It may look like all of Carson High is on stage at the Community Center for the comedy "Murder in the Knife Room," staged by the Carson Performing Arts and playing this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 2 p.m. in a special matinee linked to the school's homecoming celebrations.
Tickets for the matinee are just $3 plus a can of food for Tots Eats.
Regular tickets are $8, $7 for students and seniors, and $6 for students with SBC IDs Tickets are available at the boxoffice@carsonk12.nv.us or at 283-1683.
As noted, this is a big cast - 35 in all, with 20 serious suspects in this spoof of the usual mystery theater.
"It's all good fun," says director Jason Macy, a Carson High English teacher fresh from a stint in the Brewery summer theater in "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). "There's no time to get bored, the show only runs an hour and 20 minutes."
Macy doesn't promise a night of high theater or puzzling mystery. "We just want to offer some moments of laughter for a world buffeted by so much."
The plot, such as it is, concerns the murder of a man in the Knife Room of a mansion owned by the Mysterious Host. There are 20 serious suspects and the antics all take place in the aforementioned Knife Room, complete with knives, daggers, scimitars hanging from the walls. Many members of the cast also brandish knives happily.
And what variety in the cast. There's an Army general, a wealthy dowager, Santa Claus and even a pirate complete with a hook for a hand and a crew backing him up. Plus a brainless fashion model. The inexplicably omniscient Inspector faces the most baffling murder case in history.
Macy gets help in marshaling his big cast from stage manager Karen Chandler, Carson High School theater teacher.
Stage technicians Samantha Luas on sound, Cody Hurd on lights and Chelsey Perkins on spotlight contribute to comedy. The high school Technical Theatre Class handled the costumes, set and props. Jonathan Rand is the playwright with permission of Playscripts, Inc.
You may not be uplifted by "Murder in the Knife Room," but if rehearsals mean anything, you'll have a rollicking good time.
Cast list
Mysterious Host: Monica
Ricketts
Wealthy Dowager: Amanda Lytle
Respected General: Brandon Shirey
Southern Belle: Britney Eicheberger
Decrepit Invalid: Elizabeth Swezey
Sketchy Foreigner: Bob Otsuka
Brainless Model: Jessica Howell
Bearded Scholar: CJ Myer
Tramp: Victoria Lauder
Pompous Millionaire: Robbie Shouppe
Reckless Cowboy: Richard Putnam
Boy Band Reject: Macauley Williams
Inspector/Faking: Joe McClure
Plastic Politician: Kathleen Bryant
Washed-Up Actress: Courtney Gilbert
Santa: Andrew Palmer
Serial Killer: Michael Pearson
Spooky Pirate: Brenden Blanchard
Dirty Hippie: Stephanie Kulla
Dolphins Fan: Chris Rogers
Stand-up Comic: Yadira Durate
Intimidating Mobster: Philip Martineau
Idea 1: Amy Meisler
Idea 2: Chelsea Fenn
Idea 3: Desiree Hudson
Widow Leader: Halee Ackerman
Widow 1: Alli Cowan
Widow 2: Leeanne Reynolds
Widow 3: Miranda Moore
Widow 4: Kayla Snow
Captain Eo: Jeanette Gonzalez
Lt. Smash: Chelsea Fenn
Baseball: Amy Meisler
Brigadier General: Maria Negrete-Chavez
Brian: Halee Ackerman
Kevin: Desiree Hudson
A.J.: Amanda Otto
Howie: Leeanne Reynolds
Nick: Alysse Austin
Laugh Hole Host: Kayla Snow
Paramedic 1: Alysse Austin
Paramedic 2: Amanda Otto
Elf: Rachel Martin
Mall Child: Maria Negrete-Chavez
Mall Child 2: Jeanette Gonzalez
Mall Child 3: Alli Cowan
Hot New Mom: Halee Ackerman
Paw: Desiree Hudson
Foolish: Amy Meisler
Irresponsible: Miranda Moore
Negligent: Kayla Snow
Matey 1: Leanne Reynolds
Matey 2: Chelsea Fenn
Matey 3: Alysse Austin
Matey 4: Amanda Otto
Stage Tech
Sound: Samantha Luas
Light Board: Cody Hurd
Spotlight: Chelsey Perkins
If you go
What: "Murder in the Knife Room"
Who: Carson Performing Arts
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Saturday and 2 p.m.Wednesday
Where: Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.
Cost: $8 general, $7 seniors/students, $6 children
Call: 283-1683