University of Arizona alumna returned to Arizona for the National Tour of CLUE.

Was it Mrs. Peacock with the candlestick in the study? Or a former Arizona student with a passion for acting in the ASU Gammage auditorium?

CLUE played at ASU Gammage in February. The show was based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the Hasbro board game.

Actress Sarah Mackenzie Baron, a University of Arizona alumna and part of the National Tour cast of CLUE, was excited to return to the Valley, even at her rival school’s theatre.

"It felt like a bit of a homecoming,” Baron said.

Playing the role of Mrs. White in the touring production, Baron experienced both pressure and joy in bringing her character to life. Madeline Kahn, the original actress of Mrs. White from the 1985 film, was someone Baron had grown up idolizing throughout her various acting projects. Her admiration for Kahn and her legacy greatly impacted her preparation for the show.

“[Kahn] was so beloved by so many,” Baron said. “I had to do her justice.”

Baron described the original movie Clue as a “masterclass in comedy.” With multiple different endings, nonstop chaos, and a comedy seemingly about nothing, Baron believed that bringing this ’80s classic to the theatre allowed audiences of all ages to connect with the story she called “a piece of history.”

“It was something that, you know, was probably a part of your life, one way or another,” Baron said. “And so, to experience it in this new medium and to be able to have fun and feel like you were a part of it with us was really special.”

In addition to drawing inspiration from the film, the play CLUE was also based on the famous board game of the same name. Baron said that the play had many nods to the original game, even some so minuscule that “you may or may not even notice,” depending on the audience’s knowledge of the game. Visually, the production itself was heavily tied to the original game, truly immersing the audience into the world of Clue.

“The set itself really was the board game,” Baron said. “Even down to the floor, it was the same floor that was on the board game.”

With a world built off both the movie and the game, CLUE brought nostalgia for longtime fans of the franchise while introducing a new generation to the classic story. Baron believed that the experience of going to the theatre and seeing a comedy like CLUE was an effective way to temporarily escape from the real world.

“I was just so excited for people to come and have fun and laugh and disconnect from the world for a little while, and just, you know, have a good time,” Baron said. “That was the most important thing about this show.”

Learn more about out whodunnit in CLUE's national tour at clueliveonstage.com/tour.