Murdered by Disco Cast & Information Page
CONCEPT
This will be similar to our murder-mystery show last year, as characters introduce themselves with monologues and a song in the first act, the audience votes at intermission (this time online) to choose the killer, the victim, and the method, and we adjust the second act based on the vote.
The first act is set on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1979 at the famed Studio One discotheque in New York City. A Dick Clark style TV host is filming their New Year’s Eve show from the disco and will be setting up on-camera interviews of each of the characters with occasional commercials done from spokespersons in between.
The second act is set in modern day as the TV host’s grandson is doing a Netflix style true-crime documentary about what happened that night, who got killed, and how the murder was never solved. They will introduce recently unearthed video footage of the interrogations (another monologue) of each suspect, which will set up another song. And there will be more commercials, of course.
NOTE: there will be three shows of this production – Friday, August 25 at 7pm; Saturday, August 26 at 3pm; and Sunday, August 27 at 7pm. Pay and profit-sharing is in place for this show (see below).
Please read the important information, character breakdown, song list, and rehearsal schedule below. If you are interested in being in the show, please fill out the form.
IMPORTANT!
- Everyone must be present for every rehearsal during show week (generally starting the Saturday or Sunday before the show) and must limit absences for rehearsals before that. I understand that this is a big ask for people with jobs, school, and other commitments, but we already have limited time to put these shows together so we have to maximize what we do have.
- Everyone must be on time for every rehearsal. Being late is not only detrimental to the show, it’s inconsiderate of your fellow cast members and crew who did what they needed to do to be on time.
- Everyone must come prepared. The small amount of time we have to rehearse together must be supplemented by your own work on your own time working on your lines, lyrics, songs, and characters.
- Everyone must pitch in to promote the show. All cast members on paid shows participate in profits, which means the more butts in seats, the more you get paid. A social media and promotional calendar will be developed for every show moving forward with specific assignments on specific days and platforms.
SCRIPT
How it works… the first act doesn’t change.
Most of the scenes in the second act are written with either 2 or 3 versions marked A, B, and C and have notes like (Character Alive) or (Character Dead). The differences between them are very minor – a word or maybe a sentence here and there.
At intermission the audience votes and just before the second act begins, we will see who has been selected as MURDERER, VICTIM, and METHOD.
This will determine which versions of which scenes we are doing.
For instance, if Bianca is the VICTIM and Benji is the MURDERER, we would do the A-version of all scenes in the second act except for scene 10. We’d do the B-version of that scene because that’s the one that indicates that Bianca gets killed.
Scene 12 at the end is slightly different in that it has an A, B, and C scenario in the script that is pretty self-explanatory and depends on who is alive and who is dead.
The MURDERER will sing “Stayin’ Alive.”
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN/SONGS
Molly Alexander as Candi Darling
The fame-hungry disco diva who wants to steal the spotlight from Farrah or Tenille or Shaun or… she doesn’t care as long as it shines on her
- I Love the Nightlife by Alicia Bridges (Solo)
- Dancing Queen by ABBA (Solo)
- Village People Megamix (Ensemble)
- Disco Inferno by The Trammps (Ensemble)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Ensemble)
- Last Dance by Donna Summer (Ensemble)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees (Murderer’s Song)
Damon DJ Banks Jr. as Shaun Macho
The openly gay, but very butch/macho man whore who rules the dance partner of Farrah but is tired of her getting the spotlight
- It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls (Solo)
- September by Earth, Wind & Fire (Solo)
- Village People Megamix (Ensemble)
- Disco Inferno by The Trammps (Ensemble)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Ensemble)
- Last Dance by Donna Summer (Ensemble)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees (Murderer’s Song)
Travis Harold Coles as Benji Bickerson/Benji Bickerson III
A disco-era TV host in Act 1 and an overly dramatic true-crime documentary host in Act 2
- Village People Medley (Lead with Ensemble)
- That’s the Way I Get Down Tonight by KC & the Sunshine Band (Solo)
- Disco Inferno by The Trammps (Ensemble)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Ensemble)
- Last Dance by Donna Summer (Ensemble)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees (Murderer’s Song)
Hannah Dodson as Bianca Bel Vivienne Luciane Dupree
Al’s foul-mouthed, slutty, drunken, hot mess of a cocaine addict wife who thinks she can run the disco better than her husband
- Knock on Wood by Amii Stewart (Solo)
- Shame by Evelyn Champagne King (Solo)
