CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (June 19, 2025) — Orinda Starlight Village Players started its summer season with the Agatha Christie gem – “Murder on the Orient Express.” It continues now through July 5, followed by Jean Anouilh’s “Ring Round the Moon” (July 25 – Aug. 16) and closes with Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre” (Sept. 5–27).

“Each show is set in a different time period – each of them unique,” said Matt Cardigan-Smith, who directs the Agatha Christie show, and is costuming all three plays. “‘Orient Express’ features costumes from 1934 with all the glamour that period’s first-class passengers would have worn while ‘Ring Round the Moon’ is set in the 1890s and includes beautiful ball gowns and lots of jewels. ‘Jane Eyre’ features attire from the 1820s – 1860s.”

He adds that the set for “Orient Express” is quite grand “unlike anything our audiences have seen in the past. We’re really pulling out all the stops, and I have an incredible cast of actors that will blow everyone away,” Cardigan-Smith said.

“Murder on the Orient Express” begins at a restaurant on the train platform with the rest of the action taking place on the train.

“The train is its own character in a way,” said Cardigan-Smith. “First you see the outside of the train, and then it opens, and you see the inside of each car.”

For season tickets or individual tickets to any of the shows, go to https://www.orsvp.org/.

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True West

Talk about sibling rivalry – Sam Shepard nails it with his gritty drama “True West.”

Two brothers – Lee, a drifter and petty thief, and Austin, a successful screenwriter – struggle for power while collaborating on a Western screenplay in their mother’s Southern California home.

Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre, however, reimagines this American classic through a Latine lens. Directed by Katja Rivera, the show offers a fresh perspective on Shepard’s explosive drama of family dynamics and the elusive nature of the American Dream.

“I chose ‘True West’ for this season because it dives headfirst into questions of identity, belonging and the stories we inherit,” said Artistic Director Richard Perez. “I was drawn to the way this play strips away artifice and exposes the primal tensions that can both divide and bind a family.”

Justin Hernandez plays Austin with Christian Arteaga taking on his brother Lee. Linda Amayo-Hassan portrays the mom with Guillermo “Yiyo” Ornelas as Saul.

“True West” runs through June 28 at 3535 School St., Lafayette. Call 925-283-1557 or go to https://www.townhalltheatre.com/true-west.

Center Rep continues its senior sex scandal, murder-mystery musical “Happy Pleasant Valley” through June 29.

In this quirky, fun adventure, young internet influencer Jade Park decides to help her rebellious grandmother, whose nocturnal adventures have raised eyebrows at her senior residential community. When a string of June’s lovers mysteriously die, the pressure is on Jade to solve the mystery and save her grandmother’s (sex) life.

Call 925-943-7469 or go to https://www.centerrep.org/tickets/buy-tickets.

Looking for creative, enjoyable opportunities this summer? Clayton Theatre Company has just the thing for ages 7 – 16. In addition to preparing songs and dances for the closing production, the camp also teaches audition techniques, how to prepare a monologue, stage presence, teamwork and more.

Summer Stage runs July 7 – 11, 14 – 18, with participants ending the two-week camp with a production of Disney’s “Jungle Book Jr.”

Roxanne Pardi directs with La Tonya Watts as choreographer. Call 925-334-0880 or go to https://www.claytontheatrecompany.com/.

Send comments for Sally Hogarty to sallyhogarty@gmail.com