SCH’s Players is sailing into the 2024-2025 school year with an exciting fall play in the works. The play, titled Thirteen Past Midnight, is a murder mystery, the first since A Murder is Announced, from the fall of 2021, and the cast couldn’t be more excited.
The plot of the show: Powerful millionaire Victor Winslow (Patrick Gaghan ‘25) invites the cast and crew of his soap opera to play a murder mystery game he’s developed, which he calls 13 Past Midnight. Victor has spared no expenses, even hiring a detective to make the game more realistic. Before they play, he gives the players motives to kill him – for real. The game quickly becomes more than that when the players find Victor dead with a dart in his neck. It is up to detective Pete Griffin (Jarrett Whaley ‘25) and the Winslows’ maid, Brenda Moss (Maddi Bell ‘26), to discover the murderer before they strike again. Full of comedy and drama, Thirteen Past Midnight is a play for all to enjoy.
Of course, no show is all fun and games. Because more students auditioned than roles were available, a handful of smaller roles in the show were double-cast. Each double-casted role will have two shows per actor, making up the four shows.
Cast member Florence Ajunwa ‘26 (Louise Burke) stated, “I’m gonna be honest, the double casting is a little frustrating. I’m fine with sharing a role as long as I can actually click with the person, but sometimes it’s hard to find time to connect over the role.”
“One of the harder parts is feeling like I’m not doing enough,” said freshman Jordan Jackson who plays Gary Anderson, when asked about double-casting. “I don’t have the chance to do as much as I could do, so I feel like I just need to make the absolute most of my character.”
The cast members aren’t the only ones working their tails off – so is the set crew team. By the second blocking rehearsal, a rough idea of the set had been built up, including some of the furniture and even the staircase used for certain entrances.
The directors are also working hard, making sure every scene is perfectly blocked. “Every show is meant to be performed, not read,” said Director Dave Snyder. “Each actor is coming in with their own choices, their own ways of doing things.”
Snyder shared his favorite scene: “At least for me, it’s the potted plant scene, ’cause it’s just so stupid. I love stupid comedy… especially in a big, serious show like this, like two people die in the show, but when there’s that levity in the show, it makes it a lot easier. It keeps it light for when it’s not gonna be light later.”
Thirteen Past Midnight will open on Thursday, November 21st at 7 pm, with shows on Friday and Saturday as well. Tickets will go out in early November, and until then, let the anticipation build!