Cedar Crest College to Current ‘Something’s Afoot,’ a Murderously Enjoyable Musical Thriller

This October, the Performing Arts Department at Cedar Crest College presents Something’s Afoot, a murderously enjoyable and hilarious musical spoof of Agatha Christie’s basic novel And Then There Were None. 

Set in an remoted English nation property owned by the rich Lord Dudley Rancour, ten eccentric visitors discover themselves stranded when a raging thunderstorm brings huge flooding and energy failures. When Lord Rancour is found lifeless beneath mysterious circumstances, the visitors scramble to uncover the assassin—all whereas falling sufferer, one after the other, to a sequence of weird and hilarious traps and units. 

“It’s an outrageous ‘whodunit’ that will keep you guessing and laughing until the very last minute,” says Director JoAnn Wilchek Basist ’77.  

JoAnn, who has been directing Cedar Crest productions for nearly a decade, describes every character as an outrageous, over-the-top Agatha Christie stereotype. “The cast has embraced this madcap, riotous journey with great gusto.” 

Music and choreography complement the hilarious forged, bringing a zany power that units up a playful and satirical tone, guaranteeing the viewers continues laughing as our bodies proceed dropping.  

Something’s Afoot options an upbeat Thirties English music-hall fashion rating, with musical route by Rebecca Pieper and choreography led by Joanellyn Schubert.  

“The music in this show has that great, bouncy British music-hall feel, so I leaned right into classic 1930s vaudeville movement,” says Joanellyn. “I choreographed numbers to face outward, using big ‘ta-da!’ poses and direct eye contact with the audience to break that fourth wall.” 

The choreography, together with the musical rating, helps convey the comedy and thriller of Something’s Afoot to life, with motion enjoying a vital function in each the musical’s jokes and suspense.  

“The comedy relies heavily on exaggerated physical theater—melodramatic freezes, synchronized head turns when a sinister noise sounds, and slapstick timing. On the mystery side, I use choreography for visual misdirection,” says Joanellyn. “I might have a dance step drawing the audience’s focus to stage left, giving us the perfect moment to pull off a subtle prop trick or set up a sudden character entrance stage right. It keeps the audience laughing while keeping them guessing.” 

Something’s Afoot guarantees a riot of an excellent time, with homicide and suspense working rampant alongside loads of laughs. For JoAnn, the enjoyable culminates within the present’s closing reveal, which she is most excited for audiences to see.  

“The final ‘reveal’ of the murderer is the pinnacle of the show,” says JoAnn.   

Something’s Afoot will premiere in Samuels Theatre at Cedar Crest College on Thursday, Oct. 1 by means of Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. 

Tickets may be bought here.