WHO KILLED DUSTY?

There’s a new marshal in town, and criminals better beware.

Marshal Dillon, an homage to the famous lawman of television “Gunsmoke” fame played by the late James Arness, will have his work cut out for him solving a Wasilla murder. It seems somebody poisoned Dusty by spiking his whiskey.

It’s a Western crime that’s expected to be solved Old West style, said Larry Bottjen, artistic director for Valley Performing Arts and, at least for one night Oct. 8, the new incarnation of marshal Dillon.

“It’s really great fun and you get to dress in Western wear,” Bottjen said of the upcoming VPA event “Death in Them Thar Hills,” a dinner mystery fundraiser for the performing arts group, which recently started its 36th season. About 200 people will pack into Evangelo’s Restaurant and will participate in trying to solve Dusty’s murder, he said.

VPA members will also attend as “guests,” but with very definite roles to play. Figuring out who killed Dusty and why will make for an enjoyable evening, Bottjen said. In fact, don’t expect the players to drop any extra hints about who the killer is — they don’t know.

As Marshal Dillon, “I’m the facilitator,” Bottjn said. “It’s not like a real staged event where things happen on a stage. The characters mill around in character and Marshal Dillon makes things move along. They know what their characters are, what they’ve done, where they’ve been, but I’m the only one who knows who killed him, and I’m not telling.”

A veteran who performed in his first production for the group in 1976, Bottjen was a member of VPA’s original board of directors. In addition to directing the “Death in Them Thar Hills” fundraiser, he’s also directed “Beauty and the Beast,” “Of Mice and Men,” and will direct the upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

What’s different about this event is the collaborative nature with the audience, he said. That, and he gets to dress like a cowboy.

“It’s really great fun. I get to dress in Western wear,” he said, adding guests are also encouraged to dress up. “I don’t think that’s required, but the more people who dress up the more fun it is.”

He’s still on the lookout for the perfect hat, Bottjen said. “I know there has to be a white 10-gallon one there somewhere.”

As a child, Bottjen said he remembers idolizing Marshal Dillon; now he gets to be him.

“To play one of your childhood idols? That’s pretty neat,” he said. “The only thing that would be better is to play Superman. I figure Marshal Dillon’s probably next best.”

Although murder mystery dinners aren’t new as fundraising events, it’s a first for VPA, said Garry Forrester, executive director.

“We thought about it last year, but just weren’t able to put it together,” he said. “What better marriage for a theater organization than dinner theater? It’ll be all audience interactive.”

Tickets for the night of Western mystery are $60 each, or $110 for a couple or $500 for a corporate table of eight, Forrester said. There are 200 seats available, which can be purchased online at valleyperformingarts.org.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.