Walnut St. Theatre presents Baskerville

MORRISTOWN — Mayo Performing Arts Center presents the Walnut Street Theatre's comedic mystery thriller Baskerville, by Ken Ludwig, Friday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $29-$69.
Laughter is "elementary my dear Watson." Ken Ludwig's acclaimed adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1902 classic mystery, The Hound of the Baskervilles, is full of intrigue and. laughs. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being murdered one by one and the renowned sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, along with his trusted side-kick Dr. Watson, must work feverishly to crack the curse before it dooms the newest heir. Witness five talented actors playing 40 quirky characters, and venture deep into a world filled with disguises, silly accents and murderous deceit. The journey winds through treacherous Devonshire moors, crowded railway stations, foggy London streets and gloomy baronial mansions. Join the investigation as these intrepid detectives follow leads, unravel clues, hit dead-ends, and zigzag with the story until the shockingly funny conclusion. All is not what it seems. Do you know whodunit?
Walnut Street Theatre, America's Oldest Theatre, celebrated 200 years of great entertainment in 2009. Most noteworthy American actors of the 19th century and many from the 20th century have appeared on stage at the Walnut. Some of the Walnut's shining stars include: Edwin Forrest, Edwin Booth, the Drews, the Barrymores, George M. Cohan, Will Rogers, The Marx Brothers, Helen Hayes, Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Jessica Tandy, Ethel Waters, Audrey Hepburn, Sidney Poitier, Lauren Bacall, George C. Scott, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, Julie Harris, Jack Lemon and William Shatner.
The theatre has been home to many pre-Broadway try-outs of plays that would go on to become American classics, such as A Streetcar Named Desire starring Marlon Brando, A Raisin in the Sun featuring Sydney Poitier, The Diary of Anne Frank featuring Susan Strasberg, Mister Roberts, starring Henry Fonda, and Neil Simon's first Broadway play, Come Blow Your Horn.
Founded in 1809, Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest theatre in America. In 1982 it returned to its origins as a producing theatre under the internationally known producer, Bernard Havard, and it now boasts over 56,000 subscribers. Under his leadership, the Walnut established a strong commitment to artistic excellence and a dedication to developing American theatre artists through its nationally known programs, including its highly regarded apprentice program. The Walnut has received numerous awards for its artistic achievements, including the Barrymore and Carbonell Awards. Widely known for successful collaborations and co-productions both in England and the U.S., the Walnut has established a strong international reputation. Its absolute commitment to artists and audiences has resulted in the largest subscription audience in the world.