With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Southeastern Illinois College will celebrate by performing “My Fatal Valentine”, a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater 6 p.m. Feb. 13 and 14 directed by SIC director of theatre and co-division chair of humanities, Allan Kimball.
The story is set at a convention for romance writers and their fans, where the general audience sits directly on stage. The performance shows five authors who are honored for their romance novels and await the presentation of the “Loveknot Award” for the “Best Romance of the Year” to be given by “Heartthrob Books”. A few “local celebrities” will read selections from the nominated books.
While the event is about love and romance, there is no love lost between the nominees and turns out to be deadly for one of them. The audience will have the opportunity to interview the nominees to determine “who-done-it.”
“I have always wanted to do an interactive murder mystery,” said Kimball. “I am looking forward to watching the interaction between the cast and the audience. It makes for a unique performance each night because the audience is as much a part of the show as the cast. In this murder mystery, the audience has to solve the crime… because we (the cast) do not know who the murderer is. The audience votes on the murderer and we play that ending.”
The cast for My Fatal Valentine includes: Dylan Comer and Kristy Fox of Carrier Mills; Justin Leinenbach and Cassie Richerson of Eldorado; Kyle Upchurch of Energy; Tara Funk of Equality; Ira Logan of Galatia; Jason Green of Golconda; Collins Lambert, Sean Partain, Jayden Roper and Cassandra Watkins of Harrisburg; and Shay Wood of Shawneetown.
Dinner will include a strawberry vinaigrette salad, choice of stuffed chicken or pork chop, glazed carrots, fried apples, dinner roll and choice of red velvet cake or cheesecake with strawberry topping for dessert.
Tickets to this event are $30 per person, which includes the meal, show and child care if needed. Reservations are required in advance, and the deadline for making reservations is Monday, Feb. 9. Call 618-252-5400 ext. 2535 or email stacy.moore@sic.edu.
What: My Fatal Valentine -- Murder Mystery Dinner Theater where the audience controls the “who-done-it” part of the show.
Who: A group of romance writers and their fans who will involve the audience in a “deadly” performance. Expect lots of laughs.
When: 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14.
Where: Southeastern Illinois College in the Harry L. Crisp Student Center in Harrisburg.
Attire: Formal or semi-formal dress is suggested, but not required.
Cost: $30 per person.
Reservations: 618-252-5400 ext. 2535 or stacy.moore@sic.edu. Credit cards will be accepted for this event. Reservations required by Feb. 9. Only 90 seats, or 45 couples, available per performance. Groups can be seated together if requested in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.
