A live theatre thriller reaches out to Tyler this Halloween season.

The Tyler Civic Center hosts the show “Wait Until Dark” written by Frederick Knott.
It is directed by Tyler’s own Mike Hargrove, the first thriller he’s directed.

With a cast of eight actors/actresses and a support staff of eight people, this show began with
its first read through September 24, and auditions a week prior to that. Auditions are open for anyone.

“I want the audience to be a little tense,” Hargrove said.

Hargrove’s overall vision for this show is to tell a good story.
This PG13 show takes place during the 1960s in Greenwich Village, N.Y. A professional photographer and his blind wife, through a series of events, stumble across a child’s doll that contains heroin within it. The “bad guys,” who are the owners of the doll, “go through a series of cons and misleading identities lies and trickery to find out where the doll is.”

“It’s a good old fashioned thriller,” said Jeff Olver, 28, of Homesdale, Pa. who plays Mr. Roat, the main villain.

With the perfect time of year for a theatre thriller, Lexie Rains, 15, who plays Gloria, Susy’s pesky neighbor, describes it perfectly with three words: interesting, provocative, and suspenseful.

Show dates are Oct. 26-27 and Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at 7:30 pm. while Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 performances are at 2:30 pm. Tickets are being sold now. Students pay $15 and adults pay $18. On opening nights, Friday the 26 and Saturday the 27, if a student presents a valid ID, tickets will only be $12.

Tyler’s Live Theatre Thriller will be an exciting, intriguing and thrilling ride. But “be careful who you trust,” Rains, said.

Mandy Drager

Staff Writer