LAGUNA BEACH, CA -- The cast for Gunmetal Blues, a murder mystery musical in the Raymond Chandler tradition, has been selected. Appearing in the musical, which opens May 27 at the Laguna Playhouse, are Andrew Barnicle (the Playhouse's artistic director), Tracy Lore and Jeffrey Rockwell. The director is Jules Aaron.

The team of Craig Bohmler and Marion Adler (music & lyrics) and Scott Wentworth (book) are the creators of Gunmetal Blues. The trio won acclaim in London this year when their newest musical Enter the Guardsman won an Olivier nomination for Best Musical. The show is now in development for Broadway.

Gunmetal Blues received a workshop production in 1989 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center and was produced Off- Broadway in 1992. The New Yorker called it "the best small-scale musical we've seen in a long time."

Through June 20 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road. Call (949) 497-2787.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent