The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Department of Theatre and Dance is proud to present “Murder on the Orient Express,” based on the detective mystery novel by Agatha Christie that was adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig. Published in 1934, Christie’s novel exemplifies a classic murder mystery: a bone-chilling murder, an eccentric group of strangers, an isolated space, and a quirky detective. Performances are Oct. 14-15 and 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees Oct. 16 and 23 at 2:00 p.m. in the Toland Theatre, Truman Lowe Center for the Arts.

Detective Hercule Poirot finds himself on a train passing through the mountains of Europe when a murder takes place. A man lies dead in his compartment that was mysteriously still locked from the inside, and the passengers are now stuck in a snowstorm, isolated with a killer in their midst. They rely on Poirot to find the murderer before he or she can strike again. Using the few clues he finds on the train along with testimonies from the other passengers, Poirot must find out who committed the crime, and why.

UWL senior musical theatre major Adam Bloom plays detective Hercule Poirot. When asked about his favorite part of working on this Christie classic, Bloom said, “Discovering the quirks of every character. Poirot has got all these little things–he keeps himself busy. He’s a peculiar little man! And every single person in this cast has the little intricacies that make their character in a murder mystery so unique, and how everybody portrays that just keeps you guessing. I love it!”

Noah Mastaglio, the assistant director for this production, says: “When people come to see this production at UWL, I really hope that they take away that this university is more than just a place for athletics. Obviously, this is the place to be if you want to be in that area, but we have some really caring and really motivated people in this department, both inside the administration and inside the students, that make this work a lot of fun. It’s not just a whole lot of, you know, what people would assume is theater weirdos coming together to put something on. It’s people who care, people who want to do this with passion. We have some of the best people on this campus working on this show, and I don’t make that an exaggeration.”

Tickets for “Murder on the Orient Express” are on sale online at www.uwlax.edu/theatre-arts. Tickets are also available for purchase in person at the box office in the lobby of the Truman Lowe Center for the Arts or by calling 608-785-6696. Box office hours are Monday through Friday 1:00-3:00 p.m. or one hour prior to each performance. Tickets are $20 for adults; $18 for seniors and non-UWL students, and $8 for UWL students with ID.

IF YOU GO

WHO: The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Department of Theatre and Dance

WHAT: “Murder on the Orient Express”

WHEN: Oct. 14-15 and 20-22 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees Oct. 16 and 23 at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Toland Theater, Center for the Arts, 333 N. 16th Street, La Crosse, WI 54601

COST: $20 for adults; $18 for seniors and non-UWL students, and $8 for UWL students with ID. Tickets are on sale online at www.uwlax.edu/theatre-arts. Tickets are also available for purchase in person at the box office in the lobby of the Truman Lowe Center for the Arts or by calling 608.785.6696. Box office hours are Monday through Friday 1:00-3:00 p.m. or one hour prior to each performance.

CAST: Adam Bloom, Will Nysse, Macy Ortloff, Isaac Gonzales, Paige Huling, Tracie Hodgdon, Kaitlyn Pyburn, Ella Mertes, Anna Kral, Erik Berg, Louden Ferguson, Abby Muma

PRODUCTION TEAM: Greg Parmeter (director), Mandy Kolbe (scenic designer), Michelle Collyar (costume & makeup designer), Tracy Joe (lighting designer), Brodyn Byington (sound designer), Megan Morey (technical director), Laura Felde (stage manager), Val Fish and Tracie Hodgdon (dramaturgs)