In for the kill
Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre to support library
It is the year 1948 in England at a benefit dinner, and a well-known writer has documented quite a bit of confidential information in his latest book. Keeping the book from being published, and a secret from being revealed, is something that one dinner guest might just kill for.
The Independence County Library Friends Foundation will present its Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Fundraiser at 6 p.m. Sept. 16 in The Loft of the Barnett Building in Batesville.
The nonprofit organization was started in February by Vanessa Adams, library director, as a way to get the community involved with the library.
“Instead of forming a ‘Friends of the Library’ and a foundation, I took Darla Ino’s advice, the director of the White County Regional Library System, and formed one nonprofit organization, as she has done successfully. The ICLFF raises money for the library through an ongoing book sale in the library,” Adams said.
The dinner theatre will be the foundation’s first major fundraiser, she said, and proceeds from the event will go toward purchases for the new Independence County Library, scheduled to open next summer.
Adams said an original play written by Georgette Sims, Vicki Lowery and herself will be presented at the event and separated into four acts.
Drinks and appetizers, prepared by ICLFF members, will be served before the play, she said, then dinner will be served in three courses between each act.
After the third act, audience members will have the opportunity to guess who the murderer was.
Those who guess correctly will be placed into a drawing for a prize, she said.
Adams said a silent auction will also take place at the event, and winners will be announced after Act Four.
Auction items include jewelry, paintings, autographed books, a Boston Red Sox autographed baseball, a Kindle e-reader, a Yeti cooler and gift cards, she said.
Tickets are $35 and must be purchased by Sept. 8 to reserve a seat.
Tickets are available at the Independence County Library, Citizens Bank Main Branch and First Community Bank Main Branch in Batesville.
An autumn-themed dinner featuring smoked squash salad, maple and cherry glazed pork loin, glazed carrots, herb-potato puree and a fig and an almond tart for dessert will be served by The Field & The Fork Catering Company, she said.
Adams said the ICLFF is
important to her because it provides a way for members of the community to give back.
“I’ve had many people say to me that our library gives them so much, they have wanted a way to give back. The ICLFF is doing that by raising awareness of our needs and raising funds for us,” she said.
Five members currently serve on the ICLFF board, but Adams said she hopes to expand to ten members within the next couple of months.
“We have about 80 members now. Dues are $25 per year, which gives the members voting rights and discounts on book sale purchases and discounts on ticket purchases to our events,” she explained.
Mary Beth Frensley, member of the ICLFF board, said members of the organization hope to promote the library while looking forward to their new location on Main Street in the near future.
Assisting the library through fundraising events and activities that make Independence County a better place is the foundation’s main focus, she said.
“I also enjoy the opportunity to meet new people who have either returned or relocated to Batesville. Batesville has become my home and my desire is to give back to our great town,” she said.
Frensley said she is excited about attending the mystery dinner and trying to guess the murderer herself.
Adams said the play is set in England at a time when people were still raw from World War II.
“Lord and Lady Tilney are having a benefit dinner at their country estate and their good friend— Simon Peters, who is a well-known writer— has asked that certain guests be invited to the dinner. He’s written a tell-all book about certain members of society who have some secrets they don’t wish to be revealed. All the guests are aware he’s written a book, and they are nervous about it being published,” she said.
“How far are they willing to go to keep the book from being released?” Staff writer Kayla Baugh can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or kbaugh@arkansasonline.com.