The Butler Little Theatre will open its 73rd season with the mystery, “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” adapted and dramatized by Tim Kelly from the classic thriller by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The show opens Oct. 4 under the direction of Dustin Furman, a sophomore at Butler County Community College who has experience with the Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

“I wanted to direct this show because just a few weeks before applying I had finished watching the BBC's show 'Sherlock.' I've become really fascinated with the characters and the stories Doyle wrote and really wanted to bring some of my interpretations to the table,” Furman said.

While most of Furman's directing experience is in film, he is undaunted by the transition to the theater.

“Theater is a new, exciting opportunity for me to try other mediums along the same lines,” he said.

Furman is taking the semester off from Pittsburgh Filmmakers to work on this production and his own first full-length film called “Where Dreams Go to Die.”

“The Hound of the Baskervilles” is a new twist on an old classic.

Sherlock Holmes' most spine chilling case is placed in a modern setting in this version with suspense, humor and terror.

In the story, Sir Henry is heir to the vast Baskerville fortune, a legacy that comes with a family curse: death at the fangs of a beast that prowls the moor. Only Holmes can stop the horror.

While mysterious lights invade Baskerville Hall and the hound terrifies the countryside, it falls to Holmes to sort out the clues as suspicion falls on sinister servants, butterfly collectors, ladies in distress and escaped convicts.

Austin Uram of Butler Township will tackle the role of the fictional detective.

“Mr. Holmes is one part genius, one part eccentric, and one part madman,” said Uram, 19, a graphic arts major at BC3.

“Sherlock's mind runs from somber to the soul of the exciting and theatrical, and to define those lines without making him a cartoon has been a challenge,” Uram said about his childhood hero.

“Over the course of the month, I've been rereading the series and paying special attention to Holmes' tendencies, mannerisms, and interactions,” Uram said of his preparation.

The English butler Barrymore will be played by Robert Snodgrass Jr. of Butler Township.

“I usually rely on physicality and facial expression for characterization,” Snodgrass said. “This role insists on physical and facial restraint.”

Consequently, this role has taught him the value of voice.

“I'm finding that vocal interpretation is every bit as powerful a tool to use to reach the audience as physical and facial interpretation,” he said.

Shannon Donovan, 17, of Penn Township will play the role of Kathy Stapleton, a flowery and fiery young woman who is also Sir Henry's love interest.

“There are suspicious secrets within each character of this play, and Kathy is a layered character that blossoms into quite the thorny rose with the reveal of her darkest secret,” said Donovan.

Lady Agatha Mortimer will be portrayed by Jana Semler of Clearfield Township. Agatha is a modern day “lady” who was well-reared and is always proper.

“She is definitely intelligent, her own woman, and she is no stale stick-in-the-mud,” Semler said.

“The most difficult aspect in becoming Lady Agatha, other than speaking with an English accent, is learning to emote in a way that gets her character across without being too overt.”

Semler said she thinks Butler audiences will enjoy the energy of this show.

“We have a mostly young cast and a young director. They are all very excited to put this production together and it has made the process more energetic and exciting for me. I hope that comes across to our audience,” she said.

Also starring in the production are John Carlson, Amy Isler, Megan Linger, Kevin Lukacs Jr., Katie Moore and Chase Uram. The show is being produced by Connie Donovan.

<b>WHO: </b>Butler Little Theatre<b>WHAT: </b>“The Hound of the Baskervilles”<b>WHEN: </b>Oct. 4 to 12, with curtain at 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and 2:30 p.m. Sundays<b>WHERE: </b>One Howard St.<b>TICKETS: </b>$10, available by calling 724-287-6781 from 7 to 9 p.m. weekdays<b>INFO: </b>www.bltgroup.org