The Holmdel Theatre Company will present “Drop Dead!” from Nov. 3 through Nov. 12 at the Duncan Smith Theater in Holmdel.

A murder-mystery farce written by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, “Drop Dead!” follows a group of washed-up actors who come together in a potboiler murder mystery directed by "Wonder Child of the Broadway Stage" Victor Le Pewe (a psychotic, eye-twitching megalomaniac). During dress rehearsal, the set falls, props break, and the producer and an actor are murdered. The killings continue on opening night, and it’s up to the surviving thespians to save the show and their careers by solving the mystery and staying alive for curtain calls.

Director Gary Shaffer returns to the Holmdel Theatre Company after directing “Noises Off,” “The Foreigner” and “Side by Side by Sondheim” for the company in recent years. This production features local actors Cody Dalton (Oakhurst), Rebecca Flynn (Red Bank), Dave Harris (Red Bank), Michael Kroll (Tinton Falls), Dave Murray (Highlands), Rudy Palma (South Amboy), Aaron Ratzan (Matawan), Geoff Shields (Highlands), Bob Thompson (Roebling), and Leslie Wheeler (Lakewood).

Many members of the cast and crew have worked alongside Billy Van Zandt and Jane Millmore for years. In addition to directing their current hit off- Broadway comedy,
“You’ve Got Hate Mail,” director Shaffer also co-directed Van Zandt and Millmore in the premiere of their musical, “High School Reunion: The Musical,” in 2009.

Bob Thompson has been working with Bill and Jane for over 35 years. He was an original cast Member of “Infidelities,” “The Senator Wore Pantyhose,” “What the Butler Saw,” “Merrily We Dance & Sing,” “Silent Laughter,” and “High School Reunion: The Musical.” He also worked backstage on the original premiere of “Drop Dead!” at both the Dam Site and its off-Broadway run.

Actor Michael Kroll has been appearing alongside Van Zandt and Millmore for 25 years. He was an original cast member of “What the Bell Hop Saw,” “Confessions of a Dirty Blonde,” “Infidelities,” “Thank you and Good Night” (with Adrienne Barbeau), “Silent Laughter,” and others.

Geoff Shields has appeared alongside Van Zandt and Millmore in the premieres of “A Night at the Nutcracker,” “Wrong Window” and “Silent Laughter.” Rebecca Flynn has spent the last year and a half understudying Jane in “You’ve Got Hate Mail” in New York.

“Drop Dead!” was originally produced as “I Don't Want Her, You Cadaver” at the Dam Site Dinner-Theater in Tinton Falls (now MJ's). It was the first Van Zandt/Millmore play to go off-Broadway. “Drop Dead!” starred the original Dam Site cast and played a six-week run to sold-out crowds. In 1991, the show opened in Los Angeles at the Court Theater, starring Barbeau, Rose Marie ("Dick Van Dyke Show"), Donny Most ("Happy Days"), Craig Bierko ("Music Man"), Barney Martin ("Seinfeld"), Michael Kostroff ("The Producers"), and from the original cast: Van Zandt and Millmore, Jonathan D. Mack and Glenn Kelman. Variety called “Drop Dead!” "a nonstop physical comedy that turns the world of theater on its head!"

Performances by Holmdel Theatre Company will be on Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. with a matinee beginning at 3 p.m. on Nov. 6. All performances are at the Duncan Smith Theater, located at 36 Crawfords Corner Road. Tickets cost $22, $17 seniors, $12 students. Reservations may be made by calling the box office at 212-868-4444 or at www.holmdeltheatrecompany.org.