The evening begins around 6:45 PM. You are greeted by the house manager who will check you in and help you find your table. At around 6:55 PM the actors will start circulating around in character, handing out one of the many audience parts available. You don't have to have a speaking part if you don't want to, but to truly experience the joy of a murder mystery dinner theatre, go ahead and grab one before they all go!
At 7:00 PM ACT I will begin. At this point no late seating is allowed, so be sure that you arrive before 7:00 PM so that you don't miss out on any of the action.
The "speaking part" will be some character that is essential to the plot of the play. On your character sheet you will be given a brief description of the character and your "cue line" so you know when to stand and begin your part. When you hear your cue you will stand at your table and deliver your part however you feel it should be done. After your part is over, you will be told to sit down to thunderous applause by your peers! It's that simple and a lot of fun to interact this way!
If you do happen to arrive late, the doors will be opened in between each ACT and you may be seated at that time. After ACT I, salads will be served. Then after ACT II, your main meal. After ACT III, you will be given a form and you can make your guess as to Whodunnit? Those sheets will be collected after dessert and then ACT IV will begin. Various suspects will be briefly interviewed and then the killer will be revealed!
Those who correctly guess the identity of the murderer will have their names put into a drawing and if your name is drawn, you will win the prize of the evening! You won't be able to retire on it but you might be able to put it on your desk as a memento of the evening.
The entire evening should last a couple of hours and pictures with the actors can take place after the evening is completed. While the action is going on, no one is allowed to leave the room. There will be plenty of time between the ACTS for you to visit the bar and the restroom.
That's it! All you have to do is come, dress as your favorite mystery person or come as casual as you like. The only thing that we ask is that you don't wear flip-flops or work t-shirts so that you feel comfortable participating fully.
Picture above is Haley Rice as "Fredericka Von Strudel" passing out audience parts before the show in An Inheritance of Murder, Spring 2008
Pictured Middle is the Empire Mills Room at the Historic Marriott Hotel
Pictured below is Amber Dickerson in Dial ‘S’ For Santa, Christmas 2008
