A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Project Murder - The Elimination Challenge, Or Murder on the Runway

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  3w, 3m, 2any gender (adult)

A murder mystery whodunnit that parodies fashion design challenges on reality TV.

Project Murder - The Elimination Challenge, Or Murder on the Runway

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 3m, 2any gender (adult)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller, Parody/Spoof
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary
The police are tipped off that a murder is about to take place on the live TV show Project Design. Detective Carol-Ann Perkins wants a shot to catch the culprit and become a famous star. To do that, she not only has to overcome her own bumbling tendencies; she has to go undercover and compete against some of the top designers around. At the end of the first act audiences are polled to see who they think commited the crime, and with seven different endings, you’ll never know who is the real source of the Elimination Challenge.
The Detective:
CAROL-ANN PERKINS - middle-aged, a total mess, clumsy, but intense

The Contestants:
ANNIE - good-natured, daffy, a little bit older, 50s-60s
SHIVA (F) - goth, vicious, terrifying, 20s-30s
PRESIDENT GENERAL POPE JOHNSON (M) - fabulous, probably wears amazing glasses, he might wear shoes that have wheels in them and roll around the stage, 20-30s,
IFEZ (M)- from an indeterminate foreign country, he does his own thing, might wear a boa or heels, probably has exotic facial hair, 20s-40s LUKE, sweet, kind of dumb, good-looking, 20s

All other roles may be played by one male and one female actor. Most of the roles below are gender neutral.
CHIEF BAILIHEW - police chief
DETECTIVE MOSLEY - probably female, a high-ranking officer
OFFICER JONES - a police officer (played the actor playing Chief)
OFFICER NIGELA - a police officer (played by the actor playing Mosley)
ALIANA - a supermodel, host of the show (played by the actor playing Mosley)
TOSCA - elegant, immaculately coiffed advisor to the contestants (played by the actor playing Chief)
PIETER - Norwegian fashion designer, judge (played by the actor playing Chief)

In my mind, President is African-American and Ifez is Hispanic, but any of the roles may be played by an actor of any race or ethnicity.

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Elaborate/High-Volume Costumes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language

Media

ON BREAKING CHARACTER 

Our Picks for The 2019/20 Season: K-12 Edition
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Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Don Zolidis

Don Zolidis is a former high school and middle school theatre teacher, and is the most-produced playwright in American schools. His more than 100 published plays have been produced more than 11,500 times, appearing in every state and 63 countries. He holds a B.A. in English f ...

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