Cast and crew of "It's Murder, Dontcha Know," by Mary Aalgaard, based on the book by the same name by MN Author Jeanne Cooney. Photo by Stage Manager Shawna Sylverster, 2025.

Cast and crew of “It’s Murder, Dontcha Know,” by Mary Aalgaard, based on the book by the same name by MN Author Jeanne Cooney. Photo by Stage Manager Shawna Sylverster, 2025.

It’s Murder, Dontcha Know by Mary Aalgaard is a stage adaptation of the novel by the same name by Jeanne Cooney. The play is firmly set in the Midwest with all it’s humor, hotdish, and homicide. Wait. Did you say homicide? Yes, I did. It’s Murder, Dontcha Know is a quirky cozy mystery set in rural Minnesota, in the small town of Hallock, where nothing much ever happens, until a robbery and murder happen in the same week. Between bites of hotdish and wild game feeds, the rumors fly. Doris steps out of her quiet farm life and into crime solving mode when her children become prime suspects. With the help of the local law enforcement and her natural tendencies for gathering information, she digs into the lives of her friends and neighbors to find the real killer.

Brief Bios:

Playwright Mary Aalgaard with Author Jeanne Cooney at a book signing at Cat Tales bookstore in Brainerd, MN, 2024.

Author: Jeanne Cooney is the author of the Hot Dish Heaven mystery series; Hot Dish Heaven, A Second Helping of Murder and Recipes, and A Potluck of Murder and Recipes. It’s Murder, Dontcha Know? is the first book in her latest series, and It’s Murder, You Betcha released in April 2024.

Playwright: Mary Aalgaard is a writer and piano/theater teacher in the heart of Minnesota. She writes theater reviews and supports the arts through her website Play off the Page, and is a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers. She also wrote and produced Coffee Shop Confessions, a full-length play, featuring stories of women, their relationships and their singing group, performed in local coffee shops in the Brainerd lakes area, premiering at The Coco Moon. This is Mary’s first stage adaptation from a novel. Go. Create. Inspire!

First produced by the Central Lakes College Performing Arts Center in Brainerd, Minnesota, February 27 & 28 and March 1 & 2, 2025. Artistic Director: Joseph Yow With the following cast of characters and crew. You can view the production on CLC Broadcasting.

Director: Guy Kelm
Stage Manager: Shawna Sylvester
Costume Designer: Nicole Grabowski
Set Designer: Tim Leagjeld
Lighting Designer: Joey Yow
Sound Designer: Don Abbott
Videography: Matt Hill
Photographer: Sheila Boldt, Pine Haven Photography

Cast:
Doris: Mary Aalgaard
Grace: Julie Jo Larson
Rose: Barb McColgan
Erin: Kayla Luhrs
Will: Andy Ellison
Karl: Mark Juel
Dr. Betcher: M. Hollis Ford and Guy Kelm
Dr. Osgood: Blake Lubinus
Tweety: Bridger Collins
Berta: Joanna Collins
Gustaf: Richard (Watson) Dreissig
Ed/Buck: C.J. Nichols
Gerti: Rhonda Schmidt
Allie: Elli Salo

Cast of Characters: 8 Women, 8 Men

DORIS CONNOR: 61, Scandinavian, newly widowed farm wife, moved her house into town, has two adult children, her sister Grace runs the café, becomes an amateur sleuth when crime hits this small, rural community

GRACE ANDERSON: 59, Scandinavian, Doris’ younger sister, gave up a career as a chef in Chicago to run the local café in Hallock, MN. Wears t-shirts with interesting sayings.

ROSE O’BRIAN: 90, Irish, sister to Doris’ late Mother-in-Law and her mother’s best friend, witnesses the robbery, suffers from anxiety and a penchant for card playing, stays with Doris during the investigation. Slips into an Irish brogue when upset, otherwise, sounds like the rest of the Scandinavian Midwesterners in their rural Minnesota town.

ERIN CONNOR: late 20’s, Doris’ daughter, single, Deputy Sheriff in Hallock, dated Buck Daniel, becomes a prime suspect.

WILL CONNOR: Mid-30’s, Doris’ son, farmer, married to Sophie, had an altercation with Buck Daniel, becomes a suspect in his murder.

KARL INGEBRETSEN: 60, Ojibwe and Scandinavian, Sheriff of Hallock, schoolmate of Doris and they dated back in the day, suspects everyone.

ED MONSON: 20’S, Deputy Sheriff, tries to help solve the crime, but his inexperience gets in the way.

DR. LES OSGOOD: 30’s, new doc in town, handsome, ladies’ man.

DR. BETCHER: 60-70, the “trusted” old doc, thinks highly of himself, tries to date Doris.

TWEETY: 20’s, “waitress” at Grace’s café, kind of a ditz, involved with Buck Daniel, Dr. Betcher, and Deputy Monson, uses ridiculous excuses to not work.

BERTA BENSON: 60’s, Tweety’s grandma, town gossip, has it out for Erin.

GUSTAF GUSTAFSON: 60-70, local banker, knows everybody’s business, financial and otherwise.

ALLIE: young adult, a server at Hot Dish Heaven in Hallock during the day, and at Sanders in Grand Forks in the evenings.

GERTI: 50-60 Nurse at the clinic for Betcher and Osgood, has no time for doctors’ arrogance, or spicy food.

BUCK: The two-timing thief and murder victim. (The actor who played Ed also played Buck.)

Extra characters: GARBAGE WORKERS, SECURITY GUARD (These roles can be covered by actors not in the scene or stage crew.)

Time & Place:
Present day, small town of Hallock in Northwestern Minnesota, Fall season, which includes the coming of colder weather, snow, hunting season, and ends with Thanksgiving meal at the café.

Setting:
Doris’ House, (SL) like a side view cut-out including front porch, living room inside, kitchen on floor – share table with café by switching table cloths/decor; Hotdish Heaven Café (Center Up) counter with stools & swinging door to kitchen, tables out onto main part of stage, coffee service station & other café accouterments; Medical Clinic Office/Assisted Living Center (SR) desk with chair, and two chairs for patients, pill cabinet (with broken door), charts and other doctor office effects, can also be used for Sheriff’s office and bank office. Street scenes can be done down stage. Bedroom scene above Café or roll in bed (Down Center). My vision for a regular, proscenium stage is to have the set as described above. If the space is smaller, or more black box style, the setting could be conveyed with projections or lighting changes and moving relevant set pieces in and out. Whatever works best for the theater producing the show that best serves the story. (Also, most of the food can be fake or pantomimed, except for the cake and whipped cream scene. Using real coffee also enhances the sensory effect.)

Contact the playwright Mary Aalgaard at Mary@playoffthepage.com for information about acquiring production rights.