ELGIN — A snowed-in house, a murder and a mystery combine in Agatha Christie’s classic play, “The Mousetrap.”

Director Grant Turner and a cast of suspects are bringing the story to life at the Jewel Theater in Elgin starting Jan. 31.

The world’s longest-running play, “The Mousetrap” tells the story of a murder at the remote Monkswell Manor. The story begins with the characters as they arrive at the manor and proceeds through a murder, a police detective’s investigation and the final reveal of whodunit.

Turner said the best way to experience the show is with no prior knowledge of the plot and to follow along with the investigation.

“The Mousetrap” has run for more than 60 years in London’s West End.

“But there’s a reason why you don’t know anything about this play,” Turner said. “There’s been no movie or TV show or radio adaptation because when the play was first written, it was written into the contract that there would be no other version of it until it stopped performing because Agatha (Christie) did not want to spoil the ending for anyone who might be in the theater for the first time. It just so happens that 60-plus years later, it’s still going. That’s why you’ve heard of this play, but that’s also why you don’t know how it ends.”

Turner has been involved in multiple Agatha Christie productions, including last year’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” but this is his first time directing “The Mousetrap.”

“This show has sort of eluded me for decades, so I’m excited to finally have a hand in it,” he said. “I love this play. I think Agatha Christie is brilliant. I think she is probably the preeminent mystery writer at re-inventing the genre every time she writes.”

In the Elgin performance, the cast features both familiar and new names.

On one side are experienced performers Misty Hines (Mrs. Boyle), Nicholas Vece (Sgt. Trotter) and Garrett Moyes (Giles Ralston). For Moyes, participating in “The Mousetrap” was an easy decision.

“I’m here because I love theatre,” Moyes said.

Vece agreed, adding he was particularly excited about doing “The Mousetrap.”

“This one has been on my bucket list for about seven years,” Vece said. “I had to audition.”

Only one character — Vece’s Sgt. Trotter — is not treated as a suspect.

“It’s a lot of fun, getting to solve the murder with the audience,” he said. “I’m the only one that’s straight with the audience for most of the show.”

One of the actors less familiar with audiences is Tom Nordtvedt.

“I’ve done theater years ago, but about 20 years ago I stopped because my kids were born and I was busy being a dad,” he said. “Now, they’re graduated, and I have time again, so I decided I would give it a shot.”

Nordtvedt takes on the enigmatic Mr. Paravacini, one of the guests-turned-suspect at Monkswell Manor. Another guest, Major Metcalf, is played by Michael Davis in his second show (the first was the recent “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”), and Dan Sizer, in his first play, is Christopher Wren.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do, to act, and the stars aligned with timing,” he said. “It’s an awesome cast of people and a great play for my first one. I’m excited to be here and be doing this.”

Mischief Zurbrick plays Miss Casewell, and Morgan Fields plays Mollie Ralston.

“Last year, I was in ‘Murder on the Orient Express,’ so when I saw Grant was doing another murder mystery, I just had to audition,” Fields said. “I love acting, so I had to take the chance.”

Fields said Mollie Ralston is unlike any other role she has performed.

“She goes through such a wide range of emotions, so it’s been really fun to explore that and challenge myself as an actor,” she said.

Cast members encourage the audience to bring pen and paper and try to solve the mystery. Once you know the secret, however, they ask that you not reveal it to future audiences.

“The Mousetrap” runs Jan. 31 to Feb. 15 on Fridays and Saturdays at the Jewel Theater, 831 Alder St. For tickets and showtimes, visit elginoperahouse.com.