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LHS actors perform successful Murders in the Heir mystery
cast
The cast and crew of Larned High Schools Murders in the Heir. - photo by Janet Fleske Special to the Tribune

LARNED — The Larned High School’s drama department presented their dinner theater mystery-comedy, “Murder’s in the Heir” to a packed house at the Knights of Columbus on Saturday.  
Written by Billy St. John, “Murder’s in the Heir” is an audience interactive murder mystery-comedy produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.
Portraying The Family were  Dallas Humphrey (Simon Starkweather); Drew Bowman (Fiona Starkweather); Mason Schartz (Jordan Starkweather); Jessica Pfortmiller (Paula Thompson); and Dallas Humphrey (Simon Starkweather III).
“We create our own stage and put on a full two-act, 90-minute play,” said Janet Fleske, Larned High teacher. “This year, we began rehearsing August 24, so we didn’t have a full month to prepare. “Murders in the Heir,” is kind of a play within a play.”
Those attending enjoyed a delicious meal by the Knights of Columbus followed by the full-act play, which encouraged the audience to vote for whom they thought killed the character, Simon Starkweather.  
“I lost a lot of experience the last two years, but the kids have been working hard,” Fleske said. “Because of all of the school activities, I never have everyone at a rehearsal. It’s frustrating at times, but I’m proud of the way the kids come through.”
For the past nine years, the Prairie Arts Council of Pawnee County has sponsored a community dinner theater produced by LHS drama students.  
 The dinner theater is the first of three productions that the LHS drama department will present this semester.  Their next production will be their fall musical, “Bedside Manor,” on Nov. 14 and 15 at the Larned Community Center.

CAST and CREW

The Family
Simon Starkweather    Dallas Humphrey
Fiona Starkweather    Drew Bowman
Jordan Starkweather    Mason Schartz
Paula Thompson    Jessica Pfortmiller
Simon Starkweather III    Dallas Humphrey

The Staff
Bensonhurst    Jorden Drimmel
Mrs. Trent    Tymarra Bryant
Malcolm Walker    Tristan Smith
Nancy Pollard    Delainee Gordon
Rufus Jones    London Whittington

The Professionals
Louis Van Zandt    Braeden Corman
Miss Withers    Chloe Hitschmann
Kathy Collins    Alli Leiker
Mike Davis    Reed Russum
Gene Culpepper    Alex Barger
Usher    Hunter Fitzpatrick
Attendants    Nils Hoffmann,
    Hunter Fitzpatrick