Even the audience is a suspect in This Murder Was Staged, the next production in the El Paso Community Foundation Jewel Box Series at the Philanthropy Theatre.

This Murder Was Staged will be performed by El Paso’s Star on the Mountain Theatrical Productions at 2:30 pm Sunday, November 10 in the Philanthropy Theatre, above the box office in the Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Centre.

General admission tickets are $15, on sale at the Plaza Theatre Box Office (no service fees) and Ticketmaster (with service fees).

Note: The venue allows only clear bags or small clutches, and no longer accepts cash.

Written by Patrick Greene and Jason Pizzarello (The Alibis, Rogues’ Gallery), This Murder Was Staged takes place on the opening night of a new mystery play. Just as the killer is to be revealed, the director’s body falls onstage, turning the theater into a crime scene. “It is a fast-paced, backstabbing, backstage comedy,” said director Rachel Mullins of Star on the Mountain Theatrical Productions. “When I read it the first time, I laughed out loud. It is joyously silly and creative.”

Star on the Mountain was founded in 2017 by local theater veterans with the goal of serving the community through theater. The company staged Recommended Reading for Girls in the Jewel Box’s 2023-2024 season, and will perform Diana Son’s timely Stop Kiss on February 9.

Now in its ninth season, the Jewel Box Series was created in partnership with El Paso Live in 2014 to host local performing artists and groups in that jewel box of a venue, the Philanthropy Theatre in the Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Centre.

For more information about the Jewel Box Series, a complete season schedule and ways to support, please visit: epcf.org/jewelbox