Enter the World of Noir with
Smoking Gun

Welcome to Los Angeles.

The year is 1932. People come to The Coconut Lounge to forget their troubles, but sometimes trouble follows them there. Mobster Nino Frank owns the club and he has promised his increasingly less patient "almost fiance" Gilda Graham that her engagement ring will contain the Burmese Bauble -- the world's most valuable diamond. When the Bauble comes up missing, Gilda hires local private detective Sam Spade to find it. As Sam delves into the case, he encounters uncooperative police officers, a high ranking member of the movie industry, showgirls with agendas, a secretary who mails away all his important documents, a partner who doesn't seem to have his back, an interesting mix of club regulars, and his ex-wife looking for more alimony. Such is the background for GreenMan's upcoming production of Smoking Gun by Carl Zeitler and Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff.

Smoking Gun is GreenMan's ninth such murder mystery production. Thomas-Davidoff and Zeitler, who are members of GreenMan's board of trustees, have co-written the two previous productions Here's Looking at You...Dead and How the West Was Done In. Whereas those productions respectively parodied Casablanca/ World War II and Hollywood westerns/the 1960's, this year's original premiere tackles classic film noirs, such as The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, The Lady from Shanghai, Angels with Dirty Faces, and Laura. This production, like the ones before it, takes place at Angelo's Ristorante in Elmhurst. The banquet hall becomes The Coconut Lounge and the audience members become patrons of the club as the show unfolds around them. One of the characters in the show will be bumped off during the evening. This interactive style of theatre features songs from the period, dance numbers, comedy, suspense, and a chance for the audience to vote for whom they think committed the murder. The audience is also welcome to get into the act and dress up in the style of the 1930's, but it is not a requirement to attend. If that wasn't enough, the evening also includes a full-course family style Italian meal. Audience members who guess the killer correctly have a chance at a prize and a prize goes to the most creative costume of the evening.

Purchase Tickets Here Today!
Smoking Gun features Richard Bucchi, Marilyn Connolly, Derek Dillon, Vicky Giannini, Jimmy Harper, Tom Hughes, Courtney Knysch, Stan Kosek, Carolyn Larsen, Grace Martinez, Valerie Meachum, Shazad Mehta, Jerry Moore, Emily Nelson, Amanda Raudabaugh, Alice Rebecchi, James Silverstein, Erick Sosa, Carl Zeitler, and Jim Zervas.

Tickets are now on sale for performances on February 22, 23, March 1, 2, 3. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7 PM with a social hour at 6 PM that includes a cash bar and actors in character mingling with the audience as they arrive. The Sunday show begins at 6 PM with the social hour at 5 PM.

The actors also mingle with the crowd as their characters during the show at the meal breaks.

Angelo's Ristorante is at 247 N. York in Elmhurst. Tickets are $50 per person and includes the show and the dinner. Free parking is available. Reservations must be made in advance and can be done by calling 630-464-2646 or by clicking here. 


GreenMan programs are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.


Macbeth Met His Fate By Cold Steel...
...Be on the Lookout for a
Smoking Gun! 


 Elmhurst, IL -- The wicked reign of Macbeth hath ended, and GreenMan Theatre will soon jump ahead a few centuries in time to 1930's Los Angeles for their comedic, musical parody of the film noir motion pictures of that era. Smoking Gun, an original premiere by Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff and Carl Zeitler, is GreenMan's latest murder mystery dinner theatre production. This annual event serves as GreenMan's major fundraiser for the year and it allows us to provide theatrical productions and education throughout the year for the local community.

 Auditions will be Sunday December 16th at 1pm and Monday December 17th at 7pm in Asbury Hall at First United Methodist Church at 232 S. York in Elmhurst.  Actors who would be interested in singing should bring a prepared song.  There will be a cd player for those who bring their own music.  A song from the 30's (ish) would be great; if not, anything will be fine.

 The production will run for 5 performances for the weekend dates of February 22, 23, March 1, 2, 3 of 2013 at Angelo's Ristorante in Elmhurst. The production will be directed by Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff.

 Smoking Gun follows a cynical private eye searching for a priceless diamond while avoiding underworld figures and corrupt entertainment industry officials.  There are roles for 9 men and 8 women.

 Character Descriptions

 • Sam (M), a no-nonsense, cynical private eye

 • Effie (F), Sam's loyal, sarcastic, ditzy, and wisecracking secretary 

 • Nino Frank (M), Mobster who owns The Coconut Lounge

 • Gilda Graham (F), Nino's girlfriend who hires Sam to find a rare diamond

 • Bruno Haines (M), Sam's partner--easily frightened--who is not cut out for detective work

 • Sgt. Michael O'Hara (M), Sam's ex-partner on the police force. Has chronic flat feet issues

 • Aphrodite Bannister (F), Showgirl who is a rival of Gilda's for Nino's affections

 • Walter Jarrett (M), Studio Chief of Chandler Pictures who wants the diamond for himself

 • Pete (M), a mailman who has a crush on Effie

 • Virginia Archer (F), Singer at The Coconut Lounge who used to be involved with Sam

 • Lucy Jo Parker (F), Fish out water aspiring actress who just arrived on the bus from Savannah, GA

 • Ralph Pauls (M), Lucy's cousin who came with her to L.A. to be her manager, look after her

 • Betty (F), Sam's ex-wife who seems to alternatively want him back or want him dead

 • Rocky Quinlan (M), Nino's hired gun/bodyguard who is normally dimwitted, but has moments of shrewdness

 • Adrienne Cook (F), Cigar/Cigarette girl at The Coconut Lounge who is involved with Rocky

 • Lt. Guy McPherson (M), Used to be Sam's supervising officer when Sam was on the force, had affair with Betty (doubles as)

 • Jake Miller (M), Jarrett's lackey

 • Laura Bailey (F), Manager of The Coconut Lounge


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