Comedy, mystery combine in North Central's 'MIranda Writes'

"Miranda Writes," a new play that combines the elements of a screwball comedy with a whodunit, will take center stage this month at Naperville's North Central College.

Written and directed by senior Rae Lindenberg, the show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. April 16, 17 and 18 in the theater at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors and available by calling the North Central College Box Office at (630) 637-SHOW or visiting northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

Due to some profanity and sexual language, the production is suggested for audiences 13 and older.

Set in 1939, a young wife is put on trial when her famous Hollywood executive husband is murdered. Courtroom stenographer and screenwriter wannabe Miranda Clarke seizes her chance to write a breakthrough script for the silver screen.

But as the trial unfolds, conniving lawyers, threats of blackmail and more suggest to Miranda there's more to the case than her winning script.

"Miranda Writes" offers laughs and intrigue from inside a world where it feels like anything is possible, if you've got enough moxie.

A theater major from Wilmette, Lindenberg says her goal in "Miranda" is to amuse and entertain, "but also tug at the heart strings and encourage discussion."

The title character is ambitious, smart and driven, especially for her times, Lindenberg says. She, as well as the supporting characters, is multifaceted and multidimensional: the good guys don't always do good things and the bad guys aren't always wrong.

"As a director," Lindenberg says, "I hope to address the complexity in these characters while making the approach easy and lighthearted."

Lindenberg says she approaches her directing with a collaborative mindset.

"By the end of the process, my actors will know these characters even better than I do, so I'm open to their suggestions for line changes or a different interpretation," she says. "You have to be open to better ideas than your own to achieve something really great."

The cast features Ashlyn Seehafer of St. Charles as Miranda, along with Cameron Sherrill of St. Charles; Emily Barham of Darien; Jack Lindberg of St. Charles; Casey McWhirter of East Peoria; Abram Vences of Berwyn; Christopher Corrigan of Naperville; Amanda Peck of Woodridge; Miranda Harris of Normal; and Nicole Borowski of Itasca.

The production team features Jacari Campbell of Darien; Jesus Martinez of Aurora; Cassie Fenwick of Naperville; Amanda Strolia of Woodridge; Tom Noesen of Naperville; Chelsea Ward of Warrenville; Greg Johnson of Wheaton; Kate Sanderson of St. Charles; Wade Balsamo of Barrington; Rachel Strolle of Downers Grove; and Aronzo Traylor II of Chicago.