MORRILTON — The calendar may say it is still winter in Arkansas, but the actors at the Rialto Community Arts Center are hosting a luau and invite the community to attend as they present Murder on Maui.
The play is another murder-mystery dinner-theater presentation produced locally by Jeff Croswell of Morrilton and his associates. Murder on Maui is the fourth in the murder-mystery dinner-theater series presented by the arts center and is an interactive game produced by Haley Productions of Petaluma, California.
The whodunit will be presented at 6 p.m. Feb. 17 and 18 at the Rialto Community Arts Center, 213 E. Broadway in Morrilton. Doors will open at 5:30.
Those planning to attend are invited to dress in their favorite Hawaiian shirts or similar attire. A prize will be given for the “best dressed” attendee.
Patrons “are cordially invited to Pineapple Haven Hotel for a legendary luau,” Croswell said.
“The owner of the Pineapple Haven Hotel, Harold Logan, is hosting a fundraiser for the Hawaiian Association of Authentic Leis (HAAL for short), an organization that is comprised of artisans that make authentic, handmade Hawaiian leis,” Croswell said. “Of course, the evening is sure to turn deadly with so many infamous characters in attendance. Everyone is a suspect. Audience members will be asked to solve the murder mystery.”
Croswell appears as Thomas Q. Magnus, a licensed private investigator, in Murder on Maui.
“I’m the authority figure,” Croswell said, laughing. “That’s something different for me.”
Croswell said the cast includes a “new face or two,” along with several veterans of the murder-mystery series.
“It’s good to get new blood,” he said, adding that he and his wife, Sarah, are no longer on the Rialto’s board of directors. “We have two kids graduating from high school this year, and we just did not have time for everything.”
Additional cast members in Murder on Maui include the following:
• Nathan Mobley of Morrilton appears as Harold Albert Logan, owner of the Pineapple Haven Hotel. Logan was born in Hawaii; his wealthy ex-wife is Stella.
“I’m a veteran now,” Mobley said, when asked if he had appeared in previous murder mysteries.
• McKenzie Stell of Springfield plays Bambi Bianca, Harold’s girlfriend, or fiancee, as she likes to think of herself. She’s an ex-con turned mud wrestler.
Stell made her debut in the murder-mystery series in last October’s production of Thirst for Blood.
• Heather Davis of Morrilton appears as Stella Capwell, Harold’s uptight and nasty ex-wife from New York. Having come from an extremely wealthy family, Stella gave the Capwell-owned Pineapple Haven Hotel to Harold in their divorce settlement, a decision she comes to regret.
Davis has appeared in all previous murder mysteries at the Rialto. She is the new president of the Rialto’s board of directors.
• Amanda Lang of Conway plays Ruth Astoria, Stella’s daughter from her first marriage.
“She’s sassy and conniving,” said Lang, who is making her debut with the Rialto community theater troupe.
• April Erickson of Conway plays Abigail Wiggins, a self-acclaimed author, psychic and expert on island voodoo.
Erickson, who has appeared in previous murder mysteries, is a member of the Rialto’s board of directors.
• Jackson Flowers of Morrilton plays “Rebel” Hanukkaiiaihani, Harold’s partner and the operations manager for HAAL. Flowers is a veteran actor at the Rialto.
• Jesse Burgener of St. Vincent portrays Donny Wo, a lounge singer who has all the ladies’ attention and the men’s envy. Burgener also has appeared in previous murder mysteries.
• Hallie Simpson of Vilonia appears as Sadie Summer, Abigail’s new, very enthusiastic assistant who is in “psychic” training.
Simpson first appeared in a murder mystery in October 2016.
• Christy Nichols of Conway plays Chyna Doll, Rebel’s girlfriend. Chyna Doll, like Bambi, is a champion mud wrestler. This is Nichols’ second time to appear in the murder-mystery series.
• Josh Eastman of Morrilton appears as Robert, Stella’s driver and generally abused go-fer.
“This is the first time I have been in anything like this,” said Eastman, who said he has friends who have been in previous murder mysteries, and they encouraged him to audition for a part in this one.
• A.J. Finley of Hattieville and Mike Smith of Morrilton appear as Mack and Milton Titmouse, who have won a free vacation to the Pineapple Haven Hotel. They are working-class twins who look like typical tourists.
Both Finley and Smith are newcomers to the Rialto murder mysteries.
Tickets for Murder on Maui are $25 per person; the event is for adults 21 and older. Guests are asked to bring their own bottle of “spirits.”
The event features a three-course meal of Mandarin orange salad, Eden Isle chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, yeast rolls, dessert, and complimentary tea and coffee.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.rialtomorrilton.com, by emailing rialtomorrilton@gmail.com, or by calling or texting Shawnna Bowles at (501) 288-9259.