A Mystery Comes to Life: The Making of Clue

Everyone’s favorite board game on the big stage!

Vivian Zhou and Charlotte Norwood • November 14, 2025

Photo by Eleanor Wise 28

Clue was originally a board game that was adapted into a movie, then later was adapted into the on-stage version that premiered in 2017. This year, the Newman players performed Clue. Directed by Bryan Spitzfaden, Clue is a murder mystery about six mysterious guests, unknown to each other, who receive the aliases of Colonel Mustered, Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, Ms. Scarlet, and Professor Plum. The guests, who thought they were invited to a dinner party, are soon enlightened that they have been gathered by their blackmailer and host, Mr. Body. After the host is mysteriously killed, the guests are thrown into a wild chase led by Wadsworth, the butler. With the police on their way, the bodies piling up, the guests struggling to solve the murders, and secrets being revealed, the audience is captured by the pace and suspense of the show. The Newman players welcomed the challenge of such fast pace and slapstick humor, and were able to create an amazing, suspenseful performance.

As they struggle to solve the murder of their host, they encounter many twists and turns as more bodies pile up. With secret passages and unexpected guests, the Newman Players were able to perform an amazing show that captivated the audience. The result was an energetic, hilarious, and suspenseful performance that captivated audiences every night of the run.

“Working on this production was so insane,” said Onyx Kukuy ’27, who played Wadsworth. “Not only did the time fly, but putting on a comedy is so difficult. Every joke only lands if we are all in the same headspace and on the same beat. This was definitely an ensemble piece, but I am glad that each of my castmates got to shine.”

Behind the curtain, the tech and design crews worked tirelessly to bring the world of Clue to life. The stage crew constructed the elaborate mansion set, complete with secret passages, flickering lights, and secret doors. The lighting and sound teams coordinated split-second cues to match every twist, gunshot, and thunderclap.

“Tech week was definitely the most stressful but also the most rewarding part,” said Lighting Director Charlotte Norwood ‘27. “It was amazing watching all the pieces come together, seeing the cast and crew sync perfectly felt like solving our own mystery.”

Stage Manager Vivian Zhou ’26: “This production will always have a special place in my heart as my last Upper School show as Stage Manager. Out of every show I’ve done, this will go down as one of my favorites. I had so much fun with my little backstage crew, calling cues on the headset, and especially the quick scene changes. Thank you to everyone who came out to support, to the incredible cast and crew who made every rehearsal unforgettable, and to Mr. Spitz for trusting us to bring this show to life, and especially to Mr. Cramer, who is the reason this show came to life and who has had my back throughout everything. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out my time with Newman Players.”

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