FRONT ROW TO MURDER

A Cozy, Comic, Murder Mystery

By Jordan Reeves

With witty banter, theatrical in-jokes, and a parade of suspicious characters, Front Row to Murder is both a playful nod to classic whodunits and a heartfelt love letter to the magic—and the mischief—of your local theater.

CAST SIZE: 12 (7F, 5M) RUN TIME: 105 mins (without intermissions) AGE RECOMMENDATION: 10+

WHY PRODUCE FRONT ROW TO MURDER?

Are you looking for a cozy, comic, whodunnit that celebrates your theater and local community? Does your theater audience love Agatha Christie? Do you want to produce a play tailor-made for your hometown?

Here are 6 reasons to choose Front Row to Murder.

1. A Love Letter to Theater

·       Celebrates the quirks, chaos, and community spirit of small-town theater.

·       Inside jokes, backstage humor, and affectionate nods to actors, stage managers, and theater traditions.

·       Resonates with anyone who’s ever been part of (or sat in the audience of) theater.

2. Classic Whodunit Charm

·       Cozy mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie and golden-age detective fiction.

·       A “play within a play” that turns into a real investigation.

·       Packed with red herrings, witty banter, and a satisfying puzzle.

3. Comedic Ensemble

·       Colorful cast of characters: the pompous leading man, the free-spirited aura reader, the gossip-loving aunt, the bumbling deputy, the glamorous leading lady.

·       Comedy flows naturally from character clashes and heightened theatrical personalities.

·       Humor balances suspense, making it family-friendly yet smart.

4. Strong Female Leads

·       Detective Jo Marshall — sharp, witty, and determined, anchoring the mystery.

·       Gertrude, Felicity, Pattie, Dottie, Jenny, and Maureen — a wide range of strong, funny, and complex female roles.

·       Play offers standout opportunities for actresses of multiple ages.

5. Community Appeal

·       Can be customized to reflect local towns, theaters, or cultural touchpoints (script includes appendix for localizing references).

·       Encourages audience connection — they see “themselves” on stage.

·       Perfect fit for summer stock, regional and community theaters looking for something new but familiar.

6. Fresh Yet Familiar

·       A brand new work (selling point: fresh material).

·       Structured with all the pleasures of a Christie-style whodunit.

·       Smart mix of suspense, comedy, and heart.

SYNOPSIS

On opening night at the Paradise Playhouse, the curtain rises on a classic stage mystery. But when the drama spills off the stage and into real life, the small theater suddenly finds itself at the center of its own whodunit.

Enter big city detective, Jo Marshall, who’s visiting the small town to watch her Aunt Gertrude perform at thePlayhouse. It was supposed to be a quiet night at the theater but when the play takes a deadly turn and someone is killed onstage, Jo has a Front Row to Murder. Now pulled into a very real murder mystery, Jo must team up with weary local lawman Sheriff Rodger Trip and his overeager deputy Byron Bundle to investigate. What follows is a fast-paced mystery that mixes humor, suspense, and all-too-familiar small-town theatrics.

The suspects? A delightfully eccentric ensemble of theater folk. There’s Douglas Hartley, the pompous and ambitious leading man with a flair for melodrama. Dottie Bright, the theater’s resident free spirit; earnest, eccentric, and endearing… with possible anger issues. Pattie Roper, the sharp-tongued stage manager who knows everyone’s secrets. Jenny Glass, the earnest assistant stagehand caught between loyalty and fear. Felicity Tulip, the glamorous leading lady who’s equal parts charm and chaos. And Maureen Cade, the devoted wife of the artistic director whose legacy may not be as untouchable as it seems.

As rivalries, rumors, and long-held grudges are exposed, Jo must sort through a cast of quirky characters and confusing clues to get to the bottom of the deadly drama before the killer can act again.

THE SCRIPT CAN BE TAILORED TO FIT YOUR OWN COMMUNITY

Front Row to Murder can be customized to reflect local towns, theaters, or cultural touchpoints (script includes appendix for localizing references). Productions are welcome to either maintain the Worthingtam, New England location as-written or to adjust the references to reflect a fictional version of their own city/community. 

Example: The first production of Front Row to Murder was produced in Tamworth, New Hampshire, so the fictional location of the play was set in a small New England town called Worthingtam.