Students at Ellis Middle School will solve a murder mystery, and they are hoping an audience can help them find out who did it.

Join the students at Ellis Middle School at the Austin Artworks Center at 6:30 p.m. on May 29 for appetizers, refreshments and an old-fashioned murder mystery.

The show follows the players at the Murder Mystery Playhouse, who are rehearsing a new show, “Putting a Little English On It.” As expected at the final dress rehearsal, the lights go out and a character dies onstage — only this murder wasn’t in the script. The authorities are quickly called, and soon the company finds themselves replaying the death scene.

It all culminates in a wild surprise ending in which the actors must work together to defeat the murderer before he murders them all.

Tickets are $15 per person, which includes the cost of food and drink, and must be pre-purchased from Nikky Tolde at I.J. Holton Intermediate School, Maria Wilson at Ellis Middle School, or a cast member .

If the May 29 performance sells out, there will be a second performance at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 30. For more information contact maria.wilson@austin.k12.mn.us.