By Bailey Neal

The Honors College is auditioning Honors students for parts in a new murder mystery written by students for a dinner theatre performance in the spring. Students can come by the Honors offices and read selections from the script from 5-7 p.m. Thursday during the first round of a short audition process, said Bethany Scroggins, programming director for the Honors College.

“The script for the show is written by Honors students and performed by Honors students,” Scroggins said. The judges will fill about 10 parts. Scroggins said the decision will be based on how well a student fits the director’s vision for a character, not their major or theatre experience.

The Honors College has organized around six murder mysteries in past years, Scroggins said, although this performance is only the second consecutive one in several years, Like the ACU masquerade, this dinner is a production the Honors College wants to reinstate as an annual tradition.

Scroggins said last year’s murder mystery auditions pulled in three times the number of students as available parts. When the parts had been cast, the director was surprised to find none of the actors were theatre majors.

“I think it just kind of proves that Honors students have varied interests and that they are very good at multiple things,” Scroggins said. “We’re encouraging people to come by if they’re interested, not really if it’s something they want to do in their future.”

Once auditions are finished, rehearsals will start for the production, which is expected to show either in February or early March. Last year, the murder mystery was performed for prospective Honors students, but this dinner will be open to all students.

“The people at the dinner are usually involved in the play,” Scroggins said. “They have a role, if not a speaking part or lines.”

The location and menu of the event are still being finalized, because they depend heavily on details in the script. Once the script is finished, then advisers can determine logistical things, including the ticket price.

Excerpts from the script can be picked up from the Honors College office in Room 100 in Zellner Hall.