Theatre-goers will be treated to a play within a play, plenty of music, and a whodunit if they attend a Catawba College performance of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" September 19-23 in Hedrick Theatre. The musical, based on an unfinished mystery by Victorian author Charles Dickens, will be performed at 6:55 p.m. Sept. 19-20 and at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21-23.

The storyline of the musical deals with John Jasper, a Jekyll and Hyde choirmaster who is madly in love with his music student, the fair Miss Rosa Bud. Miss Bud, in turn, is engaged to Jasper's nephew, young Edwin Drood. When Drood disappears mysteriously one stormy Christmas Eve, some question if he has been murdered, and if so, by whom?   The audience is drawn into the play and participates in one of its most talked about features: the audience votes on the solution as prelude to the most unusual and hilarious finale.

The play is directed by Eric Abbott, assistant professor of theatre arts. Cast members include senior Joey Yow of High Point as The Chairman, sophomore Nicole Bowles of Monroe as Rosa Bud and Deirdre Peregrine; senior Elizabeth Ballard of Culpeper, Va., as Edwin Drood and Alice Nutting; Daniel Hines of Yorktown, Va., as John Jasper and Clive Paget; sophomore Paul Saylor of Isle of Palms, S.C., as Cedric Montcreiffe and the Reverend Crisparkle; senior Jessica Pruett-Barnett of Georgetown, Del., as Flo; senior Jessica Moretti of Charlotte as Wendy; senior Jordan Richards of Hendersonville as Nick Cricker and Durdles; junior Candace Neal of Waxhaw as Princess Puffer and Miss Angela Prysock; sophomore Justin Lewis of Knoxville, Tenn., as Nicholas Michael and Horace; senior Tiffany Cox of O'Fallon, Ill., as Helena Landless and Susan Conover; junior Sonny Kong of Charlotte as Neville Landless and Victor Grinstead; senior Johnathan Menius of Kannapolis as Phillip Bax and Bazzard; junior Michael Lasris of Seaford, Va., as James Throttle, the stage manager; and sophomore Anthony Mullins of Somerset, N.J., as the Deputy and Master Cricker.

Ensemble members include sophomore Cecilia Runge of Milford, N.J.; junior Sheldon Rogers of Waxhaw; sophomore Molly Harris of Mocksville; sophomore Mike Matthias of Georgetown, Del.; sophomore Meghan McLaughlin of Owings Mills, Md.; and junior Sarah Koerner of Rocky Mount. Crew members include senior Lauren Connolly of Moon Township, Pa., stage manager; senior Jared Wietbrock of Grayson, Ga., assistant stage manager; senior Meredith Fox of Elon and junior Ashleigh Herndon of Conway, S.C., choreographers; and senior Guiseppe Ritorto of Greensboro, assistant musical director.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for non-Catawba students and senior citizens. For more information, call the Catawba College Box Office at (704) 637-4481. Group rates are available.

Theatre-goers will be treated to a play within a play, plenty of music, and a whodunit if they attend a Catawba College performance of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" September 19-23 in Hedrick Theatre. The musical, based on an unfinished mystery by Victorian author Charles Dickens, will be performed at 6:55 p.m. Sept. 19-20 and at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21-23.

The storyline of the musical deals with John Jasper, a Jekyll and Hyde choirmaster who is madly in love with his music student, the fair Miss Rosa Bud. Miss Bud, in turn, is engaged to Jasper's nephew, young Edwin Drood. When Drood disappears mysteriously one stormy Christmas Eve, some question if he has been murdered, and if so, by whom?   The audience is drawn into the play and participates in one of its most talked about features: the audience votes on the solution as prelude to the most unusual and hilarious finale.

The play is directed by Eric Abbott, assistant professor of theatre arts. Cast members include senior Joey Yow of High Point as The Chairman, sophomore Nicole Bowles of Monroe as Rosa Bud and Deirdre Peregrine; senior Elizabeth Ballard of Culpeper, Va., as Edwin Drood and Alice Nutting; Daniel Hines of Yorktown, Va., as John Jasper and Clive Paget; sophomore Paul Saylor of Isle of Palms, S.C., as Cedric Montcreiffe and the Reverend Crisparkle; senior Jessica Pruett-Barnett of Georgetown, Del., as Flo; senior Jessica Moretti of Charlotte as Wendy; senior Jordan Richards of Hendersonville as Nick Cricker and Durdles; junior Candace Neal of Waxhaw as Princess Puffer and Miss Angela Prysock; sophomore Justin Lewis of Knoxville, Tenn., as Nicholas Michael and Horace; senior Tiffany Cox of O'Fallon, Ill., as Helena Landless and Susan Conover; junior Sonny Kong of Charlotte as Neville Landless and Victor Grinstead; senior Johnathan Menius of Kannapolis as Phillip Bax and Bazzard; junior Michael Lasris of Seaford, Va., as James Throttle, the stage manager; and sophomore Anthony Mullins of Somerset, N.J., as the Deputy and Master Cricker.

Ensemble members include sophomore Cecilia Runge of Milford, N.J.; junior Sheldon Rogers of Waxhaw; sophomore Molly Harris of Mocksville; sophomore Mike Matthias of Georgetown, Del.; sophomore Meghan McLaughlin of Owings Mills, Md.; and junior Sarah Koerner of Rocky Mount. Crew members include senior Lauren Connolly of Moon Township, Pa., stage manager; senior Jared Wietbrock of Grayson, Ga., assistant stage manager; senior Meredith Fox of Elon and junior Ashleigh Herndon of Conway, S.C., choreographers; and senior Guiseppe Ritorto of Greensboro, assistant musical director.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for non-Catawba students and senior citizens. For more information, call the Catawba College Box Office at (704) 637-4481. Group rates are available.