Agatha Christie's 'The Moustrap' opens Thursday

Stage Coach Players in DeKalb is set to open the longest-running play in theater history. Agatha Christie’s "The Mousetrap" will run from June 27 through July 7.

The story follows a group of strangers stranded in a boarding house during a terrible snowstorm, one of whom is a murderer, as they try not to become the next victim.

Brad Shortridge of Genoa is making his directorial debut with this drawing room mystery filled with secrets, scheming and murder. The talented ensemble cast features Sarah Romero, ("Lend Me A Tenor"), Diane Madden ("Harvey"), Emmanuel Cockrell ("The Little Mermaid"), Riley Shortridge ("A Christmas Chaos") and Greg Anderson, who made his Stage Coach debut nearly 30 years ago in another Agatha Christie mystery, "Witness For The Prosecution."

Others in the cast include newcomers Linda Whaley and Emelie Walton, David Kuhn ("Night of the Living Dead") and Darren Whaley ("Jekyll & Hyde") who plays the enigmatic Mr. Paravicini.

The mystery takes place at Monkswell Manor, a guest house run by husband and wife Giles and Mollie Ralston. As they wait for their four guests to arrive, they hear a radio report about a murder, which notes that police are looking for someone in a dark overcoat who was observed near the scene. The guests arrive along with a stranger who’s car was overturned. By the following morning, they are all snowed in. Via telephone, the local constabulary inform them a Sgt. Trotter will be dispatched to the manor.

As such a popular mystery, "The Mousetrap" has been produced by Stage Coach Theatre before. The last time in 2003. In fact, Stage Coach Theatre has produced nine Christie plays over the years.

Performances for will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and July 5-6 and 2 p.m. Sunday and July 7.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $13 for seniors and children age 13 and younger.

To purchase tickets, visit www.stagecoachplayers.com or call the Stage Coach box office at 815-758-1940.