Ahoy, mateys! Benicia Unified Performers will be presenting its annual dinner theater fundraiser next Saturday with proceeds benefiting Mary Farmar Elementary’s art program. This time around, Mary Farmar’s Multi-Purpose Room will be transformed into a cruise that has been plundered by pirates for “Death on Deck.”

This is the third year in a row that Benicia Unified School District schools have hosted a dinner theater program. In 2016, three of BUSD’s elementary schools plus Benicia Middle School came together to host “Death By Dessert,” a farcical murder mystery show with proceeds benefiting Robert Semple Elementary School’s Art Day that year. Shortly thereafter saw the formation of the Benicia Unified Performers, a theater collective consisting of drama students at all three levels of BUSD schools. They hosted their first dinner theater program last year titled “Virgil’s Wedding,” which featured the talents of Benicia Middle and Benicia High School students in the main roles, and elementary students getting in character as waiters as they served the audience such Southern favorites as pulled pork sliders, black-eyed peas and corn bread. The proceeds were used to raise money for a new sound system at BMS.

This year, the Performers will be presenting “Death on Deck,” Jim Christian’s comedy about a Caribbean cruise ship that is hijacked by 18th-century pirates who declare mutiny, causing mayhem and even death.

Elementary drama teacher Nikki Tillotson said the goal was to select a play that was entertaining for both children and adults and fit the current students in the drama program. One challenge was choosing one that could accommodate the heavy crop of female performers.

“We have a very girl-heavy program this year,” she said. “Choosing a play that includes pirates was a great way to dress the young ladies and allow them to gender bend a little bit.”

The main cast will consist of students at the elementary and middle school levels, with the ages ranging from 9 to 14. Additionally, students will also be mingling with the audience in character as they serve that evening’s three-course meal, not unlike “Tony ’n’ Tina’s Wedding.”

“It allows students to interact consistently with the audience throughout the night,” Tillotson said. “The young actors have to stay in character throughout the night for about four hours, which is a big challenge for students between the ages of 9 and 14.”

As always, the menus are inspired by the cuisines of the play’s setting. Since “Death on Deck” takes place aboard a Caribbean cruise ship, the evening will feature such appetizers as fresh fruit and cream, avocado hummus and chips, and Jamaican hand pies. The dinner will continue with entrees such as Miss Ollie’s jerk chicken, coconut lime rice, Caribbean curried black beans, and Jamaican greens and squash. For dessert, audiences can enjoy either key lime pie or bananas flambe and ice cream. Beverages consist of coffee, sweet tea and fruit-infused water.

Finally, while Tillotson said Benicia High students would not be on stage due to them having opportunities to perform in their own productions, they will be assisting with the technical elements such as makeup and putting up and breaking down the sets.

The funds will go toward the art program at Mary Farmar. One particular area of need highlighted by Tillotson was new stage lighting for the school.

“Mary Farmar School does not have working stage lights at all,” she said. “When they perform or when they have spelling bees, fifth-grade graduation or things like that, they have to hold up work lights.”

Tillotson said if not enough money is raised for the lights, then the funds would be appropriated to host assemblies that could bring opera programs or live performances from the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

For Tillotson, a big part of the charm of the dinner theater fundraisers is having students at such a young age do everything on their own.

“Often times, people come to an event like this, and I think they’re a little shocked at the level of performance, the quality that young children can create,” she said. “Since there are no real adults working this event, we sort of turn the show over to students. For better or worse, it’s their show, and because they’re taking ownership, I think that’s a big part of what really moves the audience.”

Tillotson said the show is also a great opportunity to showcase the performing talents of BUSD students.

“The dramatic art programs at Benicia Unified School District are strong, but they do not get a lot of attention and they kind of fall by the wayside when it comes to recognition,” she said. “It’s just such a wonderful group of students that are taking risks getting up there. They’re learning leadership skills, life skills that will take them into their adulthood.”

“Death on Deck” will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Mary Farmar’s Multi-Purpose Room, located at 901 Military West, General admission is $45, which includes the performance, three-course meal and a raffle ticket. There are also VIP tables available for $500, which includes an eight-seat premium table, tropical “mocktails,” photos with the cast, the three-course meal and a raffle ticket. Audiences are encouraged to dress as Caribbean tourists. Due to themes of murder and mayhem, parental guidance is suggested for those 8 and up. For more information, go to brownpapertickets.com/event/3131666.

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