A couple's car breaks down on a dark and stormy night. A nearby estate offers shelter and an oddball group of guests all behaving very strangely. The phone lines are down and a necklace is stolen, shots are fired, a guest is strangled. You know, the usual fare.
During a very bad performance of "Murder Me Always", a real murder takes place off stage. The Director is shot. The "fake" play comes to a halt and a "real" murder mystery begins.
A Theatre group is holding auditions for a Murder Mystery called "Death of A Disco Dancer". All of the typical actors show up to audition. There is Mia Monahan - the militant method actress, Amber Frost- the ditzy Drama queen, Chad - the energetic actor who never seems to get a part in anything, Alan- the accomplished Theatre Major who works at a fast-food place in the meantime. Troy May - the ego-centric actor who always gets a role and his gorgeous assistant Tantanya who holds his imported bottled water and carries his Portfolio. And last but not least, Mrs. Needleman and her precious daughter Julie, fresh from the Little Miss Pumpkin Pageant finals. The auditions get underway without too many problems, well a few.. Well, all right, you see, the thing is.. the Director Vivian Vinderlou and assistant director Reed Moore have a bit of the problem with "script". The problem is they don't have enough copies for everyone. And the bigger problem is they don't actually have a finished script. Jim Culter- the playwright arrives in the nick of time with a few more copies and a few more finished pages just as one of the actors mysteriously dies. As luck would have it, Jim has brought Inspector Bonnie Brauvera along to the auditions to serve as Technical advisor for the play. Perhaps the investigation into this "mysterious death" will inspire the playwright and help him finish the play. After all, there is a read-through on Monday.
A selection of 3 more Comedy Murder Mystery Play scripts by Lee Mueller. "To Wake The Dead" - Renown Mystery writer Fred Finnegan has died under unusual circumstances and all his friends have gathered at his wake. Was Fred murdered by someone at the wake? Because Fred's ghost shows up and he's dying to find out who dun it! "Dead Air" - Radio station WEZY is having an anniversary broadcast. The host is having a meltdown on the air and the Bunny Bagel Boy collapses and appears to be dead. Is anyone listening? Does anyone care? "Dead 2 Rights" - A double-booked banquet room leads to trouble. A corporate meeting and a book club must work out a solution. And while they are at it, solve two murders.
3 more comedy murder mystery play scripts by Lee Mueller. This volume includes "An Audition For A Murder" - A Theatre group is holding auditions for a Murder Mystery called "Death of A Disco Dancer". One of the actors mysteriously dies. Luckily the playwright has invited a detective to the auditions. Can the case be solved? Can the show be cast? "A Plot Of Murder" -A Neighborhood Association meeting is usually a dull affair. But at this meeting, an Elvis impersonator ends up dead in the restroom. Agent McManshon is quick to arrive and conduct an investigation. It seems Agent McManshon knows a lot about this plot of murder, but it's a secret. "An Irritation To A Murder" - Godfry Gatewood, multi-millionaire and Financial whiz is under so much pressure and trouble that he could just die. Well, actually he does. Former detective Nick Dashell has a few ideas. Some of them about the murder.
A Neighborhood Association meeting is the scene of chaos. Lou Braunhorst, friendly neighbor, and conspiracy theorist, has information that the quiet streets will soon be re-zoned for commercial development. (but he also believes that Black Helicopters are transmitting signals through his satellite dish that put a "liberal spin" on his T.V. programs. But Lou's concerns do have validity. (The re-zoning, not the helicopters.) There is a 'secret' real estate scheme to institute "Eminent Domain" over the subdivision to make way for a Family Fun Pizza Parlor and a Strip Mall. Councilman Ratcliff who knows more about the neighborhood 'take-over' than he wishes to reveal, can't stay around because he is participating as an Elvis Impersonator at Elvis-O-Rama and must leave. Before Elvis can 'leave the building', he turns up dead in the restroom. Was it foul play or the ultimate Elvis impersonation? Special Secret Agent McManshon is quick to arrive and conduct an investigation. It seems Secret Agent McManshon knows a lot about this plot of murder, but unfortunately, it's a secret. For now.
Eccentric Millionaire, Albert Doornale has invited all of his close friends to his estate; including his ex-wife Abigail, his current fiance Candy Bombay, and his childhood friend from the Lower East Side, Salvatore Carbone. Everyone arrives at the estate greeted by the grumpy Butler and cutlery-carrying cook. The only problem is, Albert is not there, no one has seen him. Not his nerdy Nephew or his spoiled daughter. None of the guests have any idea why they are there or what happened to their host. That is until blood is found in the sink. Was Albert killed and carried away? In the nick of time, Inspector Bukowski arrives on the scene. A murder investigation will begin, as soon as a body is found. It may be a long wait.
During the garter toss at Brenda and Eddie's Wedding Reception, a mysterious man falls dead on the dance floor from a gunshot. Luckily the bride's father -the wealthy Harold Montague -invited Damage control expert Mr. Parker to the event. Parker tries "spinning" the murder as "nothing to worry about" but Society columnist Mary Berger insists "something be done".
A Cairo-raised daughter of an Egyptian military officer describes how she was raised to hate Americans and Jewish people and submit to dictatorship, her decision to relocate to America, and her efforts to promote peace and tolerance at the risk of her own safety.