- Village People Medley (Ensemble)
- Disco Inferno by The Trammps (Ensemble)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Ensemble)
- Last Dance by Donna Summer (Ensemble)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees (Murderer’s Song)
Ethan Goble as Al Sunshine
The sleazy owner of the discotheque who is deeply in debt and desperate to find a way out of it
- Car Wash by Rose Royce (Solo)
- Boogie Megamix by Various Artists (Lead with Background TBD)
- Village People Megamix (Ensemble)
- Disco Inferno by The Trammps (Ensemble)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Ensemble)
- Last Dance by Donna Summer (Ensemble)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees (Murderer’s Song)
Cami Nicole Hall as Gloria Granada
A former roller-derby queen who has turned to doing late-night TV commercials to make ends meet
- 7 Commercial Parodies
- No More Tears (Enough is Enough) by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand (Duet with Lauren)
- Village People Megamix (Ensemble)
- Disco Inferno by The Trammps (Ensemble)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Ensemble)
- Last Dance by Donna Summer (Ensemble)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees (Murderer’s Song)
Bailey Connor as Farrah Farmingham
The attention-seeking resident dance floor queen of Studio One who will do anything for love
- Got to be the Best of My Love (mashup) by The Emotions & Cheryl Lynn (Solo)
- Don’t Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston (Solo)
- Village People Megamix (Ensemble)
- Disco Inferno by The Trammps (Ensemble)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Ensemble)
- Last Dance by Donna Summer (Ensemble)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees (Murderer’s Song)
Lauren Ledger as Donna Sue Robertson
A one-hit wonder who does late-night TV commercials while trying to reinvent herself to get back her stardom
- 7 Commercial Parodies
- No More Tears (Enough is Enough) by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand (Duet with Lauren)
- Village People Megamix (Ensemble)
- Disco Inferno by The Trammps (Ensemble)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Ensemble)
- Last Dance by Donna Summer (Ensemble)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees (Murderer’s Song)
Treyla Trash as Tenille el Capitan
The resident disco singer of Studio One who is yearning to break free from the spotlight
- Turn the Beat Around by Vicki Sue Robinson (Solo)
- Donna Summer Megamix by Donna Summer (Solo)
- Village People Megamix (Ensemble)
- Disco Inferno by The Trammps (Ensemble)
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (Ensemble)
- Last Dance by Donna Summer (Ensemble)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees (Murderer’s Song)
REHEARSAL SCHEDULER
SCHEDULE (subject to change)
| Date | Time | Goal | Required | Conflicts |
| Thursday, June 22 | EOD | Show Announcement and Open for Casting | ||
| Friday, July 7 | EOD | Casting Closes | ||
| Sunday, July 9 | EOD | Casting Announced | ||
| Monday, July 17 | EOD | Script/Music Delivered to Cast | ||
| Wednesday, July 26 through Thursday, August 3 | Varies | 1 hour 1:1 rehearsal (1 for each cast member to be scheduled according to availability). Use this link to schedule: https://calendly.com/rick-garman/murdered-by-disco-1-1-rehearsal | All | |
| Wednesday August 9 through Friday, August 18 | Varies | 1 hour 1:1 rehearsal (1 for each cast member to be scheduled according to availability). Use this link to schedule: https://calendly.com/rick-garman/murdered-by-disco-1-1-rehearsal | All | |
| Saturday, August 12 | 3-6pm | Cast Party; First Read Through | All | |
| Sunday, August 13 | 2-5pm | Group Number Rehearsal | ||
| Tuesday, August 15 | 7-10pm | Group Scene Rehearsal | All | |
| Saturday, August 19 | 2-6pm | Group Numbers and Run Through | All | |
| Sunday, August 20 | 2-6pm | Run Through On Book | All | No conflicts allowed |
| Monday, August 21 | 7-10pm | Run Through On Book | All | No conflicts allowed |
| Tuesday, August 22 | 7-10pm | Run Through Off Book (line calls allowed) | All | No conflicts allowed |
| Wednesday, August 23 | 7-10pm | Run Through Off Book (no line calls)/Tech | All | No conflicts allowed Hannah out at 9:30pm |
| Thursday, August 24 | 7-10pm | Tech/Dress | All | No conflicts allowed |
| Friday, August 25 | 5-10pm | Call time 5pm; sound check 5:30pm; doors 6pm; show 7pm | All | No conflicts allowed |
| Saturday, August 26 | 1-6pm | Call time 1pm; sound check 1:30pm; doors 2pm; show 3pm | All | No conflicts allowed Lauren and Hannah arrive 2:30ish. |
| Sunday, August 27 | 5-10pm | Call time 5pm; sound check 5:30pm; doors 6pm; show 7pm | All | No conflicts allowed |
PAY AND PROFIT PARTICIPATION
Each performer is guaranteed a minimum of $50 per performance – $150 total for this show.
Each performer will also receive equal shares in 50% of the net profits.
For illustrative purposes only:
- Gross Profits: $4,500
- Expenses: $2,500
- Net Profits: $2,000
- 50% of Net: $1,000
- 50% of Net Divided 9 Ways: $111
- Total Performer Compensation (Minimum + Participation): $261
Total performer compensation is therefore dependent on ticket sales, but will be a minimum of $150 even if the show loses money.