Contact: Jack Bailey (304) 766-4109 jbaile19@wvstateu.edu INSTITUTE, W.Va. -West Virginia State University (WVSU) will host a student musical production of the Tony award-winning “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” November 20-23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Davis Fine Arts Theatre on the University’s Institute campus. The production is the University’s first student musical since 2016 and the first time the show has been produced in West Virginia.
With a book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” is a modern-day melodrama and a hilarious send-up of the popular 19th century serial literature publications called “penny dreadfuls,” which often featured elements of suspense, murder, escapism, conflict of social classes, and written purely to evoke a thrill and a laugh. The plot follows the story of Montague D’Ysquith Navarro, a poor, working-class man who is shocked to discover that he is ninth in a line of royalty. The show won Best Musical at the 2014 Tony Awards.
Retired WVSU theatre professor Susan Marrash-Minnerly is returning to campus to direct the production. “I could not have asked for a better cast and crew,” Marrash-Minnerly said. “This is a very difficult show, and everyone is working full-out to ensure that it will be wildly funny. These students are some of the best, most hard-working I have ever had.”
The Charleston Chamber Orchestra, directed by WVSU Associate Provost Dr. Scott Woodard, will provide the music for the show. Dr. Dirk Johnson, chair of music at WVSU, is providing vocal direction.
General admission tickets cost $10 and will be available at the door. WVSU students, faculty and staff can attend at no cost. For information, contact (304) 766-3126 or .
The production is presented by permission of Music Theatre International, with funding from WVSU Cultural Activities.
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