The Pennsylvania Playhouse kicks off its 2025 season, Jan. 24 to Feb. 9, with “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” a play that inspired the classic Alfred Hitchcock movie.

English playwright Frederick Knott, who also penned the Tony-nominated “Wait Until Dark,” wrote the play, as well as the screenplay for the 1954 American crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Ray Milland and Grace Kelly. The play premiered in 1952 on BBC Television, before being performed on Broadway the same year.

In 1952 London, wealthy Margot Wendice (Margaret Wilson), has convinced her professional tennis player husband, Tony (Armand Reiser), to give up the game to spend more time with her. He now sells sports equipment, and Margot is convinced their life together is a happy one. However, he has discovered that while he was on a tennis tour in the United States several years prior, Margot had an affair with an American murder mystery writer named Max Halliday (Joshua Steinhouse).

Now wanting revenge as well as his wife’s money, Tony meticulously plans Margot’s murder. She has no idea that Tony knows of her past affair, nor does she have any suspicion that he’s planning to kill her. When Max comes to London to visit the couple, Tony uses this as the opportunity to fulfill his plan.

Tony blackmails a man who calls himself Captain Lesgate (Allen Riegel), a former schoolmate and convicted criminal, to carry out the scheme. They plan what they believe is the perfect murder. When Margot refuses to play the part of the victim, things go much differently than planned.

The cast includes Brad Campbell and Deven Windisch and is directed by Gary Boyer. Lighting and set design of the Wendice’s London flat is by Brett Oliveira. Period costumes are by Todd Burkel.

“Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24, 25, 31, Feb. 1, 7, 8; 3 p.m. Jan. 26, Feb. 2, 9, Pennsylvania Playhouse, 390 Illick’s Mill Road, Bethlehem. 610-865-6665, http://www.paplayhouse.org/

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com