CARMICHAEL AREA, CA (MPG) – The Chautauqua Playhouse’s 50th season opened with “Accomplice,” a comedy-thriller by Rubert Holmes, that runs from Aug. 29 to Sept. 21.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees at the Carmichael theater.

“When I was presented with the opportunity to direct the comedy-thriller ‘Accomplice’ at Chautauqua Playhouse, I was over the moon,” director John Ewing said. “Innovative, shocking and hilarious, ‘Accomplice’ is one of the most clever and complex scripts I've ever had the pleasure (and challenge) to work with. It's as if playwright Rupert Holmes studied all the world's famed mysteries and thrillers, and then said, ‘Hold my beer.’ Just when you think you've got it figured out, Holmes pulls the rug out from under the plot, several times over.”

Cast members include Michael Keeney, Deni Scofield, Katie Smith-Induni and Bill Zarriello.

Other shows this season are “Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula” from Oct. 17 to Nov. 9, “Scrooge: The Musical” from Dec. 5 to Dec. 23, “California Suite” from Jan. 9 to Feb. 1, “The Diary of Anne Frank” from Feb. 27 to March 22, “Dial M For Murder” from April 17 to May 10 and “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” from June 5 to June 28.

Chautauqua Children’s Theatre Season includes “Alice in Wonderland” on Oct. 25, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8; “Winnie The Pooh’s Christmas Surprise” on Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20; “The Phantom Tollbooth” on Jan. 17, Jan. 24 and Jan. 31; “Snow White and the Seven Baristas” on March 7, March 14 and March 21; and “The Princess and the Pea” on April 25, May 2 and May 9. Children’s Theatre shows are at 1 p.m. Saturdays .

Tickets for all shows are available online at cplayhouse.org.

The nonprofit Chautauqua Playhouse is at 5325 Engle Road, Suite 110, Carmichael, at the La Sierra Community Center.

For more information about the Chautauqua Playhouse that had its first show (“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”) in fall 1975, call 916-489-7529, email [email protected] or go online to cplayhouse.org.