “Now that I’m a junior, I’m excited to have the opportunity to do that play, but now with more experience.”
Ribeiro said he thinks the audience might be excited about the show’s return. “I think they will be happy about it,” he said. “I think it will be great; the Prin community is always very receptive of everything that the theater department does.”
Open auditions for “Murder on the Orient Express” have been planned for Tuesday, Dec. 3, and the initial production itself is set to be open to audiences during week 6 of the spring semester.
