Category: Red Herring

Classic Comedy Meets Clever Mystery in ‘Red Herring’
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Classic Comedy Meets Clever Mystery in ‘Red Herring’

What do Moonlighting, I Love Lucy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Michael Hollinger's Red Herring have in common? At first glance, they seem to come from very different worlds. One is a screwball detective series from the 1980s, another is one of television's most beloved sitcoms, another is a fast-paced comedy-drama set in the late 1950s, and Red Herring is a stage comedy wrapped around a murder mystery. But beneath the surface, they all share the same irresistible ingredients: quick wit, unforgettable characters, romantic tension, and a healthy dose of chaos. If you're a fan of any of these iconic shows, you'll likely find yourself right at home in Red Herring.

Red Herring show logo, 2026 at Third Avenue PlayWorks
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Audience Guide: Red Herring

A red herring is an idiom that is a “piece of information, clue, or subject that is deliberately or accidentally used to mislead, distract, or divert attention away from the central, most important issue.” This idiom derives from the practice of using a pungent, salted, and smoked fish (herring) to draw hunting hounds off a scent. The playwright uses a literary “red herring” to mislead the audience into believing one thing, when another may be true. How many red herrings can you find in the play? The nonpungent, idiomatic kind, of course.

Red Herring show logo, 2026 at Third Avenue PlayWorks
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Cold War Comedy Heats Up TAP

Red Herring by Michael Hollinger is the third show of the 2026 season at Third Avenue PlayWorks (TAP), running from July 15 through Aug. 9, with performances by Ellie Duffey, Seth K. Hale, Carolyn Hoerdemann, Alicia Rice, Ethan Serpan and Noah Simon.

Red Herring show logo, 2026 at Third Avenue PlayWorks
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Sets and costumes play co-stars on TAP stage

It is not easy to go from a nursing home in France to a writers' room in California to a detective's office in Boston in the span of nearly three months, but not all places are Third Avenue PlayWorks. Rehearsals have begun for TAP's next production, Red Herring. The comedy follows a female detective in Boston as she tries to solve a murder while navigating her relationship with an FBI agent during the Cold War.

Karen Estrada, Actor and Director headshot
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From the Director: Red Herring

In 1952, the second Red Scare is at its height. Televised Senate hearings fan the flames of suspicion, the hydrogen bomb is under development, and paranoia seeps into every aspect of American life. The fear that a communist might be around every corner—or even sharing your bed—turns neighbors into suspects and private lives into political battlegrounds. Holy Mackerel! Who couldn't use a break from such relentless pressure? Audiences came together at the cinema to see their anxiety and paranoia reflected in Film Noir or they watched screwball comedies to float for a time above those same anxieties while society’s rigid social norms were skewered with fast talking repartee and farcical situations.

Friends of Door County Libraries Community Partner for Red Herring at TAP
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About Our Community Partner for Red Herring

The Community Partner for Red Herring at Third Avenue PlayWorks in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, is The Friends of Door County Libraries (Friends). A portion of the proceeds from the Pay-What-You-Will performance on July 15th will go towards our Community Partner. Those interested in attending the preview to support this organization, may arrive as early as 6:30 p.m. on the evening of the performance for general admission seating. Space is available on a first come, first served basis. Donations may be made in advance on the day of the preview (watch your email for link!), or in cash or with checks made out to Third Avenue PlayWorks once you arrive. Half of the proceeds will benefit this show’s Community Partner. There will be a donation box in the lobby during the run of Red Herring, July 15th through August 9th, 2026.

Don't miss Red Herring running through August 9th!

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