(L to R): Lauren Proda, Amanda Castro-Conroy, Jonathan Rueda, Karen Koronkiewicz, Ash Nichols. Back: Amanda Regan, Robert Strauch, Allyssa Hynes, Maggie Madere, Emily Amadeo, Jessica Jones, Nilanthi Sangarabalan, and Ed Shea. Not pictured: Iman Abdul, John Jesse Jeffords, Dylan Myers, Alexis Saarela.

(KEARNY, NJ) -- The West Hudson Arts & Theater Company (WHATCo) annual murder mystery dinner theater experience returns with the original production of Class of 2005: A Killer Reunion, once again written by award-winning local playwright and author Allyssa Hynes. This year performances of this annual WHATCo fundraiser are Friday & Saturday, March 28 and 29 at the American Legion Post 99 (314 Belgrove Drive) in Kearny.

Audiences are invited to join this 20 year high school reunion as former classmates to reminiscence with old friends - and enemies! When a dead body is found, former high school rivals turn their competition for grades and accolades to finding clues and suspects. Who will catch the killer first? Which person from their past is a murderer? The lighthearted murder mystery dinner show combines scripted scenes with moments of improv where actors will talk with dinner guests in character.

The audience once again will be asked to solve the murder as it unfolds throughout a three-course buffet dinner catered by Spanish Pavillion Restaurant and other local eateries. Tickets are $50 per person and include the dinner buffet, soda, tea and dessert. A cash bar is available.

Tickets are available for purchase online and/or by phone 201-540 WHAT (9428).  Reserved tables of up to 8 are available. Groups and organizations welcome! Tickets will not be sold at the door for this production.

The cast features Ed Shea, Alexis Saarela, Robert Strauch, John Jesse Jeffords, Karen Koronkiewicz, Dylan Myers, Iman Abdul, Jessica Jones, Lauren Proda, Amanda Castro-Conroy, Maggie Madere, Amanda Regan, Emily Amadeo, and Jonathan Rueda; and is directed by Allyssa Hynes, with stage manager Ashley Nichols, producers Brandi-Leigh Miller and Nilanthi Sangarabalan, costume design by Roman Koster, and sound design by Jim Miller.

“These WHATCo Murder Mystery Dinner Theater fundraisers have become a community tradition in their own right,” said Hynes.  “We are excited each year to see returning audiences joined by new faces.”  Hynes reminds audiences that tickets sell fast, and this year will be no exception!

WHATCo’s 2024 murder mystery production, Deadly Dessert Championship, was the winner of the New Jersey Association of Community Theatres (NJACT) 2024 Perry Award for Best Production of an Original Play.