Granny Knott, played by Jonann Dellen, instructs Tex Toogood, played by Alex Barnhart, to keep an eye on some mysterious guests at the Bar B Q Dude Ranch. The ranch is the setting for a mystery dinner theater program that will be performed by members of the Ground Zero youth program at First United Methodist Church in Butler.

An unlikely group of guests has checked in at the Bar B Q Dude Ranch, and one will not check out.

The ranch is the center for a mysterious and amusing dinner theater program being prepared by the youth of First United Methodist Church in Butler.

But the program is not just a showcase for talents of the church's youth. Youth director Doug Raraigh said proceeds will be used to fund youth education programs, camp and retreat scholarships, equipment and curriculum supplies.

"It's great because it's a lot of fun and it's a great teaching tool. It's also a great fundraiser," he said.

In his first year as youth director at the church, Raraigh brought the idea for a dinner theater from his experiences at another church.

The script for the performance, called "The Mild, Mild West,"came from the Wesleyan Thespians, a company that has produced several mystery dinner theater kits for use as fundraisers.

Adapting the script for use at the church, Raraigh added several roles to accommodate a larger number of actors.

Twenty-three actors will grace the stage, including youth in grades seven through 12 and several adults who serve on the church's youth ministry team.

Characters include Sweet Sue Sobright, the owner of the dude ranch; kindly cowboy Tex Toogood and money-hungry Snidely Snively, who threatens to close the ranch if he doesn't receive a hefty rent.

For Mitch Hortert, who plays Mortimer, a New Jersey shoe salesman visiting the dude ranch with his wife, performance and drama are a longtime interest.

"I've acted with the Butler Little Theatre since I was in the second grade," said Hortert, a sophomore at Butler Intermediate High School.

For first-time actress Kate Duffy, who plays girlfriend to a jewel thief, the idea of performing for a crowd is a little unsettling.

"I'll definitely be nervous," said Duffy, also a sophomore at Butler Intermediate.

The drama won't be limited to the lead characters, noted Audra Zimmel, who will serve as one of two emcees for the program.

"I've always been told I was a drama queen,"said the exuberant Zimmel, who adds intensity while providing some background for the performance.

Guests of the dinner theater will enjoy an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner between scenes.

The mystery will be exposed just before dessert, when guests will have the opportunity to purchase clues from cast members to help them identify the guilty party.

Following the dessert, tables will be asked to guess "whodunit." The winning table will receive a free dinner and movie rental.

Now approaching the last of their weekly practices, Raraigh is confident in his young troupe.

"I'm extremely pleased,"he said. "Just from doing (shows) in the past, it's never come together this quickly."

<b>WHAT: </b>"Mild, Mild West" Mystery Dinner Theater<b>WHEN: </b>6:30 p.m. April 1 and 2<b>WHERE: </b>First United Methodist Church, Epworth Center, 200 E. North St.<b>COST: </b>Minimum donation of $12 per person<b>FOR RESERVATIONS: </b>Call 724-283-6160. Deadline for reservations is March 31.