Nov. 10--In January, the Mercury Theater will stage a musical in development for some two decades: "The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes."
Conceived years ago by John Reeger and the late Julie Shannon, best known for their partnership on "The Christmas Schooner," the musical tells the story of what happened when the writer Arthur Conan Doyle decided to kill off his most famous fictional character.
After Shannon died in 2012, the musical languished. But Michael Mahler, a Chicago-based actor and songwriter, has finished Shannon's score, and the first production of the musical will be under the direction of Rachel Rockwell.
Walter Stearns, the executive director of the Mercury Theater (3745 N. Southport Ave.), said Tuesday that "The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes" will have its premiere there in January. Stearns also said that a new Equity production of the Mel Brooks musical "The Producers" will open in March at the Mercury, under his direction, with musical direction by Eugene Dizon.
As previously reported, the Mercury team also is planning to open a new food-and-performance venue, dubbed Venus, in the former Cullen's Bar and Grill next door to the theater. Stearns says that Venus, which he now expects to open in early 2016, will serve food during the day to the general public and will become a cabaret-style theatrical venue in the evenings, likely offering full productions of intimate musical entertainments.
