The first International Mystery Writers’ Festival today

announced new mystery works to premiere on stage this June in Owensboro,

Ky.

“The committee was overwhelmed by the quality of submissions n both

from established writers and new talent,” said RiverPark President & CEO Zev

Buffman, who produced 40 Broadway shows receiving 27 Tony Award

nominations. “There is no other mega-event in the country like it. Where else

could you see the debut of work from legends such as Agatha Christie and Ray

Bradbury, Mary Higgins Clark & Rupert Holmes alongside a newly discovered

author from Madisonville, Ky.

“We set the standard extremely high last year, which was the first year of

the festival. All three Best play nominations for the 62 year old Edgar Awards n

the world’s top mystery award n were swept by our festival.”

Professional readers from leading literary agencies selected the plays for

the 2008 International Mystery Writers Festival from thousands of submissions.

The plays to be fully staged and performed are:

• “Chimneys,” the U.S. premiere of Agatha Christie’s play, directed by “Guest Star” Director

Brian Bedford. This thriller was lost for nearly 70 years before a Canadian theater director uncovered it

and returned it to the Christie family. The Christie Family Estate has graciously agreed that the 2008

International Mystery Writers’ Festival is the perfect setting to rediscover for the classic mystery that

combines royal intrigue, blackmail, murder and a dash of romance;

• “The Final Toast,” the world premiere of Stuart Kaminsky’s Sherlock Holmes adventure. The

Edgar-winning author Kaminsky presents the great detective Sherlock Holmes in a clever new

plot where Holmes unravels a murder only to find himself a new target of the murderer. With the

help of his faithful friend, Dr. Watson and an 11 year old “dancing street urchin” called Charles

Chaplin, Sherlock Holmes uses his masterful deduction to make a complex situation seem simply

elementary;

• “The Last Appointment,” by Donald C. Drake. This intriguing psychological mystery

drama revolves around a beautiful female detective must fight her own demons while searching

for a deranged serial killer. Clues begin with the victim’s last appointments, but don’t wrap up

where you might think;

• “Flemming: An American Thriller,” by Sam Bobrick. This mystery farce full of twists

and turns will leave you laughing as well as longing for a good drink. An unassuming middleaged

man decides to become a private detective in the midst of a mid-life crisis n but the life

crisis is only beginning. Bobrick’s play is full of witty dialogue that fades in-and-out-of

murders, madness and many, many mixed drinks; and

• “Cell” by Judy Klass. A fascinating, haunting and disturbing play, “Cell” divides scenes

between flashbacks and the present — two brothers struggling to accept life’s challenges. One

brother is a crippled diabetic wanting to end his own life, his younger brother trying to keep him

alive and to help him make his life worthwhile. The mystery of this play is as much in the

relationships as is it is the who-done-it behind what could even be an accidental death.

In addition, two one-act plays will be performed:

• “The Third Rule” by Dan Aibel. A brotherly love facing betrayal. This suspenseful tale of

tension and danger weaves magic and murder through thestory of a missing young boy and the

investigation to find his killer.

• “Someone To Care For” by Christy Hall. This extremely powerful play touches your

heart and leaves your senses reeling. A dynamic story of loss, the toll it can take, and the lives it

can break.

Eight Wide-Screen Audio n Live! performances will premiere:

• “Armchair Detective n A ‘Remember WENN’ Mystery Musical,” by Tony, Emmy, and

Edgar-Award Winner Rupert Holmes. (New live audience adaptation!) Find yourself in the

Golden Radio Age of 1939 set in Pittsburgh. A radio station’s small but dedicated crew takes on

a pistol-waving escaped convict, thunderstorms and power-outages, and a mysterious ghostly

voice echoing through the studios, all the while giving their listeners comedy, drama and musical

variety as if nothing out-of-the-ordinary was happening. Holmes is the creator and writer of

Broadway hits “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “Accomplice” and the current mystery-musical

success “Curtains;”

• “Murder Times Two: Take My Word for It and You Don’t Have to Answer & Between

Sins” Two short mysteriesn by Robert S. Levinson. A catchphrase and a life-changing

moment. Levinson once again brings levity to a Hollywood tale of passion, love and longing in

“Take My Word for it and You Don’t Have to Answer”. He then pairs that mystery with

“Between Sins”, a sexy drama in the court of blackmail and intriguing murder.

