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Whodunnit? Drama Dawgs get a ‘Clue’

PHOTO BY DREW HUGLAND | Gazette & News photographer
Drama Dawgs, from left, Kayla VanKirk, Alex Rohrbaugh, Ozzie Miller and Camille Beatty perform in a dress rehearsal of a production of “Clue.”

Need to know
What: Drama Dawgs present ‘Clue: On Stage’
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15 and 16
Where: Dalton High School auditorium
Cost: $7 in advance and at the door. Call to reserve tickets.

By CHRISTINA McCUNE
DGKN managing editor

DALTON  Senior Xavier Munsey in his role as Mr. Boddy spends a little more than an hour on stage doing absolutely nothing at all.

He doesn’t move. He doesn’t speak.

Munsey is only one of two seniors involved the Drama Dawgs’ fall production of “Clue: On Stage.”

His role may seem unconventional, but some argue it is one of the most important roles. After all, without a murder victim, there can be no murder mystery.

In this comedy derived from the board game and movie of the same name, Mr. Boddy is mainly just that — a body.

“I like the mysterious part in my role, but it is also challenging to be motionless on the stage for a long period of time,” he said.

With some of the fall productions and spring musicals put on by the Drama Dawgs, shows may resurface two or three times over the years. Longtime director Robin Evans-DelCiappo, who was a Drama Dawg herself in high school, is producing “Clue: On Stage” for the first time.

“It is a great ensemble piece that gives many students equal opportunities to develop some great characters,” she said. “Nineteen students auditioned, and I was able to cast them all.”

The crew has 28 students. Evans-DelCiappo said what is surprising about the play is the cost of royalties.

“They are about five times more than usual for a straight play,” she said.

Ticket sales are the Drama Dawgs’ primary source of profit. Selling popcorn during boys varsity basketball games also helps the speech and drama club fund, which covers the fall production, one-act play and any other drama/auditorium need.

Camille Beatty is the other senior in the cast. She plays Mrs. Peacock.

“She is a strong person, and I like to identify myself with her,” Beatty said, “and she has this kind of mystery about her that I like. The most challenging thing is her dialect.”

Evans-DelCiappo explained that Beatty is portraying her character as a senator’s wife from Tennessee so she is using a Southern accent.

Both seniors agreed they are excited about the upcoming performances.

“I am super excited to be in this play,” Munsey said. “It’s been a great experience leading up to this year, and it’s been great so far this year.”

At the same time, after being Drama Dawgs through their high school careers, theater students have said they often find their final fall production and spring musicals during their senior years to be bittersweet.

“I am very excited for everyone to see it, and I hope they find it as entertaining as I do,” Beatty said. “I am sad it is my last fall production, but I will try to cherish these memories.”

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