THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 13, 1994 TAG: 9407120130
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARLENE FORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
It's no mystery to the Virginia Beach Jaycees.
Last year they mounted a murder mystery, spoofed the dinner theater audience into helping them solve it and, in the meantime, raised $1,000 to send mentally handicapped individuals to summer camp. That's all the clue they needed to know this was a popular event.
``I can't go into too much,'' said Denise Mitchell, Jaycee and one of the event organizers, ``but the mystery is about the 1984 class reunion at Seaside High and one classmate tries to kill another. Everybody has a motive.''
The fictitious play was written en masse by other members of the civic organization, but the team was headed by Dwight Sinclair. It is directed by Terry Smith and the 16 cast members are Jaycee sleuths.
The production opened last Friday and a second and final performance is set for this Friday.
``This is just one of about 15 to 20 projects we do to help send people to Camp Virginia in Roanoke,'' Mitchell said. ``A thousand children and adults can go each year, and Virginia Beach has pledged to send 25 this summer.''
Camp Virginia is a statewide Jaycee-sponsored camp for mentally handicapped children and adults. It's every young person's dream camp with a full schedule of swimming, horseback riding, crafts and campfire sing-alongs. The full fee is $260 per camper, but this and other fund-raisers allow the Jaycees to pay half.
The cost of the murder mystery dinner, $20 per person, includes a chicken entree, beverage and dessert. There will be a cash bar. Mitchell also warned that diners may find themselves involved with the cast of stealthy characters masquerading as graduates of Seaside High School - and may once again be asked to help solve the whodunit.
``Everybody has a motive,'' she repeated.
Naturally, the real motive is to send campers to Camp Roanoke. For reservations, call 467-9013. Individuals or organizations wanting to help sponsor an individual also can call. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARLENE FORD
Denise Mitchell, a Virginia Beach Jaycee and one of the mystery
theater's organizers, says diners may be asked to help solve the
whodunit.
WHEN & WHERE
``Murder by the Sea: A Seaside Class Reunion,'' a murder mystery,
dinner theater sponsored by the Virginia Beach Jaycees at 7 p.m.
Friday at the Radisson Hotel, next to the Pavilion. The event
raises funds to send mentally handicapped individuals to summer
camp. Cost is $20 per person.
Call 467-9013.
by CNB