Craig Daily Press

Photo by Hans Hallgren

Randy Looper, playing Professor Pinstripe, from left, Michael Lausin as Dr. Watson and Chane Smith as Fingers McKeys rehearse lines Tuesday for the Black Mountain Theatre Group’s presentation of a 1920s Interactive Mystery and Costume Ball at the Center of Craig on New Year’s Eve. Seventeen participants will present the improv theater, in which the audience will be challenged to figure out who the murderer is.

Craig — On New Year’s Eve, someone will die in the Center of Craig.

With the murderer in the mid­st of guests at the Black Moun­­tain Theatre Group’s Interac­tive Mystery and Costume Ball, it will be the guests’ job to figure out “whodunit.”

The potential suspects, with names such as Cheesy Calzone, Fingers McKeys and Professor Pinstripe, will mingle with the crowd, and the audience will be able to ask them questions, each actor having his or her own motives and methods for the murder.

Michael Lausin, who plays Dr. Watson, calls it “improv theater.”

The players came up with a general concept, but there is no script, and the actors are challenged to come up with a back-story for the “interrogation” portion of the evening as the audience tries to figure out whom the killer may be.

There will be 12 tables, and people will be broken into teams. It hasn’t been decided yet if the winners will receive a prize.

“This has been just a kick in the pants,” said Beth Gilchrest, who is playing Prudence Do­­right, “cause we write as we go.”

The theme of the evening, despite its insidious undertones, is meant to be entertaining.

“We’re having so much fun putting it on,” Gilchrest said, “that I can’t imagine the audience will not.”

Complimentary hors d’oeuv­res and beverages will be served, and a cash bar with champagne and beer will be available.

There also will be dancing following the show.

A limited number of tickets are available at Solutions Oriented Systems, 10 W. Victory Way, and Spirit Pass, located in the Centennial Mall, 1111 W. Victory Way, Suite 134 west. The cost is $15 per ticket.

For questions, call Cindy Chotvacs, the president of the Black Mountain Theatre, at 284-6002.

“This is about as off-the-cuff as it’s going to get,” Gilchrest said, “and that’s what makes it so much fun.”