George Fox University’s theatre department presents ‘The Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ as its fall musical

October 08, 2019

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George Fox University’s theatre department presents ‘The Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ as its fall musical

Shows scheduled Oct. 17-20 and Oct. 24-27 in school’s Wood-Mar Auditorium

NEWBERG, Ore. – Patrons of George Fox University theatre will be treated to a musical comedy, The Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, later this month.

Directed by Rhett Luedtke, a professor of theatre, the play runs Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 17-20, and again Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 24-27, in the school’s Wood-Mar Auditorium. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of the two Sunday performances, scheduled as 2 p.m. matinees.

Tickets – $14 for general admission, $10 for seniors and George Fox alumni, and $8 for students and children under 12 – can be purchased online at theatre.georgefox.edu. Tickets are also available for purchase in the university’s box office, located in the Bruin Store, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, or in the lobby box office one hour prior to each production.

The play, based on a book and lyrics by Robert Freedman, tells the story of the impoverished Monty Navarro, who discovers he is eighth in line to become the Earl of Highhurst. When he witnesses the seventh-in-line “accidentally” fall to his death, Monty decides the earldom may not be out of reach after all. Can he knock off his unsuspecting relatives without being caught and become the next Earl of Highhurst?

“Musical comedies invite us to laugh at ourselves, our society and our collective idiosyncrasies, both the good and the bad. And, The Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder certainly makes me laugh,” Luedtke said. “I love this show because it allows me to laugh openly and outrageously at human folly while asking me to reflect on my own laughter. In short, sometimes comedy heals our souls, and sometimes it pricks our conscience. The best comedies do both.”

Luke Peters, a sophomore theatre major, plays the title role of “Monty Navarro.” Other cast members include Reid Arthur (“The D’ysquith Family”), a senior theatre major; Hope Bellinger (“Phoebe”), a senior theatre major; Anna Coon (“Sibella”), a junior theatre major; Johnathan Billington (“Man #3”), a sophomore theatre major; Matt Edwards (“Man #2”), a freshman theatre major; Shanon Keehn (“Miss Shingle”), a junior theatre major; Karyn Lucke (“Woman #2”), a senior theatre and business administration major; Karsten Montgomery (“Man #1”), a junior accounting and music major; and Chehala Valdez (“Woman #1”), a senior theatre major.

The George Fox University theatre department has been recognized by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. with awards for individual acting, set design, and overall production.

George Fox University is ranked by Forbes among the top Christian universities in the country and is a Christian college classified by U.S. News & World Report as a “Best National University.” More than 4,000 students attend classes on the university’s campus in Newberg, Ore., and at teaching centers in Portland, Salem and Redmond, Ore. George Fox offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 40 majors, degree-completion programs for working adults, seven seminary degrees, and 13 master’s and doctoral degrees.

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Contact:
Kathy Harris
Administrative Assistant, Theatre Department
George Fox University
503-554-2670