In 2018, my one-act Mystery At Midnight was a John Cauble finalist at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival region 4 (KCACTF4) and was invited back the next year for a full production.

This is a video of that 2019 production, directed by my multi-talented friend Amile Wilson with a remarkable cast from Jackson State University, an HBCU in Mississippi.

I have to note that, as written, this is a very white play, but this cast of black actors totally committed to the text and brought the characters to life in a way that I never would have envisioned. I just love this iteration. In order of appearance, the cast is:

Michael Barber as Roger Wright
Broderic Simpson as Monty Black
JoeOnna Kidio as Scarlett Starworthy
Nicholas Armstrong as Essex
DeShadrian Hopkins as Cassie Wayne
Ivory Lowe as Joyce
Ramon Davis as Hugh Pearson
Lauren Fleming as Louella Pearson
Amile Wilson as The Sandwich Man

Nadia Bodie-Smith of Jackson State was the Stage Manager and Designer.

I was so impressed with how these young actors produced this play with no money and a tremendous amount of talent and perseverance. I also have to shout out to Todd Ristau and the Hollins Playwrights Lab for making all this possible, and once again, Amile Wilson for his resourcefulness and friendship.

The full script is below, or just watch the 39 minute video and enjoy.

LIGHTS UP ON

It is New Year’s Eve night, December 31, 1939,
a Sunday, at radio station WFRC in Roanoke,
Virginia. The station is located in the old rooftop
ballroom of the Grand Luxe Hotel. A clock on
the wall shows that it is 11:15 PM.
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