Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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onthe :murder for dinner Guests entered and sat at tables surrounding a raised platform. At 6:30 p.m. two characters, Nessa Kinsington, played by Dianne Paukstelis, and Austie Trousers, played by T-Shane Roberts, entered the room. Paukstelis, clad in a form-fitting, strapless silver dress and her counterpart, in an Austin Powers-style get-up, began Murder is My Middle Name, a Union Program Council and WHODUNIT Caper's dinner theater presentation Sept. 25. I think it was pretty successful, we had 250 people buy tickets, which is the most we've ever sold for a dinner theater, Ashley Moore, co-chair of the arts council and junior in biology, said. We really enjoyed working with the WHODUNIT Capers troupe, they are very easy to work with and put on a good performance. The cast of seven put on a show about secret agents, one of whom, Dr. Yes, played by Luke Stramel, was murdered. The rest of the performance was dedicated to finding his murderer. QWe do thisj wherever people need a dinner that's not boring, Stramel said. As the show progressed, so did the meal. The actors stopped the show to allow the audience a chance to eat their meal and once again near the end of the show for apple pie. However, the cast never stopped performing. The actors traveled to all the tables and, without breaking character, chatted with the audience and 22 M student life by Anna Kearns delivered clues pertaining to the murder. Paukstelis said about 20 minutes of the show was scripted, but the improvised part was performed while the audience ate. 'Every audience is different, Paukstelis said. Part of the whole interactive aspect of this kind of theater is that you have to respond to your audience. So it all plays differently every night. In addition to receiving clues, the audience participated in the show. Two audience members were asked to hold the super secret identity machine, a curtain behind which cast members put on disguises. Later, two more audience members, an older man and a young boy, donned blonde wigs and bright pink, shiny bras to act as distractions during a key moment. We don't always pick the people who raise their hand, Stramel said, Uwe pick the people who would make the most embarrassing situation fun. The rest of the audience got to participate when it was time to name the killer. Each table was asked to Vote on who they thought the killer was. The Manhattan company did a variety of shows, including a soap opera version and a beauty pageant version. Many of their shows were performed at colleges and other schools, but they also did corporate events. uThis type of theater is the fastest growing kind of theater in the United States today, Paukstelis said. People really like this interactive kind of theater, and it's relatively inexpensive to produce.

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.2 ,, T, by Yvonne Ramirez r a Crowds watched as dozens of people CCIZUS6 plunged into the icy waters of 'lhttle Creek Lake. Their leaps into the lake raised approximately 315,500 for the Kansas Special Olympics Feb. 27. We decided to get a team going, raise as much money as We could, and now We are not warm, Brianna Schulte, senior in mass communications, said. I've had Warmer days, but I'm feeling pretty good. It was for a good cause. Polar Plunge had been held in Kansas for more than 12 years and was sponsored by the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Approximately 20-30 teams and individuals raised money and took the plunge in return. We didn't think We were going to l do it, but in the last Week and a half We finally said, 'OK, let's do this, ' said James Rico, historian of Phi Beta Sigma and senior in psychology. We raised S200 in one Week. We jumped on it as fast as We couldf' In addition to the plunge, the event had a light atmosphere because participants dressed up for a costume contest. Some teams were dressed as Smurfs and penguins, While others Wore hula skirts, Speedos and tutus. uit kind of just creates some fun, and Fl? Y' 1