2 Decades of Funny Bunnies of Hunt Mysteries

Lenore Cambria as Bunny at
Snowbird Resort.

“GODFATHER OF THE BRIDE,” written by Jesse Dolce' in 1991, was the most performed show of all the nearly 40 shows produced and owned by Hunt Mysteries. No matter what other shows might be running, there always seemed to be a need for another Bride performance – especially for private company parties and public Valentines dinners.

I seemed to always be writing out checks to Jesse for script royalty on that show and several others, plus he

Jesse Dolce' in one of his other
Hunt Mysteries shows as John
E. Longwind in Forever, Amen. 

was a regular for many years as an actor and director.

Jesse was a part of the very first cast, which performed
our first dinner show at Snowbird Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Among others in that first cast was Lenore Cambria, who eventually took the role and molded the character of Bunny Beckenstein.

Bunny Lenore with Joan Johnson
as Carla Beckenstein. 

Lenore was the one who encouraged us to add some dance and musical numbers to our performances, which was a major step forward. Lenore’s number of “Chicago, Illinois” was a landmark. She
eventually tutored many of the future Bunnies in Hunt Mysteries as a director, producer and

Lenore entertaining guest.

choreographer. She was one of the main pistons in keeping Hunt Mysteries going and expanding during that first decade. But she eventually escaped all the drama, moving to Colorado early in the new century.

“Godfather of the Bride”

By Jesse Dolce

Property of Hunt Mysteries

(From the original Hunt Mysteries show program)

Lenore, Monte Lyon and, in
background, Candy Revels.

Lenore Cambria

All the action takes place at Don Donatello Giovanis’ Opera Lover’s Convention Hall (speakeasy). The Don has opened the establishment to host a wedding reception for Fingers Vinerelli, the Don’s “cement worker” and his bride, Bunny Beckenstein, the Don’s entertainment singer and dancer.

(The answer form that was given to guests outlined the night’s game rules.)

   “Welcome to our mystery. Your assignment is to become like Sherlock Holmes -- or a detective of your own making -- and solve the mystery. You will soon

Lenore came from her home
in Colorado to do a show
at Homestead Resort.

meet several suspects.

   -- All of them, except the killer, must tell the truth. The killer is the only one who can lie and withhold information.

   -- There is no conspiracy -- the killer acts alone.

   -- Clues may surface at any time, but the main part of the mystery will transpire toward the end of dinner.

   -- Please feel free to ask the actors about themselves and other characters, but they won't know about future events. (Sorry -- they can't tell the future.)

Lisa Grow in performance
at Airport Hilton in 2004.

   -- Don't start your investigation until after the "murder" has occurred.

   -- When you are invited to begin investigating, get up and go to the suspects and question all of them.

   -- Those with correct answers will be eligible for a drawing for prizes.”

BUNNY BECKENSTEIN BIO:

Lisa Grow and Julie Blatter
in performance in 2004.

Bunny & Trixie are not friends.

Bunny and her Fingers,
Rocky Revels in 2004.

“Bunny is the bride of Fingers Vinerelli. She is the song and dance performer at the speakeasy. The Don’s favorite number is “Chicago, Illinois,” because it really gets his heart thumping. Fingers has told her that he is giving up crime once they are married, but Fingers may be just offering Bunny a six-carrot on a string. One night a while back after one of Bunny’s great performances, Fingers caught the tail end of her act. After which,
he asked if she “wanna …” and Bunny said, “sure.” So they soon after set the wedding date. Bunny hopes she finally has made her mom, Carla, happy now that she has married Fingers. Carla has been nagging her to get married, cause she’s no spring chicken no more.”

Brittany Blaire Howard as
Bunny Beckenstein in 2006. 

We’ll review those who played other characters in “Godfather of the Bride” in upcoming blogs.

Kory and Brittany.

P.S. If by chance we have forgotten someone who played Bunny over those 2 decades, please let me know and I’ll edit this post.

Brittany Blaire Howard

CUSTOMER COMMENTS:   “Godfather of the Bride” at The Castle May 9, 2009 was “AWESOME.” My 12-year-old said he’d rather go to the mystery dinner than LAGOON!!! The Bride was amazing – so cute and funny. But everyone was great!! And the audience participation was just right! We’ve recommended Hunt Mysteries Dinner Theater to many of our friends.   Guest – Sherry Marchese

Brittany & Kory Koontz, her
Fingers for show in 2006.

