Everybody's favorite novelist-detective is back: in a new, unauthorized musical parody titled Bloody Bloody Jessica Fletcher: A Musical Parody With as Much Authorization As a Novelist at a Crime Scene. Inspired by the character of Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote (made famous by Angela Lansbury), the musical will see Fletcher not only solving crimes again, but performing musical theatre.

Bloody Bloody Jessica Fletcher features a book by Kevin Zak (Clinton The Musical, Silence! The Musical), Josh Lamon, who will soon be seen on Broadway in The Prom alongside Leavel, and Phillip Taratula (Empire Travel Agency); music and lyrics by Keith Varney (I Got Fired, Elway: The Musical), additional music and lyrics by Lamon; choreography by Jesse Robb (Miss Saigon, Zumanity), and direction by Dan Knetchges (Lysistrata Jones, Xanadu).

The new musical will have two industry readings on April 24 with Tony winner Beth Leavel in the title role. Performances will be at 1 PM and 3:30 PM at The Green Room 42 in New York.

Leavel will be joined by a cast that includes co-creators Lamon and Taratula, as well as Leslie Kritzer (The Honeymooners), Randy Blair (Amélie), Emily Walton (Peter and the Starcatcher, August: Osage County), and Gretchen Wylder (Avenue Q, Rent).

“Bloody Bloody Jessica Fletcher is a campy, raunchy, and musical spin on a beloved, classic TV show,” said director Knetchges in a press statement. “It’s Sweeney Todd meets Book of Mormon. Kevin, Josh, and Phillip are three uniquely clever voices in the New York City theatre scene, and Keith has written some of the funniest tunes around to go with it. With Beth Leavel as our amateur detective, I’m thrilled to work on this nostalgic and hilarious spoof.”

To request attendance to the industry reading, click here.