The last time Old Colony put on a play, the current students weren’t even born yet. But as a new batch of thespians prepare to take the stage for their first production at the vocational high school, they are hoping it will lead to many more chances to shine the spotlight on talented students.

“If it succeeds, Old Colony will finally have a program that isn’t athletic based and [for] a lot of kids who come here, that would be a huge benefit to them,” said Liz Jerome.

Jerome plays the maître d’ in the in the dinner theater murder mystery “Cafe Murder” written by Nathan Hartwick.

In the short play, about 45-minutes from start to finish, a group of people gather at a restaurant where the haughty Rosemary, played by Kaitlin Blackburn, succumbs to a death-by-water murder. (She’s claims to be allergic to water.)

“You don’t know how or why she got murdered,” said Sadie Lombardi, who plays a waitress in the murder-comedy.

The group then tries to figure out who killed Rosemary, lead by Connor Babcock as the private detective who obtained his credentials through a two-day online course.

Eventually the actors turn to the audience for help, asking them to guess the murderer from the cast of suspects: the suspicious maître d’, the surly waitress, the French chef, the hippie, the truck driver or the detective himself. One audience member who guesses correctly will win a $10 gift certificate to the school’s restaurant, the Cougar’s Den.

The in-house eatery will also provide pastries for the audience. Many of the shops at the school have contributed to the production, says director and CIS teacher Marsha Metivier. The metal fabrication department made Eiffel Tower tables, the CAD team made backgrounds and the carpentry programs worked on the sets.

Metivier, who said she has “absolutely never” directed a play in her life is impressed with all the students have accomplished as is her sidekick Christine Guy, the school’s librarian. Guy also took on the role of the French chef last minute when student Jeremy Vallon had to bow out due to an unforseen family commitment.

Guy is hopeful that the play, which is likely to be sold out, will be the springboard for creative students.

“I hope next year we’re going to have another production,” she said. “They want to get their talents out there.”

There will only be one performance of “Cafe Murder,” Friday, March 18. Call the school at 508-763-8011 to see if there are any tickets left.