Dark Comedy 'The Smell of the Kill' Opens at Stageworks Theatre

TAMPA, FL — Take three malicious wives, add three miserable, unloving husbands, and chill. That's the recipe for Stageworks Theatre’s latest production, "The Smell of the Kill." The play takes stage each weekend from Feb 10 to 26 with a preview performance on Thursday, Feb. 9.

"The Smell of the Kill" is a dark comedy revolving around Nicky, Debra and Molly, acquaintances who have tolerated each other for years. During dinner at one of their homes, the women reveal for the first time that each of their marriages is on the brink of disaster and that all three are facing challenging times, thanks to their husbands. When the men mistakenly lock themselves in a basement meat locker the women are faced with a life-or-death decision: should they leave the men out in the cold permanently or let them thaw? One by one the women make their choices with a little help from each other.

Stageworks’ "killer" cast includes Tampa Bay favorites Heather Krueger, Susan Haldeman and Jonelle Meyer. Show sponsors are Famous Tate and Hal Freedman and Willi Rudowski.

Performances of "The Smell of the Kill" will take place on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online. Season passes with three options, as well as several monthly memberships are also available Stageworks is located in the Channel District at 1120 E Kennedy Blvd., Suite 151, Tampa.

"The Smell of the Kill" is the third show of Stageworks’ 40th anniversary season. Coming up, the world premiere of “When the Righteous Triumph” takes stage beginning March 17.

Step back in time to relive Tampa’s civil rights lunch counter protests with this play written by Tampa playwright Mark E. Lieb and commissioned by Stageworks. This play highlights Stageworks’ ongoing commitment to supporting and performing new and original works by local artists.

Stageworks’ founder, the late Anna Brennen, directed “Talking With…” three times during her tenure with the theater company. To honor and celebrate her unwavering vision and accomplishments, Stageworks will perform these 11 monologues featuring a baton twirler, a fundamentalist snake handler, an ex-rodeo rider and an actress willing to go to any length to get a job. These idiosyncratic characters amuse, move and frighten, but always speak from the depths of their souls. “Talking With…” takes the stage starting on April 28.

“The Great American Trailer Park Musical” caps off Stageworks’ milestone 40th season. This show about Armadillo Acres' newest tenant will have audience members laughing out loud. At Florida’s most exclusive trailer park, Pippi, the stripper on the run, comes between the Dr. Phil-loving Jeannie and her toll booth collector husband. That’s when the storms begin to brew. This toe-tapping musical starts June 9.

Stageworks is Tampa’s longest-running professional theater company. Its mission is to be a catalyst in eradicating intolerance through performing arts and education.

In addition to a full season of performances, Stageworks provides acting and improvisation classes and workshops. Its partnership with Academy Prep brings drumming classes to students at three campuses, and the theatre company has also provided its drumming and arts education curriculum to students in the juvenile justice system.

Over the years, Stageworks has been honored with numerous local and regional awards for best theater company, best actor, and best director.

Visit www.stageworkstheatre.org, Facebook and Instagram.