While planning this year’s ‘Christmas’ show at the Riverfront Playhouse, which is a murder mystery set in a winery, Bonnie Thompson suggested to directors Bill and Lisa Collins that they have some local wineries do a little wine tasting with the audience at each show. This idea was met with great enthusiasm not only by the Riverfront Playhouse Board of Directors, but by the wineries and restaurants themselves, with almost 100% participation from those that were contacted! Even the wine glasses were generously donated by Greg Butler of the Shasta Cascade Viticulture Association!
The wine tasting will take place during the 45 minute period prior to the start of the play on Friday and Saturday night performances. The doors open at 6:45pm and the play starts at 7:30pm. There is no extra charge for the pre-show wine tasting, and the festive setting will make this a great way to get into the mood of the evening!
The play itself is called “Dead to the Last Drop, or, Cheers to the Holidays” and is set at the fictitious winery called “Sangue Scuro” which means “Dark Blood” in Italian. The winery is owned by the Davino brothers Gino and Vito (Wade Riggs and Jorge Arguello), who are throwing a welcome-home/holiday party for Vito’s daughter Angelina who has just arrived home from college. The guests attending the celebration are Madonna Pescacelli Pepperonni Calzone (Victoria Graham) who is the daughter of Godfather Calzone, cork-maker and billionaire Corky Tannin (Dan Kupsky), blonde bombshell Anny Greensprings (Savannah Harter), the third Davino brother – Dino (Wade Riggs) and the staff includes sommelier Andre Bordeaux (Ian Dalziel), and piano player Julio Gallo ( Bill Ruess). Each of these colorful characters are implicated in several murders that take place during the evening, and the audience is invited to try their hand at solving the mystery, with prizes awarded to those who identify the most clues.
An original musical comedy mystery, first produced in 1997 as a dinner-theater presentation, this production marks its transformation into a traditional theater piece that is slated for publication early in 2010. It’s not every day you get to be in on the premier production of a play – the actors you see performing will be those listed in the front of the published play as the individuals who first created the roles for stage! So come share in the wine, merriment and mystery of this special event!
Here is the schedule of special guest wineries and restaurants and the nights they will be featured at the Riverfront Playhouse:
Saturday, November 21, Vintners Cellar Custom Winery
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Friday, November 27-Indian Peak Vineyards
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Saturday, November 28-Burnsini Vineyards
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Friday, December 4-Mt. Tehama Winery
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Saturday, December 5-Alpen Cellars
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Friday, December 11-New Clairvaux Winery
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Saturday, December 12-Tapas Downtown
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Thursday, December 17-One Maple Winery
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Friday, December 18-Vintage Wine Bar & Restaurant
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Saturday, December 19-Matson Vineyards
Showtimes:Friday – Saturday: 7:30 pm (doors open 6:45 pm)
Sunday Matinees: 2:00 pm (doors open 1:15 pm)Ticket Prices:
Opening/Closing Night: $20
Evening/Matinee Performances: $15Tickets available at the door or in advance at:
Graphic Emporium
1525 Pine Street
Redding, CA 96001
For reservations by phone – (530) 241-4278For more information call The Riverfront Playhouse at (530) 221-1028 or visit us on the web at
http://www.riverfrontplayhouse.netRIVERFRONTPLAYHOUSE
Redding’s Community Theatre Since 1981Riverfront Playhouse · 1620 E. Cypress Ave · Redding, CA 96002
Performing Arts in the North State 
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