Totally Rad

By Donnie A. Lucas

It promises to be another who-done-it at the Whitney Saturday night with the performance of a murder-mystery dinner theater.

While the ticket deadline was Monday, organizer and writer/director Ragan Riley reported a large number of tickets were sold for the production. All proceeds from the play will benefit the Vittles by Vehicle program that feeds about 40 local senior citizens three times each week.

ResourceCare of Albany, which manages the food program, is hosting the dinner theater as a fundraiser.

The play is entitled “Totally Rad 80’s Prom Gone Bad,” and those attending can come in their best (worst) 80’s attire.

“Everyone is encourage to dress up in 1980’s fashion – the bigger the hair the better,” Riley said. “Everyone needs to be aware that the show starts the minute they walk into the Whitney. Everything that they see or hear could be a clue to help solve the mystery.”

All of the cast members will have the will, opportunity, and motive to commit the crime, and it becomes the audience’s job to figure out who the guilty party is.

“It’s almost like playing a big interactive game of Clue,” she said.

The meal will feature Beef Tenderloin cooked by George Harvick, with The Green Gypsy, a local drink vendor, serving up 80’s inspired cocktails, according to Riley.

The cast of Albany Mainstreet Playhouse will provide the laughs and intrigue, including Pam Davis as the mean girl, Sandy Abel as the popular and lovable Prom Queen, and Ragan Riley, the wide-eyed ballet dancer.

Also, Wade Jones is cast as the class clown, Shawn Sutton as the jock, Henry Kelly as the rebel, and in her debut – Christina Daugherty, as an over-achieving goody-two-shoes.

“This is a great cause,” Riley said, “and a place where big hair, bright colors, and gnarly lingo are like...totally tubular and far out.”