For their upcoming fall production, Rochester High School’s theater students were keen on performing “Clue,” a play based on the iconic murder mystery game that features six color-coded characters.
“Trouble is, we have a cast of 20,” said Rochester High School theater teacher Doug West.
To give all students a spot on the stage, Doug and Elizabeth West dove into the color wheel, creating a wide range of new characters such as Viscount Magenta, Senator Brass and Mamzel Sable.
“We just kept with the theme of colors, and their color has something to do with what they do for a living,” said Elizabeth West, a longtime volunteer who has written and adapted several plays for the school’s theater program.
Describing the show, Elizabeth West said, “This is a serious Clue. It’s not the silly one.”
Audience members are encouraged to interact with the show by using the detective notepads on the backs of their programs to keep track of clues, eliminate suspects and solve the mystery themselves before voting on who they think the killer is during the show’s second intermission.
The killer will be revealed after audience members cast their votes, Doug West said.
The show features six Rochester High School graduating seniors, several of whom plan to pursue careers in acting or directing thanks to their experiences with Rochester’s theater program.
“It did start my love of directing and so now I actually know what I want to do with my life, which is cool,” senior Kyndra Gamez said.
Those who aren’t planning to pursue acting-related careers got valuable experience out of the program as well.
“I think I’m definitely going to miss the theater program, but I'll come back to watch all the performances and cheer everybody on because the theater program has really helped me gain my self confidence,” senior Madi Beck said.
If you go
“Clue” runs Nov. 17-18, with a show at 7 p.m. each day, at Rochester High School, located at 19800 Carper Road SW in Rochester. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and military, and $8 for students.
The show will have a second run Feb. 23-24 at Swede Hall in Rochester. Showtimes and ticket prices for the Swede Hall performances, which will be in a dinner theater format, have not been finalized.
“Last year's price was $35, but they have not finalized the price for this year — they expect to in December,” Elizabeth West said. “We are very excited that they asked us to be a part of their event.”
Proceeds from the Swede Hall shows will be split between the Rochester Citizen’s Group and Rochester High School, according to Doug West.
Cast list
Butler: Liam Tackett
Miss Scarlet: Hadley Hughes
Ms. Olive: Kyndra Gamez
Colonel Mustard: Matthew Deel
Professor Plum: Madi Beck
Mrs. White: Maya Ashlee
Mamzel Sable: Coreyna Parris
Mrs. Peacock: Daniela Damone
Miss Green: Madison Maes
Miss Coral: Elsa Freeberg
Ms. Azure: Violet Wolfe
Mrs. Gold: Paige Mendez Baker
Viscount Magenta: Marshall Fields
Ms. Pine: Rayne Schoolcraft
Miss Sage; Ammaree Langley
Ms. Ginger: Max Burrell
Sir Sterling” Malik Whearty
Mrs. Mauve: Scarlett Minich
Senator Brass: Zane Sanford
Counselor Grey: Corey Parris
Ms. Cherry: Arwen Schoolcraft
Morton Body: Christian Crossland
Detective Smith: Julie Danielson
Crew
Director: Doug West
Student director: Kyndra Gamez
Costumes: Elizabeth West
Light/sound: Dayton Gamez
Mural painting: Day BAlcorta
Set construction: Stage tech class
Weapons: Shawn Ashlee
