HCCT-03-04 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HCCT FUNDRAISER: MURDER MYSTERY-GOURMET DINNER PARTY

Concurrent Silent Auction features luxurious and practical items.

COTTONWOOD SHORES, TEXAS (March 24, 2003) -- The Hill Country Community Theatre’s 2003 fund-raising event -- A Murder Mystery-Gourmet Dinner Party and Silent Auction – begins at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 27th at the Yacht Club in Horseshoe Bay. The event is open to HCCT patrons and the general public, but seating is limited.

Proceeds from the event will be used to upgrade the parking areas at HCCT, to improve the sound system in the theatre and to purchase a new laser printer for the theatre office. If enough money is donated or raised, the lobby carpet also may be replaced. Call HCCT at 830-798-8944 for information or reservations, or go to the Web site, www.hcct.org.

The gourmet dinner will consist of hors d’ouvres, a salad course, the entrée -- chicken cordon bleu — and a cheesecake dessert, all prepared by the skillful chefs at the Horseshoe Bay Resort & Conference Club. The cost of the meal and play are $50 per person. A cash bar will be provided. The hors d’ouvres scene, which opens the mystery, begins at 6:45 p.m., with dinner starting shortly after 7 p.m.

HCCT, now in its 17th year, has nearly 800 season members, more than 250 volunteers and about 125 actors. With an annual budget exceeding $125,000, it typically mounts six productions, does 60 to 65 performances and attracts about 7,500 playgoers in a season.

A Country Club Who-dunit

“The Country Club Murder Mystery,” a favorite in the Dallas area and country clubs for more than 10 years, concerns a rivalry between two men: a doctor played by HCCT audience favorite Mark Fernandes, and an attorney played by HCCT Executive Director Bruce Hennie, both of Marble Falls. They have been bitter rivals for years, and now are in a neck-and-neck competition for the area-wide golf championship.

Meanwhile, their wives, played respectively by HCCT regulars Cyndi Pool of Kingsland and Melodie Lane, a Winter Texan from Minnesota, are competing with one another for the attentions of the club tennis pro, played by Dennis Martin of the Inks Lake area. He, however, is in love with the club’s social director, played by Dawniel Pool of Kingsland.

Audience members will be seated at tables of eight. After the interrogation in the play, the audience will be given a chance to interrogate the suspects themselves. They will be asked to submit one ballot per table that lists the murderer, the method of murder and the motive for the dastardly action. The winning table will be awarded, by a drawing, two patron memberships for HCCT’s next season, which begins in October. The remaining table members will receive bottles of fine wine. If more than one table gets all three elements of the mystery correct, then the winning table also will be selected by a drawing from those tables with the correct guesses.

Gifts, Services from Area merchants, Individuals

The Silent Auction will be held in the Fan Tail Room at the Resort Center concurrently with the dinner and play. Audience members will be given several chances during the mystery production to review their bids and up them if necessary

Golfers will want to bid on a pre-owned Club Car Golf Cart as well as a Precor 905e electric treadmill — both donated by Barry Lynch; four rounds of golf at Barton Creek Lakeside, two rounds of golf at Delaware Springs; a one-hour lesson from golf pro Ron English at Slick Rock, and two single or family three-month memberships to the Marble Falls Athletic Club. Barbara Racz has donated a Nordic Track manual treadmill and a stationary bicycle.

Also up for bid are a 55-inch Zenith plasma widescreen HDTV only four inches in depth from C& D Appliances; a Roberto Coin 18K gold pavé diamond necklace from Salem’s Jewelry; a lead crystal bowl donated by Betsy Reese, and a Stetson El Presidenté cashmere/beaver hat (Size: 6 7/8) valued by the John B. Stetson Co. at $1600 and donated by Roselle Calmes.

Other items include an Adirondack chair from Outback Unlimited; two His & Hers Festina wristwatches from Jodie’s Diamonds; a horn lamp from Mattress Gallery; a snakeskin clutch wallet from Salem’s Fashions, a framed and matted painting, “Blue Passion” from The Zoo Interiors and two framed, matted Harley Murray prints with certificates. Riverbend Fine Arts has provided pottery by Dorothy Long for bidding. Two tickets to the Broadway opera Aida, including transportation to San Antonio and dinner, have been donated by Highland Lakes Bank of Kingsland.

Ladies might enjoy a one-hour massage donated by Radiance Salon or a facial from Hot Shots Salon and Day Spa. Dr. Tory Hinson has donated a complete head-to-toe chiropractic examination and five office visits. Will Howard has donated a Texas Flag bedspread for bidding, and from Schumann’s comes a beautiful gift basket.

Donations for bidding at the Silent Auction continue to come in daily. Many are available for preview at the HCCT lobby during business hours only, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Preston F. Kirk, APR, HCCT Governor, Spicewood, TX, 830-693-4447; F 693-9898, kirk@281.com