DAD'S STUDY, a Murder Mystery

by Robert N. Christiansen

Synopsis: Dad has called his adult children together to announce some important family changes. Then a gunshot is heard. A suspicious death occurs. An inspector is called in, and he suspects murder. But how could that be possible when the death occurred in a room deadlocked from the inside and the victim was the only person in the room?

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ROLES AVAILABLE (All roles are open):

CHARLES THORNHILL, JR., 38, the oldest son. Although in business with his father, he and his father disagree how the business should be run. The disagreement runs deep. THIS ROLE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED

CHARLES THORNHILL, SR., (DAD), 62. A tax accountant and a widower. He has come to the conclusion that all his children are useless. He constantly berates them, and has called a family meeting to explain that serious changes are necessary.

ROSE THORNHILL, 36, an unmarried schoolteacher who was close to her mother. She feels her father was abusive to her mother and blames him for her mother’s early death. Except for Charles Jr., she rarely associates with her siblings.

MAX THORNHILL, 30, works for an advertising agency and lives the life of a playboy. His life motto is “live and let live.”

MELISSA THORNHILL, 24, is the quiet one. Her mother died from complications resulting from Melissa’s birth. She immediately became her father’s favorite. She still lives at home. Her life is focused on social media and technology. THIS ROLE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED

MARYANN SIMPSON, 36, is the ex-wife of a former client of Charles Sr.  Now she has her eyes set on marrying Charles Sr.

INSPECTOR COLLINS. 60s. Played by the same actor as Charles Thornhill Sr. A police inspector summoned after a suspected murder has occurred. THIS ROLE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED.

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AUDITIONS will be by cold reading from the script. This is a new play and the script is not available to the public.

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PERFORMANCE DATES are June 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29. Curtain on Fridays and Saturdays is at 7pm. Sunday curtain is at 3pm. Mandatory rehearsal dates are on June 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 beginning at 6pm.

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REHEARSALS will begin in April. They will be held on weekday evenings, scheduled as much as possible at the convenience of the actors.

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TO ARRANGE AN AUDITION DATE AND TIME, please email the director at cbpaa.info@gmail.com

QUESTIONS? Please email the director at cbpaa.info@gmail.com.

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NOTE: Dad's Study is a replacement show for The Worst Play Ever, which has been postponed until 2026.​

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