Royalton Players heating up February with two shows

The Royalton Players will be heating up February with two productions both showcased around Valentine's Day. The first is a Valentine's murder mystery set for February 11 at Carrie Cerino's Ristorante and Party Center. The second, a new romantic comedy that focuses on a mythical small town in northern Maine, opens February 17 and runs for two weekends.

"Having both productions centered around Valentine's Day just seemed proper and a great way to beat the winter blahs," said Royalton Players President Chuck Poliafico, who is the director of both shows.

The murder mystery is titled "Don't Kill the Love Messengers: A CSI Royalton Players Valentine Murder Mystery" and begins at 7 p.m. at the restaurant and party center located at 8922 Ridge Road in North Royalton. The production was written by Poliafico and centers around several of the Cupids in the world are being mysteriously murdered.

"The suspects are some of the greatest lovers in the world including Romeo and Juliet, Cleopatra and Marc Antony, Samson and Delilah, and Bonnie and Clyde," Poliafico said. "It will be up to those attending to determine if they can find out which one of the greatest lovers is the actual murderer."

Poliafico said tickets are $25 each and includes a full course dinner at Carrie Cerino's, the show and grand prizes. Tickets can be ordered by contacting the Royalton Players Box Office at 440-877-0009.

Following the murder mystery, the Royalton Players will be producing a romantic comedy titled "Almost, Maine," which is composed of nine short vignettes that explore love and loss in a remote place in the northern area of the state.

"The scenes stand alone, but they all take place in the town of Almost, in northern Maine, and the vignettes all take place on the same night," Poliafico said. "These are just average folks in the middle of the wilderness. It all takes place on a Friday night, and all of the scenes are supposed to be happening around the same time, around 9 o'clock."

Poliafico said the play is both realistic and magical and has inspired comparisons to "Northern Exposure," "The Twilight Zone," and "A Prairie Home Companion."

"I fell in love with this play," he added. "The characters are quirky and the vignettes are very well written. It's a very touching and warm look at relationships and love."

Starring in the production are several Royalton Players regulars including Ryan Grimes, Scott Maynard, Mary Manos-Mitchem, Elizabeth Hoffman and Katie Morilak, as well as several new performers at the theater including Michelle Oswalt, Marina Richley and Patrick Tovey.

The production will be held at the Altenheim Community Center, located at 18533 Shurmer Road, Strongsville. Performance dates are February 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 all at 8 p.m. A Sunday matinee will be held on February 19 at 3 p.m.