   "Our evening with Hunt Mysteries Dinner Theater at The Hilton Garden Inn on April 22nd “was perfect.” My family had a fantastic time! Each one of the actors did a fantastic job of staying in character, and my son thought Trixie was “hot!” The amount of audience participation was just right and the quality of the sound system was very good. We have already recommended Hunt Mysteries to others. “Thanks for a memorable experience and a good evening!” Guest – Kimberly Hunter

Bunny Katie Revels greets
guests at her wedding reception
with her mother, Carla,
Joan Johnson in 2010.

   “I liked all the actors” in “Godfather of the Bride” April 22nd at The Hilton Garden Inn. “Of course, we thought our son Allen was superb. I really liked Harry and Carla. I wish she had had more of a part and that there had been more interaction between the two of them.” And the audience participation was enough but not too much. We will be recommending Hunt Mysteries to our friends and associates."  Guest – A. Smith

December 2002:
Performance in Las Vegas

Elise Groves greats a young
mother in her wedding line
with her Fingers, 2010.

"WOW", and that doesn't begin to describe our "Godfather" Christmas party.  When we sent the invitations to our guests, they got into the spirit of the "roaring 20's" and also dressed for the era. Cindy, my wife said that if we were going to have a Christmas party this year, it needed to be different, this was different, unique, and the "Best Yet".  I'm still getting calls from our guests, thanking us for a great party.  Not to sound like a commercial, but for the social event of the season all you need is the Hunt Mystery Theater and MeRay Catering."
 Thanks for this "Grand and Wonderful" party,
Michael Meyer and Cindy Capmany, reyPac Resource Group

Performance in West Jordan

Elise Groves

"I just enjoyed a murder mystery with my office, Allstate Insurance …
I went to one with the same company when I was in Denver
and it was no where near as good as this one. I sat at the table with the
characters, Fingers and Bunny, who were great and absolutely most

Elise Groves as Bunny in 2009

entertaining. Bunny was a riot and was killing me every time she laughed and
Fingers one-liners were historical. I wish you would express to these actors
and all of the others as well, especially the handsome Mafia Boss, that they

Bunny, Elise Groves, with her
mother, Carla, played by
Nancy Candrian in 2010.

were most enjoyable. Thank you for a pleasant afternoon!"
Erin Smith, Allstate Insurance

Performance at Homestead Resort, Midway

Elise Groves and Nancy
Candrian greet guest in 2010.

"I just wanted to thank you, your son, and staff for the most wonderful murder mystery they put on at my Christmas Party this year.
I just wish we would have more parties so we could continue to enjoy the fine entertainment.

Bunny Elise Groves shows off
her wedding ring to her mother,
Carla Beckenstein played by
Nancy Candrian in 2010.  

Many of my employees have commented that this Christmas party was one of the best we have ever had. This was the 40th Paragon Christmas Party I have attended, I would put it

Bunny, Erica Bryce, and her
Fingers played by Daren
Ferrell in 2008.

within the top two or three, and I might even put it as number one. With over 100 people attending, I have not heard one had comment.
The only thing that would have made the evening more enjoyable would have been if Gary Thompson could have been one of our actors, but that is just because I think he is so good and we went to school together. Gary is the one that

Erica Bryce tells guests her
story in 2007 performance.

first talked to me about using your company, and I’m glad he did.
Thanks again for the great time, and I’m sure you will be hearing from me in the future."
Al Fairbanks
President, Paragon Press

Erica Bryce as Bunny in '08.

"BRAVO! Our heartfelt gratitude to you, your family, and the cast and crew of Hunt Mysteries for helping to make our KSL
Celebrity Dinner such a fun and memorable evening. Who would have guessed that a murder could be so fun!

Erica and Daren Farrell
in 2008.

…Please express our sincere gratitude to all who participated last Friday evening. What a great group of people – on and off the stage! Best wishes to you all!" Sharon A. Goodrich - Director of Annual and Corporate Giving, Primary Children’s Medical Center Foundation

"I just enjoyed a murder mystery with my office, Allstate Insurance, at the
gathering place. I went to one with the same company

Erica Bryce performs at
a home in Las Vegas in 2008.

