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Brace yourself for shady characters, outrageous crimes and ridiculous plot twists. Fairbanks Drama Association is set to unveil its annual Mystery Dinner Theatre on July 12.

The show is billed as a mystery-comedy, called “Damsel of the Desert.” The details are pretty sketchy beyond that, but director Peggy Ferguson said simply that it’s the mysterious story of five people in search of happiness.

But in the tradition of FDA’s Mystery Dinner Theatre, the hazy plot outline is part of the deal. Nobody — not even the actors involved — are quite sure what’s going to unfold on stage.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” Ferguson said. “That’s part of the fun.”

The unexpected moments will come because the cast is light on experience, and the script should be heavy on improvisation. There will only be two rehearsals before the group takes to the stage.

To ratchet up the mystery, the play will be held with an additional twist this year. Previous shows have featured a cast of FDA regulars, with local celebrities serving as “special guests” who make cameos during various scenes. This year the guests will take center stage, without the help of more seasoned actors.

The cast includes five well-known local residents — Dermot Cole, Jeri Wigdahl, Marilyn Romano, Bart LeBon and Althea St. Martin. They’ve all appeared in previous Mystery Dinner Theatre productions before, except for Cole, but have little acting experience beyond that.

Despite that, Ferguson said they’re up to the challenge. “We’re in good hands with these people — they’re all very good actors and a lot of fun.”

Wigdahl said being a good sport is a necessary skill. This year she’ll play Melody, “the romantic sweetheart,” but in previous years she’s played a disco queen and a rhinestone-studded Westerner. The characters are always absurd and hilarious, she said.

“If you’re going to make an idiot out of yourself, you might as well do it having fun,” she said with a laugh.

Ferguson said the tone this year won’t be any different. While over-the-top murders are a regular feature of the shows, the tone of the plays ranges from silly to ridiculous.

“It’s going to be a scream,” she said. “We try to make this as zany and crazy as possible.”

Most theater productions cringe at the thought of unexpected moments on opening night. But they’ve become the staple of Mystery Dinner Theatre, with improvised lines generating some of the biggest laughs.

To make sure things don’t get too wild, FDA veteran Mike Karoly will serve as the beret-wearing “actors wranger,” steering the participants to safety if it looks like things are getting out of control.

“I think this is why it’s going to work,” Ferguson said. “He’s hilarious and he’ll make it all go and flow.”

The murder-filled stories have become a staple of the FDA season, marking the biggest fundraiser of the year for the organization. The show won’t be held until July 12, but the deadline for purchasing tickets is noon Wednesday. The $75 tickets include a dinner catered by David Welborn and the Carlson Center. The evening will also include a no-host bar and a silent auction.