• “The Help” by Bill Kerby. (New Live Audience Adaptation) This murderous tale of stolen

identity involves an unscrupulous young housekeeper and a none-too-bright poolman, who

conspire to take over the lives of a wealthy couple. From the writer of USA Network’s “On the

Beach” and “Little Richard”, and the story man behind “The Rose” with Bette Midler and

“Hooper” starring Burt Reynolds;

• “It Burns Me Up,” by legendary Ray Bradbury, author of “The Martian Chronicles,”

“Fahrenheit 451” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes.” A murdered man lies on the

floor, and his stunned wife sits nearby. A police detective and the coroner discuss the victim

while other police do their jobs. Reporters and neighbors crowd in at the door… but, the dead

man on the floor tells the story before the ambulance arrives; *PAIRED WITH*

“My Gal Sunday” adapted from Mary Higgins Clark’s Crime of Passion – a

delightful detective couple, the rich and handsome ex-president of the United States and

his wife, an attractive Congresswoman, investigate the affair of a former Secretary of

State and his murdered mistress.

• “The Cajun P.I.,” by PJ Woodside and Jude Roy of Madisonville, Ky. (First work)

Former cop and now struggling Private Investigator John LeGrand is a junior college

criminology instructor who begins a dangerous search for one of his own students who ends up

missing during a class assignment. Some good-ole-boys n and not-so-good-ole-boys n and some

attractive, but slightly dangerous, women round out the characters of this betrayal in the Bayou;

• “Mapes for Hire,” by Lee Goldbert. Private-eye novels and old TV shows can teach you a

lot about mysteries. But as a young rent-a-cop for a prominent gated community discovers, life

teaches you more about murder. Young Harvey Mapes struggles to stay alive on a perilous trip

taking him from San Fernando Valley to the rural woods in Washington state; and

• “Hallie Bowers,” by Harris F. Mack & Laura Campbell. War-time Christmas of

1941 leads a seasoned female private investigator and her younger brother from a

nightclub dance floor to the tracks at L.A.’s Union Station when they take on a missinggirlfriend

case from a handsome Navy Lieutenant.

. Ticket information

The audiences for the festival, which will take place from June 12 n 22 at the RiverPark

Center in Owensboro, Ky., will help select the winners. Ticket prices will range from $9.95 –

$29.95 or (49.50 for Crimson Quill seating while seats last), while Widescreen Audio plays will

be under $10. Master classes and special guest presentations will be offered during the festival at

no charge. Group discounts available for groups larger than 20. For more information about the

Festival or to reserve tickets, log on to www.newmyesteries.org.

The 2008 International Mystery Writers’ Festival is on pace to eclipse the success of the inaugural event, which

drew 50 percent of its audience from out of state, sold out a majority of performances and swept the best play

category for the Edgar Awards.

Premieres this year include a lost play by Agatha Christie that will make its U.S. premiere, the world premiere of a

Sherlock Holmes movie by Edgar-winning author Stuart Kaminsky, as well as works by Ray Bradbury, Rupert

Holmes and Mary Higgins Clark, who will participate in the festival and receive the First Lady of Mystery Award.

In addition, some very well known and respected directors will be joining the festival, including Tony Award winner

and legendary actor/director Brian Bedford.

The festival will take place from June 12-22 at the RiverPark Center in Owensboro. Visit www.newmysteries.org to

order tickets and for additional information.

RiverPark Center is a first-class regional entertainment complex. Six professional, international touring

musical productions have been built here, making Owensboro, Ky., one of the top five communities outside

New York City for building and premiering these shows prior to their U.S. or Asian tours.

The Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, provides operational support

funding for RiverPark Center with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for

the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.