A 10-year high school reunion turns into something more than the celebrants bargained for in an upcoming community theater production hosted by the Turnage Theatre and Arts on the Pamlico.

“Stay As Dead As You Are” is currently in rehearsals and will debut on the Turnage stage Sept. 22; the show will run for seven performances, according to director Stuart Lannon.

“It’s a murder mystery that takes place at a high school reunion, but since there isn’t an actual murder it is pretty tame,” Lannon said of the show. “This one is a family show; there is no foul language or anything.”

The original script has been tweaked a bit to give the play more of a local flavor. References to Washington, Grub Brothers and the Pam Pack are now part of the show.

Local performers will also be a draw for audiences. Cast members include: John Dunning-Kruger, stage name of a well known Washington actor who is cast as a 1940’s style private eye; Hunter Summers, who plays a former high school jock and lady killer; Victor R. Wright, cast as a nerd turned vice president of a successful software company; and Timothy Fitzgerald, who returns to the Turnage stage, this time as the class clown and party boy of the class of 2006.

Lannon and sidekick Crystal Holman, usually the backbone of community theater productions in their behind the scenes roles as director and stage manager respectively, are breaking with tradition and appearing in the spotlight this go round. Lannon plays Guy Gleeson, husband of a former high school leader, and Holman is cast in the very colorful role of Gabrielle (The Fox) Fatelle, former cheerleader and a favorite of all the boys in high school.

Rounding out the cast list are Mandy Lannon,a housewife who is still as eager to take part in school activities as when she served as president of practically every club on campus; Tori Banks, an awkward girl who has since blossomed into a beautiful and successful fashion consultant; Carolyn Schaffer, a former feminist who is now a bitter school vice principal; James E. Casey, another local theater alum who is back this time as creepy janitor Egbert Fink; Maree Richards-Benson, cast as lunch lady Mrs.Sauergerger; and Makayla Carraway, who portrays rookie cop Sharona Pinter.

 

“Stay As Dead As You Are” is the second community theater production to be staged at the Turnage this year. A third show, a Christmas themed “Tinsel Almost, Sort Of Saved Santa” written by Lannon, is planned for December. Looking ahead, the Turnagetroupe is working on “Love on Broadway” for February 2017.

“Stay As Dead As You Are” will be presented Sept. 22-24 at 8 p.m. A matinee performance is planned for Sept. 25 at 3 p.m.Evening shows resume Sept. 29-30, and a special dinner theater production of the mystery is scheduled for Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m.Tickets for all shows, except the dinner theater, are priced at $10 and are available through the Turnage/Arts of the Pamlico box office. For more information, call 252-946-2504.