Murder at Sunset Lodge will be performed February 12 through 15 in Kiehle auditorium at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC). Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. each evening except Sunday when there will be a matinee performance at 3:00 p.m. The play is written and directed by Eric Perkins, a UMC student and Crookston resident.

The plot of the play revolves around a murder in the lobby of the Sunset Lodge. Everybody working and staying at the resort is tied to the girl who has been murdered. In some way they all play a role in her life, and they all have reason to kill her. Each night there will be a different ending, according to Perkins.

The cast of the play includes

• Matt Smith of Wheaton MN, who plays the part of Greg Benjamin, the resort assistant manager
• Mike Swartz of Pisek ND, as Bobby Walters Jr., captain of the football team;
• Tasha Ziegler of Aneta ND, as Kari Daniels, Bobby’s girl friend
• Scott Wright of Warroad MN, as David Larson, business man who stays regularly at the resort
• Julianne Miller of Lake Bronson MN, as Julie Johnson, college student who works at the resort
• Kati Merganthal of Grand Forks ND, as Mary Johnson, Julie’s mother
• Jeff Johnson of Thief River Falls MN, as Senator Richard Williams who dates Mary
• Ben Horgen of Fisher MN, as Stanley, the maintenance engineer

Perkins is a 1994 graduate of Crookston High School and will graduate this quarter from UMC with a double major in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management and Marketing Management.

His drama career includes work with Crookston Community Theater, UMC, and Crookston High School. His career began in 1986 when he was Dancing Bear in Carousel. Throughout high school he worked backstage with every high school and community theater play.

Perkins has perfomed roles in Bye, Bye Birdie; Fiddler on the Roof; Damn Yankees; Gift of the Magi; Schubert’s Last Serenade; Love Sex and the IRS; Christmas Carol; An Inspector Calls; Funny Money; Miracle on 34^th Street; Lurking on the Railroad.

Advance tickets are on sale now. They are available at Montague’s Flowers shop in downtown Crookston or from any cast member. Tickets are $2 advance for students, $3 advance for adult, non-students. Tickets will be available at the door, $3 for students, $5 for adult, non-students.