Everybody loves a good murder mystery.

Talented performers at Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S) High School will take their best "stab" at a murder mystery with an upcoming production, "The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens."

"It's a very self-aware murder mystery comedy," said student co-director Cassidy Ingram. "It is lighthearted, campy and corny, in a good way."

L-S students will put on the musical Thursday, Nov. 12, through Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Lampeter-Strasburg High School Performing Arts Center, 1600 Book Road, Lancaster. All shows will start at 7 p.m.; there is no matinee. The curtain will come down after the Saturday performance.

The show is described on the playbill as a "madcap murder mystery." A playwright, Walter, invites the audience into his imagination. When the tyrannical millionaire Edward gathers everybody at his house for his birthday party, everyone has a good reason to want him dead.

The audience will help the cast decipher who the murderer is. Participation from the crowd is welcomed and encouraged.

"It mainly centers around the family members, friends and staff of a wealthy man, and over the course of the night, things go awry," Ingram explained. "The audience is kind of asked to help figure it out."

"There's a lot of fourth wall breaks," said student co-director Justin Burkett. "There's a lot of bringing the audience members in on the joke."

Doors will open an hour prior to each show. Tickets will be sold at the door. There is a reduced price for students and seniors age 60 and above.

Light refreshments will be available in the lobby before the show, during intermission and after the performance. The school's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will also be selling snacks.

Ingram previously attended Penn Manor High School's version of the same play, which was written by Billy Wayne St. John. The large number of parts available for students, along with the fitting timing of the play being around Halloween, made it a good fit to bring to L-S.

"I talked to Penn Manor's director, Melissa Mintzer," said Susan Rettew, director of the play and ELA teacher at L-S High School. "She said, 'It's a great one; do it.'"

Isaac Staley will play the role of Walter and Edward. The cast also includes Finlee Parrish (Allegra Blackwell-Worthington), Elliott Holmes (Tony Blackwell), Asha Lindskog (Justine Worthington), Rebecca Helm (Debra Worthington), Aubrey Hikes (Beatrice Worthington), Logan LaFontaine (Roy Phillips), Julianna Fry (Connie Phillips), Avery Kalasinsky (Peggy Sue Brumley), Nicholas Weaver (Lawrence Tate), Jalen Coon (Hollister), Lilly Kuhns (Mrs. Vickers), Millie Ambrose (Edith) and Dasia Kenyon (Ina).

Just under 30 students are involved in the total operation.

"I think it's a great fit," Rettew said. "The kids work well together; they have good chemistry with each other. There's some freshmen all the way to the seniors; they work well together."