WESTPORT, CT — Westport Country Playhouse will host a free public Sunday Symposium following the 3 p.m. performance of "Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" on Sunday, July 19.
The discussion, titled "Christie at 100...Still Going Strong," will examine Agatha Christie's work and why her mysteries continue to attract readers, with approximately 4 million copies sold annually.
The panel will feature bestselling author and Connecticut Chapter of Sisters in Crime co-founder Elise Hart Kipness and mystery author and CrimeConn founder Chris Knopf. Kelle Ruden, who previously led The Usual Suspects mystery and thriller book discussion group at The Westport Library, will moderate. The discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.
Kipness is a USA Today bestselling author and former television reporter who has worked for WNBC-TV, News 12 Long Island, The Associated Press and FOX Sports. She teaches at the Westport Writers' Workshop, serves on the board of Friends of the Key West Library and co-founded the Connecticut chapter of Sisters in Crime.
Knopf has published 18 mystery and thriller novels. His most recent novel, Blood Bank, was released in December 2024. His work has received recognition including the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Mystery for Head Wounds and the Nero Award for Dead Anyway.
Ruden has worked in bookselling, publishing and libraries. She previously managed Barnes & Noble's Discover Great New Writers program, served as a marketing director at Random House and was program director at the Westport Library from 2013 to 2016. A Westport resident since 2000, she also served two terms on the Westport Arts Advisory Committee.
The symposium follows a performance of "Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd," adapted for the stage by Mark Shanahan, the Playhouse's artistic director, from Christie's novel in association with Agatha Christie Ltd.
The production runs July 14 through Aug. 1 at Westport Country Playhouse.
Westport Country Playhouse is located at 25 Powers Court in Westport. More information about the production and tickets is available at westportplayhouse.org or by calling the box office at 203-227-4177.
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