Dover High School play

The Dover High School Thespians will be kicking off the 2025-2026 school year with the murder mystery “The Grande Demise.”  Set in the early 1930s, the story takes place during an open house for a vacant vaudeville theater.  Realtor Michael McShifty (sophomore Noah Beachy) and his assistant Autumn Drivemore (junior Allisynn Hamsher) are representing playboy Phillip Le Grande (freshman Max Cooley) who has run his family’s beloved theatre into the ground.  Various characters are in attendance including a washed-up vaudeville actress Squeaky Bevereaux (senior Laney Gottshall), a successful movie actor Cliff Moneybottom (freshman Deacon Polen), and Phillip’s best friend from college, Buddy Faux (sophomore Brody Warne).

As the action unfolds it becomes evident that everyone has a reason for wanting to see Phillip dead.  Former actress Hope Loveall (senior Elle Hall) her husband Gabe (junior Nick White) and their daughter,  Henrietta (senior Lyela Miller), costume designer Priscilla Pinpoint (freshman Maddie Minnis), choreographer Susie Stepful (sophomore Cassidy McKee), and stagehand Rod Stems (sophomore Owen Reineke) are all out of work since the theatre closed and is struggling to make ends meet.  Similarly, Daisy Stems’ (sophomore Emily Flood) rent on her flower shop has doubled, and Peter Poorman (junior Jake Hershberger) is homeless because Phillip kicked him out of a rental property at the theatre.  

Who ends up killing Phillip Le Grande?  Finding out is the job of the first U.S. female detective Molly Goodman (senior Madeline Luellen).  With the audience’s help, she will interrogate all of the suspects, and then the audience will vote to decide exactly who the murderer is!

The script was written and is being directed by Tom Morris.  “The Grande Demise” will be performed Thursday, November 20, Friday, November 21, and  Saturday, November 22, 2025  with curtain time at 7:00 pm.  All tickets are general admission, and they are $5.00.