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“Murder at Buchwalter High 50th Reunion” is an original story that will allow participants to become amateur detectives when it’s presented at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 25, and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at the Woman’s Town Club.
Both performances are sold out and are fundraisers for the Woman’s Town Club.
The Club’s members brainstormed for different ways to raise funds for upkeep and restoration work on the club’s classic home, built in 1852. Their main such event is a style show that has been successful for years but needed something that would draw a wider audience including men.
Their best bet was murder — the fictional type, of course. The result will benefit both sides involved: the Civic Theatre looks for places to perform and the Woman’s Town Club has a classic house with lots of space.
“This is a lot different; it’s going to be fun,” said Kay Richards, Woman’s Town Club past president and committee chair.
The Civic Theatre dusted off a murder mystery done for an overnight event years ago and modified it to fit this presentation.
Suzanne Grote helped modify the original story, setting the scenario around a 50th high school reunion and naming the school after the family that lived in the house and inspired the club and even created a school song to go with it.
Guests will be given a role as the reunion attendees and one of the five or so Civic Theatre actors will dine with the group and they’ll have a chance to help solve the murder.
Grote assured there is no blood and guts and no body. The actors can improvise to make it more fun as attendees piece together who did it and how, which separates this from a regular dinner theater.
She said some like to become actively involved and others prefer to sit back, but all should find it involving. The guest with the most accurate guess to solve the murder will earn a prize.
“We try to keep it confusing,” Grote said. “It’s a fun, interactive evening for a good cause.”
The Civic Theatre is preparing for its next stage production, “Rex’s Exes,” the second of a trilogy of plays. The group presented the first, “The Red Velvet Cake War,” in 2016.
It will be May 19-20 at the John Legend Theater. The group will also do a new family-friendly mystery event this summer at Young’s Dairy.
Richards said since these events sold out there’s a possibility of offering other such programs in the future. Proceeds will go to help finish painting the exterior of the Buchwalter house.
The Woman’s Town Club will continue its speakers series with local author Sandy Kachurek on April 29 and the return of the style show on Sept. 30.
“We welcome people to come and look at the home. It’s a very nice place especially for women to come, Richards said.
Contact this contributing writer at bturner004@woh.rr.com.
Sold-out show
What: “Murder at Buchwalter High 50th Reunion”
Where: Woman’s Town Club, 805 E. High St., Springfield
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, March 25, and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26
Admission: Sold out
More info: 937-399-1612 or www.facebook.com/womanstownsclub/
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