Bunny, Sheri Gillies, and Fingers,
Daren Ferrell, pose with their
new car before performance
at The Gateway in
Salt Lake City in 2008.

when I was in Denver and it was no where near as good as this one. I sat at the table with the characters, Fingers and Bunny, who were great and absolutely most entertaining. Bunny was a riot and was killing me every time she laughed and Fingers one-liners were historical. I wish you would express to these actors and all of the others as well, especially the handsome Mafia Boss, that they were most enjoyable. Thank you for a pleasant afternoon!" Erin Smith, Allstate Insurance

Bunny, Sheri
Gillies, in 2008. 

"Wow! What an incredibly fun party!!! Thank you SO much for making Gordy's party so great. We all had a ton of fun, and your actors could not have been any

A special portrait of
Fingers, Rocky, and
Bunny, Lisa Grow,
was commissioned
by the HM client.

better -- they were fantastic. We enjoy going to Desert Star Playhouse to watch their productions, but you put them to shame! We loved how you involved the audience and kept spotlighting the 'poor ole guy!' Please feel free to use me for a reference, and I promise if we have any future parties, you'll be my first call. Please relay my thanks to all your actors, too. I'm still laughing -- tell 'Lips' (Harry the Lips Smackerrelli) that his interpretation of the advice for Gordy was TOO perfect. Thanks Again!" Lynette Langford, (Birthday Party)

We had some amazing and unusual dinner theater performances. For example,
once we did a double wedding reception: One was a real reception and wedding line, and the other was our performance -- including our actors greeting guests in their own wedding line. The guests Then we did our mystery show trough-out the reception. 

Bunny, Sheri Gillies, is
taken by Harry "The Lip"
Smackerelli, played by
Gary Thompson in 2008.

Your favorite gossip columnist has the scoop 
(Inside jokes for those in the know): 

• Word has it that infamous but charming gangster Fingers Vinerelli has finally popped the big question to his girl, Bunny Beckenstein. The famous lounge dancer said “Sure.”
• It’s rumored that America’s No. 1 crime boss, Don Donatello Giovani, is ready to name his new No. 2. Will it be Harry “The Lip” Smackerelli, Trixie Maraschino, Mickey “The Mooch” O’Donnall or Fingers Vinerelli?
• Rumor has it that Don Donatello Giovani’s bodyguard and lounge singer, Trixie

  

  Bunny, Sheri Gillies, entertains
  guests at Salt Lake Embassy
  Suites in 2008.

  Maraschino, has the inside track on being named the No. 2 crime boss.
• Why is Don Donatello Giovani, America’s No. 1 crime boss, inviting so many people to his “Opera Lover’s Convention Hall?”
• An inside source in the mob says Trixie Maraschino’s climb up the ladder of “success” has included interludes with Harry “The Lip” Smackerelli, Fingers Vinerelli and even the internationally acclaimed crime fighter Inspector Cluesup.
• Is it true that one of Don Donatello Giovani’s guests at his establishment is

  

  Bunny, Sheri Gillies, does the
  Don's favorite number at
  Embassy Suites 2008.

  the infamous but semi-retired Feline Princess cat burglar who’s never known a safe that she hasn’t picked.
• Rumor has it there’s a hit out on Mickey “The Mooch” O’Donnell, who owes a certain someone a large wad of dough.
• Is it true Harry “The Lip” Smackerelli would do anything to get his old flame back?
• Flash! This columnist just received a call from one Sister Mary Margaret O’Donnell, who said – in a strangely masculine voice – that she would personally petition

  

  Sheri Gillies with signer, left,
  and Nancy Candrian and her
  signer, right, at Sego Lilly
  dinner show in 2010.

  America’s No. 1 crime boss to spare the life of a lost soul she is closely familiar with.
• Rumor has it that Inspector Cluesup once arrested Trixie Maraschino for smoking inside a public building – Is that a crime these days?
• The inside scoop on Don Donatello Giovani’s party includes a certain secret password into the famous “Opera Lover’s Convention Hall.”
• Rumor has it that Carla Beckenstein, mother of the lucky bride, Bunny Beckenstein, is also on the lookout for someone with deep pockets.
• Rumor has it that lounge dancer Bunny Beckenstein plans to change gangster Finger Vinerelli’s line of work – something along the line of milking cows and raising chickens.

