Holiday Hilarity and Mystery: Karen Schaeffer & Alex Schaeffer Dish on "A Murder for Christmas" and Creative Playwriting Collaboration

Maxwell's Iowa CoffeeCast

In this episode of Maxwell's Iowa CoffeeCast, presented by Wellabe, Maxwell sits down with mother-and-son playwright duo Karen Schaeffer and Alex Schaeffer to discuss their unique collaboration on the upcoming comedy A Murder for Christmas, set to open December 6th, 2024, at the Amana Performing Arts Center with TKM Productions. The two share a dynamic back-and-forth, full of humor and insight, revealing how their partnership evolved and their creative process flourished.

The idea for their collaboration emerged during the COVID lockdown when Alex, inspired by years of “what if” playwriting musings, was encouraged by Karen to take action. The pair spent months of Saturdays, fueled by bagels and shared respect, crafting their first play, Prolog. This sci-fi drama explores themes of grief, humanity, and technology in a futuristic world where AI helps a widower confront loss. Karen brought vivid dialogue and voice to Alex's vision, blending their complementary strengths as storytellers. The play won the Drake University Theatre "Neighborhood Playwrights" award in 2023.

With Prolog under their belts, the duo shifted gears to lighter fare, producing A Murder for Christmas. This farcical murder mystery follows a former B-movie actress returning to her hometown to stage A Christmas Carol with the local community theater—only for chaos to ensue as cast members begin to meet untimely (and hilarious) ends. They describe it as a blend of farce, dark comedy, and holiday cheer, offering an alternative to traditional holiday theater.

Karen and Alex reflect on their creative synergy, emphasizing mutual respect as the foundation for navigating the challenges of co-writing. They discuss their individual theater backgrounds—Karen’s path from actress to prolific playwright, and Alex’s journey through acting and improv in New York and Chicago—showing how their experiences enrich their work.

This episode offers an engaging look at creativity, family dynamics, and the magic of theater, making it a must-listen for anyone curious about the art of storytelling.