The Nifty-Fifites Malt Shop Murder

Book By: Craig Sodaro
Play #: 8314
Pages: 65 pgs
Cast: 6 m, 14 w

A quintessential 1950s mom, June Seevers, and her committee are working hard to win the "Small Town USA" title and a cash prize for their town of Sunnydale. The judges are due in two days to verify that it is, indeed, an All-American, apple pie-eating, crime-free hamlet. Did we say crime free? Then what about the mysterious customer at the Malt Shop who falls over dead during the committee's final meeting? It looks like he was poisoned, and the victim's sister may be a committee member! But who? With the help of her family, the prissy librarian, and even the goofy deputy sheriff, June manages to unmask the killer, but not before the killer tries to outsmart - and silence the amateur sleuth.

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Productions

1 Performance(s)
HOLDINGFORD, MN 10/28/2022
BAGLEY HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB 3 Performance(s)
BAGLEY, MN 4/7/2022
GLADDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CHATSWORTH, GA 3/10/2022
FAYETTEVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FAYETTEVILLE, NC 10/9/2021
WCSD-CENTRAL RECEIVING 2 Performance(s)
WAUKEE, IA 5/29/2021
CLARK JR/SR HIGH 1 Performance(s)
CLARK, SD 4/9/2021
OAKLAND CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
PITTSBURGH, PA 12/5/2019
KELLER ISD 3 Performance(s)
FORT WORTH, TX 5/15/2019
ADVENTURES IN EDUCATION 1 Performance(s)
WINSTON-SALEM, NC 5/12/2019
CHS DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, VA 4/27/2018
BURKE SCHOOL DISTRICT 1 Performance(s)
BURKE, SD 3/24/2018
RUTLAND HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MACON, GA 11/17/2017
ROCK SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
SMYRNA, TN 5/11/2017
EMERY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
CASTLE DALE, UT 2/28/2017
CALVARY CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
SANTA ANA, CA 2/9/2017
DAVID BREARLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
KENILWORTH, NJ 1/15/2017
TRI-COUNTY JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WOLCOTT, IN 11/11/2016
MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
WHEATON, IL 11/10/2016
SUGAR VALLEY RURAL CHARTER SCH 2 Performance(s)
LOGANTON, PA 5/6/2016
NEW ULM PUBLIC SCHOOLS 3 Performance(s)
NEW ULM, MN 3/11/2016
OLIVER W WINCH MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WILTON, NY 3/10/2016
HORSE HEAVEN HILLS MSKSD 1 Performance(s)
KENNEWICK, WA 3/3/2016
JULIAN CHARTER SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
TEMECULA , CA 12/10/2015
GLORIA DEI 3 Performance(s)
URBANDALE, IA 11/20/2015
HMSHS 3 Performance(s)
HILLIARD, FL 11/17/2015
LANCASTER BAPTIST SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LANCASTER, CA 11/5/2015
MULBERRY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MULBERRY, AR 5/15/2015
WEST VIGO H.S 2 Performance(s)
WEST TERRE HAUTE, IN 11/6/2014
CONGRESS MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
KANSAS CITY, MO 11/5/2014
UNION HIGH SCH 3 Performance(s)
UNION, MS 4/23/2014
SACRAMENTO COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SACRAMENTO, CA 1/17/2014
CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART 3 Performance(s)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 1/17/2013
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LOUISVILLE 2 Performance(s)
LOUISVILLE, KY 10/25/2012
KEYSTONE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SAN ANTONIO, TX 10/12/2012
FHS THEATREDRAMA DEPT 2 Performance(s)
FRANKLIN, NC 9/28/2012
WALKER HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WALKER, LA 4/20/2012
SCHLEY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ELLAVILLE, GA 2/23/2012
PORTERVILLE UNIFIED SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PORTERVILLE, CA 12/15/2011
SMITHTON SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SMITHTON, IL 5/10/2011
VONORE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MADISONVILLE, TN 4/28/2011
WAYNE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WAYNESBORO, TN 3/31/2011
MORTON JR. HIGH 1 Performance(s)
MORTON, IL 1/28/2011
THREE LAKES HS 2 Performance(s)
THREE LAKES, WI 11/19/2010
GRUNDY CO HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
COALMONT, TN 10/20/2010
WISCONSIN HEIGHTS PLAYERS 3 Performance(s)
BLACK EARTH, WI 7/16/2010
CHESTATEE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GAINESVILLE, GA 2/1/2010
QUANTICO MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
QUANTICO , VA 11/15/2009
LAMESA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LAMESA, TX 11/13/2009
PEORIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PEORIA, IL 11/6/2009
WEST YORK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
YORK, PA 11/5/2009
ARCANUM HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ARCANUM, OH 5/8/2009
DALHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DALHART, TX 5/4/2009
SPRING-FORD MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ROYERSFORD, PA 4/3/2009
NORTHPOINTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 12/6/2008
POTEAU HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
POTEAU, OK 11/1/2008
ROLLA HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
ROLLA, MO 3/14/2008
CLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
CLINTON, TN 3/12/2008
CITY OF SELMA RECREATION DEPT. 4 Performance(s)
SELMA, CA 3/6/2008
CENTRAL RECEIVING HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LOS FRESNOS, TX 12/6/2007
WEM SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
WATERVILLE, MN 11/18/2007
FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FORSYTH, MT 11/14/2007
WEST SMITH COUNTY HS 2 Performance(s)
KENSINGTON, KS 11/10/2007
PLATO HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
PLATO, MO 5/3/2007
CASTLEWOOD SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CASTLEWOOD, SD 3/24/2007
CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 2/5/2007
EMMET BELKNAP MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LOCKPORT, NY 1/26/2007
OLIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BROKEN ARROW, OK 11/9/2006

Behind The Scenes

PLAYWRIGHT CRAIG SODARO TALKS ABOUT

"THE NIFTY-FIFTIES MALT SHOP MURDER"

 

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?

A: I thought a fifties murder mystery would be a lot of fun and where else to set it but a mythical fifties' malt shop?

 

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY?

A: I particularly enjoy the June Seevers character because she's the iconic fifties mom, but she also thinks for herself and is quite capable of solving a murder. The Sheriff and Huey provide a couple of other very enjoyable moments and the Sheriff's illness really gives June the motivation to get things under control.

 

Q: WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WERE THE CHALLENGES IN WRITING THIS PLAY?

A: I didn't find anything particularly difficult in creating "The Nifty-Fifties Malt Shop Murder." In fact, I enjoyed digging up the slang and looking for all the period details that I could work into the script.

 

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

A: The most important thing with this play is simply to have a lot of fun. I hope the mystery will be secondary to the comic moments and the fifties atmosphere. Having a fifties-style refreshment stand before the show and during the intermission with popcorn, Milk Duds, milkshakes, and so on, would be a lot of fun.