Hunting Mysteries at Deseret News in 2000!

OUR ‘SLOT’ IS A HEADLINER

ON SEVERAL STAGES

By Steve Warren
Deseret News staff writer
© 2000 Deseret News Publishing Co.

   Some people never find a niche in life that suits them.
   W. Lee Hunt doesn't have that problem. In 1983, he found his niche -
actually, it's called a slot – as chief copy editor at the Deseret News.

   The "slot" is a person who sits in the vertex of a U-shaped arrangement of
computer workstations occupied by up to seven copy editors. After
individual copy editors edit a story and write a headline, the slot either
OKs the story and sends it along for final preprint positioning on a page or returns it
to the copy editor with suggested changes. All the while, he keeps an eye
on page deadlines.
   It's no place for shrinking violets, and it suits Hunt fine. "I enjoy being
in the middle of all the news, the hot, breaking stuff."
   When he came to the Deseret News fresh out of BYU in 1974, Hunt didn't
have a clue that he'd wind up within a few months on the copy desk.
   "I thought of myself as a writer or reporter. I had no experience at all in
copy editing. It was a real challenge," he recalls.
   His first months as a copy editor were so inauspicious that he saw the
handwriting on the wall (but not the misspellings and grammatical problems
in that handwriting) and promptly enrolled in basic English classes through
community education.
   One headline that got him in hot water with the managing editor at the time
was: "Vietnam hoard flees Cong." It's a mistake he's had a "horde" time
forgetting.
   Although Hunt no longer finds the nuances of copy editing a mystery, his
life isn't short on mystery - not by a long shot.
   That's because he's the founder and proprietor of Hunt Mystery & Company,
which produces dinner-theater programs wherein actors stage a murder
mystery and the audience tries to solve it by questioning the performers, or
"suspects."
   Hunt Mystery & Company began in 1991. Early that year, Hunt, his wife Nancy
and children Heather, Lena, Jason, Jared and Nathan discussed ways to earn
money for a trip to California. Before long, the children were selling
Valentine's candy, cookies, pizza and pies.
   At that time, Hunt had already written three murder mysteries but had
staged them only on family occasions and at parties. Spurred on both by the
importunings of friends to go public and by the desire to fund the
California trip, Hunt hired actors and staged a production at a local resort - and they've
been doing them ever since.
   In 1994, the company put on 49 shows. [In 2001, the company stage close to 100 shows.]

   [Hunt Mystery stages public shows about twice a month at various locations.] … Other bookings include conventions and private and employee parties.
   Hunt leaves the acting to professionals (each presentation features six to
eight acting roles), but he continues to write most of the scripts and
lines up shows. Family members help by setting up the programs and in
handling lighting and sound.
   When he's not on the job as copy chief or involved in a dinner theater,
Hunt finds time to change the landscape of West Jordan.
   [Hunt was] …chairman of the West Jordan Urban Forest Committee and spearheaded
efforts that have resulted in the planting of hundreds of trees around the
city…..His appointment as chairman stemmed from his part in organizing tree
plantings at a neighborhood park. "The city saw my interest in trees and
the mayor came calling."

Linda Bisson, Pam Olsen, W. Lee Hunt, Marilyn
Karras and Susan Hermance pose with BYU's
Ty Detmer's Heisman Trophy at work. 

   Even though Hunt enjoys adding green to the West Jordan landscape, he
points out that his real color is "true-blue BYU." Whenever the Cougars
play, he tries to be near a TV -- or at the game, when possible. He does not,
however, belong to the fanatic - some would say frothing, lunatic - fringe
in the BYU-University of Utah rivalry that hopes for its team to win every
game and for its chief rival always to lose. "I cheer for Utah whenever
they're not playing BYU," he said.
   A word of warning to first-time visitors at the Hunt home. Near the front

30-year service
award from
Deseret News.

door, a plaque reads: The Hunt's. Alert souls will notice that the
apostrophe in Hunt's is in the wrong place. But don't be tempted to say,
"Aha, someone who claims to know grammar but who puts apostrophes in the wrong place doesn't have a leg to stand on."
   First, Hunt always has a leg to stand on, sometimes two. (He has a
prosthetic limb.) And second, "That (the plaque) was a gift," he emphasizes.
   Spoken like a true copy editor.