You're invited to a birthday party for Samuel Miller at his mansion in Columbia. But be prepared: This will be a killer party. Literally.

"Murder at the Miller Mansion" is an hourlong murder mystery performance sponsored by Rivertown Theatre Productions. It will be held at the historical mansion at 131 Locust St.

"The show is a historical comedy full of very unique characters," said Rebecca Wright, who owns Rivertown Theatre Productions with Sara Mimnall. "Samuel Miller is throwing a birthday party, and he has invited his closest friends and family ... and one of them gets murdered."

Rivertown Theatre Productions was created by Wright and Mimnall. The lifelong friends have been involved in local theater since high school and run the Columbia Haunted Lantern Tour.

"In 2019, we decided we wanted to go bigger and expand on what we were doing with the lantern tour," Mimnall said. "We decided to make Rivertown Theatre Productions the umbrella company." They have a second murder mystery planned for July.

Rivertown Theatre Productions is a nonprofit, and proceeds are used to either fund the next production or give back to the community. The organization's home base is Art Printing Company, located in the Miller mansion, where the play will be held. The setting is perfect, Wright noted, because it not only serves as an eerie backdrop to a murder mystery, but it also shows audiences how their ticket purchase will make a difference.

"I would encourage people to come out and see the show and let them know that the historical building the play is being featured in will be undergoing restoration, so most of the profits will be going toward that," Wright explained.

Wright and Mimnall have big plans for Rivertown Theatre Productions, including expanding their reach beyond Columbia.

"Our main goal is to give back to the community through theater, as well as bring the community into our theater," Wright stated. "Our tagline is, 'The world is our stage, and the community our ensemble.' We want to work with the community as much as possible."

Mimnall wrote "Murder at the Miller Mansion," which features a cast of seven, including herself as Mary Staudenmaier. Additional cast members are Dave Kreiser as Constable Riddick, Rick Barnhart as John Morris, Chris Raudabaugh as Samuel Miller, Rachel Mimnall as Tabitha Simmons, Rebecca Wright as Abigail Morris and Tracey Mimnall as Diana Worthington.

"Murder at the Miller Mansion" will be performed at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays, April 10 and 17; at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. on Sundays, April 11 and 18; and at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 16. To comply with COVID guidelines, shows will be limited to 20 people, and audience members will be asked to wear masks. To purchase tickets, readers may call Holly at 717-587-5368.