Arts of the Pamlico has announced plans for its second community theater production of 2016. Stuart Lannon, technical director and facilities manager at the Turnage Theatre, will direct a murder-mystery comedy titled, “Stay As Dead As You Are,” to be presented Sept. 22­-25 and Sept.29-Oct. 1.

Auditions will be held at the Turnage on June 29-30 from 6-8 p.m. Interested persons should be prepared to read from the script. Lannon is seeking six males and six females, age 16 through 60s, for speaking roles. There is also a need for several non-speaking roles to serve as “extras.”

“Stay As Dead As You Are,” by Lee Mueller, takes place at a high school class reunion. Everyone is there: Babs and Guy Gleeson, the couple with the most school spirit; Marty “Budman” Budinski, formerly known as “Party-Hearty-Marty;” Dick Alantra, former captain of the football, baseball and track teams; Gabrielle “The Fox” Fatelle, formerly every boy’s fantasy, now every boy’s nightmare; Melven “Wedgie” Wedgewood, former AV guy and chess team president, now president and CEO of a Fortune 500 software company; and the mysteriously shy and formerly homely Gertrude Magillicutty.

During the festivities, Guy Gleeson and Vice Principal Schlepper are assaulted by lawn darts. Luckily, Detective Joe Mamet received an anonymous invitation to the reunion. Who would want to hurt happy-go-lucky Guy Gleeson? Who wouldn’t want to cause harm to Vice Principal Schlepper? And finally, who would invite Detective Joe Mamet to the reunion? He didn’t even go to school there.

Well, fortunately, Detective Mamet and his trusty assistant, Pinter, will begin the investigation into this “injury” mystery and hopefully answer these questions. (Note about this play: the “mystery” surrounds two people who were “injured” by lawn darts. There is no “murder” per se, only an attempted murder.)

Anyone interested in auditioning and would like to look at the script in advance should call Stuart Lannon at 252-946-2504.