Incirlik actors debut with dinner theater Published July 16, 2013 By Senior Airman Chase Hedrick 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Actors consider it unlucky to be told "good luck" before a performance, so the idiom "break a leg" is often used to wish a performer well instead. At Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, performers brought that superstition to a new level with their performance of Marriage Can Be Murder. More than 140 Incirlik Airmen and families packed the Incirlik Consolidated Club Complex for the Incirlik actors debut dinner theater event July 11, 2013. Attendees laughed and cheered as the performers brought members of the audience into the interactive show, all the while trying to figure out who committed the crime. "A lot of people did theater in high school and have done it at other locations, but there wasn't any program for theater on Incirlik," said Senior Airman Daniel Phelps, the show director. "After calling around I found out that the club wanted to put on a dinner theater production, but didn't really know what or how to do it. So I told Ernie Fasoldt, the club manager, that I had a lot of experience and would take it on." The club, community center and a cast and crew of 10 Airmen from across the installation came together and worked for eight weeks to plan and rehearse the show. While it wasn't always easy, performers found their favorite parts of the show. "I like the process of discovering a character and getting to know the other actors as they do the same," said Staff Sgt. Brad Kasch, who played wedding planner Alphonso during the performance. "There are so few things you can do where you get to be someone else for a few hours. I'd never been a part of a dinner theater either, and being able to interact with the audience and adlib in character was a new experience and definitely the highlight of the night." Actors and audience members alike appeared to have enjoyed the experience. Long after the final bow had been taken, audience members were still talking about the event. "I thought it was a really great show. The cast just did a wonderful job," said Airman 1st Class Benjamin Wuertzer, 39th Communication Squadron radar maintenance technician. "I would definitely come back and invite a lot more people I know." Members of Team Incirlik who feel the same are in luck. Phelps confirmed that planning has already begun for the next performance. "A lot of people having being telling me how much they loved the show and want to see another one here at Incirlik," said Phelps. "Several have told me they loved the show and want to be part of the next one. Currently we are planning what the next show will be. This next one probably won't be a dinner theater, but there will definitely be another dinner theater in the future." Anyone interested in getting involved in a future production can contact the community center at 676-6966.