This weekend the Performing Arts Center stage will be transformed into the 1930s era playhouse of an eccentric actor, whose weekend of fun quickly goes awry after one of his guests is murdered.
Deftly maneuvering among hidden rooms, mounted swords and an air of intrigue, eight Sitka High School students will star in the play “The Game’s Afoot” by Ken Ludwig, directed by Christian Litten and Sam McLaughlin.
The performances will be 7-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a Saturday matinee 2-4 p.m.. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, available at the door.
“Because this is a murder mystery, it’s good to come in blind and know that it’s going to be a good time,” Litten said. "I want people to see the show unwrap and be along for the ride without giving anything away.”
He highlighted the cast’s “amazing” dedication and ability to “take on challenging roles.” They have been rehearsing four times a week since early March, and this is the first time many in the cast have worked with Litten in a high school play.
Reagan Wingard, a Sitka High junior with a background in drama, debate and forensics, is making her first appearance in a school play. She plays Daria Chase, a newspaper columnist she describes as “a big personality.”
“My favorite memory from this entire production is all of the times that the whole cast and our directors have gotten to sit down and go over everything, and to talk about our experiences both in the play and outside of it,” she said.
This is the play's "tech week," a period set aside for rehearsing with different components like costuming, lighting and set changes, but sophomore Alex Callistini, who plays Simon Bright, said the cast has a different nickname for it.
"Currently, it’s hell week,” Callistini said. "We have rehearsals every day."
Wingard said this extra practice is helpful because it allows her “more time and space to work with all of [her] props.”
In addition to the performances, Litten also called attention to the play’s set design, which he conceptualized and built with Rebecca Poulson. It blends 1930s Art Deco with the whims of an avid weapons collector.
“This house that the play takes place in has a lot of weapons, which sets up the kind of suspense of a murder mystery,” Litten said. “It feels like at any one time, any one of those weapons could be used to kill somebody.”
He clarified that although most of the weapons are real, none are "the kind that will hurt anybody,” and they’ve all been securely mounted on the walls. His personal favorite is a prop gun that looks like a real shotgun.
“There are definitely a lot of fake weapons, definitely a lot of fun props,” said freshman Morgan Hames, who plays Inspector Goring. “I would say to look around the set and put your listening ears on. There are a lot of clues and small details and it’ll be exciting to see what the mystery will be. I’m very excited — it’s going to be super fun.”
