GREENFIELD — Kevin Duda, a Broadway star and Greenfield native, returned to his roots Thursday night for a screening of his production of the murder mystery musical, “A Killer Party.”
The screening at the Garden Cinemas this week marked the first cinematic run for the virtual musical, Duda said, which tells the story of an artistic director who invites his troupe of “disgruntled actors” to his home for the first read of an immersive murder mystery dinner party. When he becomes the victim, a new detective is on the case, interviewing each of the guests in separate rooms. The production was initially filmed as nine 10- to 15-minute episodes.
According to a Garden Cinemas press release, the cast includes Broadway stars from “Wicked,” “Mean Girls,” “Hamilton,” “Aladdin” and “Waitress,” as well as stars of television’s “Supergirl,” “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” and “The Blacklist.”
Following a showing on Thursday evening, Duda joined the audience for a brief question and answer session.
“It was a ride,” Duda said of the experience producing a virtual musical, with all but two cast members working alone, from their respective homes.
Costumes and props were mailed to each of the cast members, and all but one actor used an iPhone to shoot their respective scenes.
“We created this whole system of how people could do it to be the most efficient and creative they could,” Duda said. “We’ve had people who say you should re-do it now that you can film it, but I think there’s something very charming about it the way it is.”
He said the actors’ filming took place from March to August of last year, though the bulk of filming didn’t begin until about June.
“In March, April and May, they were learning material,” he said. “Most of that was actors taking pictures of their house.”
The virtual musical has since been performed by both students and professionals across the globe.
“It really was a joy by the time it got done,” he said. “It’s lived in so many different iterations.”
Duda added that the production has been pitched to appear on stage.
Duda is a graduate of Greenfield High School Class of 1995, and while he’s held roles on Broadway in “The Book of Mormon” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” he got his start locally on Greenfield High School’s stage in productions of “Out of the Frying Pan” and other comedy mysteries.
Screenings of “A Killer Party” are continuing at the Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St. Shows will be at 12:30 and 6:45 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and at 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne