A day in the life: 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' — opening night

"The Mystery of Edwin Drood" is now playing at the Manatee Performing Arts Center through January 26. Go behind the scenes during opening night with me, Danae DeShazer, as I play multiple roles in the production, including the title character!* Catch a glimpse of what it's like to be backstage, on stage and everywhere in between.

This wildly warm-hearted theatrical experience kicks off when the British Music Hall Royale "puts on" its rendition of an unfinished Dickens mystery. The giddy playfulness of this play-within-a-play draws the audience toward one of "Drood's" most talked-about features, which allows the audience to vote on the solution to the murder as prelude to the most unusual and hilarious finale.

*Note: Yes, a female does get to play the leading "male" role of Edwin Drood. This is called a "pants role," and it was a popular schtick used in the 19th century Music Halls in Britain. It started earlier than that in operas, where a young lad would be written for a female voice.