Community Invited To Solve A Murder Mystery
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The WCHS PTO is hosting an audience-participation murder mystery for its annual fundraiser.
"The Great High School Whodunit" will be Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Ticket are $20 each and include appetizers, desserts, the show and clue search.
Not only does the community help solve the mystery, but many well-known community people are part of the cast.
There's Randy Polston as Principal Rufus Richmond, Brad Bishop as Coach RF Stone, Dr. Steve Hollar as English teacher Rick Trumbull and Dr. David Haines as Mr. Dudley. Also in the show are Deb Bishop, Chris Dillon, Wende Tucker, Brad Tandy, Tiffany Polston Smith, Rich Haddad, Suzi Light, Kim Hensley, Dan Kuhn, Cindy Reinholt and Sue Hanson.
WCHS Assistant Principal and show director Jennifer Shepherd said many high schools don't have a PTO because of the many other organizations parents are involved in.
"I feel that we are lucky we have a PTO that is active and is supportive of our students," Shepherd said.
In the past, the PTO has helped pay for benches in the school hallways, Foos and Ping Pong tables. The PTO helps support class projects and community projects.
"The high school PTO has been really, really active," Shepherd said.
For the murder mystery, Shepherd said, "We wanted to try something really different this year that wouldn't involve selling wreaths or photos or things we've done in the past. We really wanted the community to participate."
When the audience enters the PAC, they become students at Dudley High School, attending a school assembly to honor the Dudleys and all their contributions to the school. During the assembly, it's discovered that a ring has been stolen and a security guard was murdered.
The assembly becomes an investigation. The audience of students then helps find clues around the lower main area of the high school.
The audience is broken up into teams of 8 to 10 people. Shepherd said people can come with a team already, or they will be put into a team.
Each team will get a clipboard with a clue packet. During the clue search and deliberation time, appetizers, dessert and drinks will be available. The teams eventually will be asked to reconvene in the auditorium where the answers all will be revealed.
Prizes for first, second and third will be awarded, according to Jennifer Tandy, WCHS PTO.[[In-content Ad]]"It should be a lot of fun," said Shepherd.
"The big thing is audience participation," said Tandy.
Since the event is after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, Shepherd and Tandy both suggested the event could be used as an office party, book club gathering, bridge group event or other group function.
If this year's event goes well, Shepherd said, they may do another next year.
The 15 community members in the show have made a large commitment of time, Shepherd said. The actors have been rehearsing since September.
"The big push for the school is tying the community together," said Tandy. "All the cast members are doing this as volunteers. They have given many hours of their time. They're pulling together to put this on. It's a community project to bring the school in front of the community."
Tickets are available at the PAC ticket booth or by calling 574-371-5040, and also at Reinholt's Town Square Furniture. Mastercard or Visa may be used to charge for tickets at the box office.
The WCHS PTO meets on the third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. It has two general meetings per year in the evening. For more information about the PTO, visit the website at http://wchs.warsaw.k12.in.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=95
The WCHS PTO is hosting an audience-participation murder mystery for its annual fundraiser.
"The Great High School Whodunit" will be Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Ticket are $20 each and include appetizers, desserts, the show and clue search.
Not only does the community help solve the mystery, but many well-known community people are part of the cast.
There's Randy Polston as Principal Rufus Richmond, Brad Bishop as Coach RF Stone, Dr. Steve Hollar as English teacher Rick Trumbull and Dr. David Haines as Mr. Dudley. Also in the show are Deb Bishop, Chris Dillon, Wende Tucker, Brad Tandy, Tiffany Polston Smith, Rich Haddad, Suzi Light, Kim Hensley, Dan Kuhn, Cindy Reinholt and Sue Hanson.
WCHS Assistant Principal and show director Jennifer Shepherd said many high schools don't have a PTO because of the many other organizations parents are involved in.
"I feel that we are lucky we have a PTO that is active and is supportive of our students," Shepherd said.
In the past, the PTO has helped pay for benches in the school hallways, Foos and Ping Pong tables. The PTO helps support class projects and community projects.
"The high school PTO has been really, really active," Shepherd said.
For the murder mystery, Shepherd said, "We wanted to try something really different this year that wouldn't involve selling wreaths or photos or things we've done in the past. We really wanted the community to participate."
When the audience enters the PAC, they become students at Dudley High School, attending a school assembly to honor the Dudleys and all their contributions to the school. During the assembly, it's discovered that a ring has been stolen and a security guard was murdered.
The assembly becomes an investigation. The audience of students then helps find clues around the lower main area of the high school.
The audience is broken up into teams of 8 to 10 people. Shepherd said people can come with a team already, or they will be put into a team.
Each team will get a clipboard with a clue packet. During the clue search and deliberation time, appetizers, dessert and drinks will be available. The teams eventually will be asked to reconvene in the auditorium where the answers all will be revealed.
Prizes for first, second and third will be awarded, according to Jennifer Tandy, WCHS PTO.[[In-content Ad]]"It should be a lot of fun," said Shepherd.
"The big thing is audience participation," said Tandy.
Since the event is after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, Shepherd and Tandy both suggested the event could be used as an office party, book club gathering, bridge group event or other group function.
If this year's event goes well, Shepherd said, they may do another next year.
The 15 community members in the show have made a large commitment of time, Shepherd said. The actors have been rehearsing since September.
"The big push for the school is tying the community together," said Tandy. "All the cast members are doing this as volunteers. They have given many hours of their time. They're pulling together to put this on. It's a community project to bring the school in front of the community."
Tickets are available at the PAC ticket booth or by calling 574-371-5040, and also at Reinholt's Town Square Furniture. Mastercard or Visa may be used to charge for tickets at the box office.
The WCHS PTO meets on the third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. It has two general meetings per year in the evening. For more information about the PTO, visit the website at http://wchs.warsaw.k12.in.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=95
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