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Community Theater on the Lakeshore
The Game's Afoot
or Holmes for the Holidays
November 6, 7, 8, 2025
by Ken Ludwig
Winner of the 2012 Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Play...
Breathtaking mystery and high hilarity in equal parts, this play tells the story of Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, who has invited his fellow cast-members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. It is then up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears.
Winner of the 2012 Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Play from The Mystery Writers of America, this show features equal parts danger and hilarity. The suspense is non-stop in this glittering whodunit set during the 1936 Christmas holidays.
Ticket prices* are $34 for Adults and $25 for Students.
General ticket sales begin October 1st, following our pre-season ticket campaign.
To purchase tickets now click the link below.
* NO SURPRISES! ticket prices now include all additional fees before sales tax.
- Cast
- Production Team
- Auditions
- News
Meet the characters of The Game's Afoot.
Simon Bright - Darrick Bruns
Felix Geisel - Brent Johnson
Madge Giesel - Susan Parker
Daria Chase - Jessica Oppeneer
William Gillette - Mackenzie Diedrich
Martha Gillette - Mary Kaufmann
Inspector Gorin - Claran LaViolette
Aggie Wheeler - Em Schaller
.jpg "Director - Stetz Smith")
Producer -
Director - Stetz Smith
Stage Manager - Steven Devine
Assitance Stage Manager - Autumn McCool
Makeup Design - Roz Vossen, Stetz Smith, & Autumn McCool
Hair Design - Patrick Schamburek
Props Master - Roger Bennin
Costume Master - Claran LaViolette
Set Design -
Master Builder -
Set Decorator -
Lighting Design - Pat Smith
Sound Design - Jake Jacquart
Crew members -
Open Auditions for The Game's Afoot
The Masquers, Inc. Community Theater Company, is excited to announce open auditions for the first production of our 95th season, Ken Ludwig's The Game's Afoot (or Holmes for the Holidays).
It is December 1936, and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous.
We are looking for 8 actors (5F/3M), age 18 and up, to be cast in this production. Auditions will be held at The Masquers Coach House 616 North 8th Street, Manitowoc, on August, Thursday 14 and Friday 15 at 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. If callbacks are required, production will contact you with further dates and times.
Online registration and character descriptions have been provided for everyone wishing to attend auditions and may be viewed by following the link below. All participants should come to the auditions with a completed online or in person audition form, headshot, resume of theatrical experience and conflicts. Scene cuttings will be provided at the audition. Please plan to attend only one of the days listed; arrive early; be ready to start on time; and stay for the entire audition session. If you cannot make one of the audition days listed, please text Stetz Smith with your name to arrange a separate day to audition: (920) 323-6587.
Rehearsals will begin the first week of September and will run through the performance dates. The Game’s Afoot will be performed November 6 - 8, 2025, at the Capitol Civic Centre in Manitowoc, WI. If you have any questions, please contact at info@themasquers.org
You can register to audition for The Game's Afoot by following the link below.