Murder. Mystery. Mayhem.
I first saw the script for Clue when I was studying abroad in London. It was the one thing I didn’t buy because I thought it would be easy to find. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t!) Almost twenty-five years later—here we are!
Based on the classic board game and cult-favorite film, Clue takes the whodunit genre we all know and love and flips it on its head—complete with secret passageways, wild accusations, and perfectly timed chaos.
Comedy, especially farce, is an art of precision and trust. Every door slam, every gasp, every tango across the stage requires collaboration and timing. This year, for the first time ever, we had two separate casts—a choice made to give more students the opportunity to perform in a show with a smaller ensemble. Both casts rose to the challenge beautifully, embracing the ridiculous, the mysterious, and the joy of playing pretend with full commitment. Rehearsals were filled with lots of talking, laughter, dramatic death scenes, and an impressive number of color-coded props.
To the crew—thank you for creating our world of intrigue. Whether it was cueing spooky music, mastering lighting cues, or building a mansion full of surprises, your dedication was the backbone of this production. And a special thank you to Anna Roller for her leadership.
I am, as always, thankful for the incredible production team and my partners in crime who continue to keep the Colonial Players’s traditions alive: Melissa Downer (Class of 1994), Jordan Sones (Class of 2006), Lindsey Fagan (Class of 2010), Cooper Smith (Class of 2015), Kevin Willson, Elizabeth Amstutz, Rebekah Rickards and Jen Crea. I am honored to work alongside you and call you friends.
Thank you to our Colonial Players parents for supporting their children’s creativity—and for regularly fueling us with delicious food—and to the PWHS and Colonial School District Administrations for your unwavering support of our program.
And, of course, thank you to my family—Mom, Dad, Jason, and Pumpkin—you are my favorite suspects of all.
Now sit back, take a deep breath, and prepare to ask yourself the age-old question:
Was it Mrs. White in the Library with the rope? Will you solve the mystery of Clue?
Fondly,
Valerie Cucinotta Collado (Class of 1997)
