he Lakeside Players specialize in interactive murder mysteries, where the audience confronts the suspects and solves the crime. We perform anywhere, for groups of any size, from private parties in someone's home, to groups of 200 or more in restaurant banquet rooms. We have also done murder mysteries as fund raisers for church groups and civic organizations.
The evening usually begins with a cocktail hour. As guests arrive, find their seats, and get comfortable, our cast mingles with them, in character. This helps the audience get a feel for the show and an understanding of what each character is about.
Dinner is next, and we let the guests eat in peace. This prevents people from missing part of the show due to the distraction of eating and ordering drinks or the clatter of plates and silverware. Once dinner is over and the tables are cleared, the main part of the show begins.
And what a show it is! Our dinner shows are similar to one-act plays performed on a stage. The main body of our shows is usually an hour long. The audience sits and watches, listening for clues. But that doesn't mean they don't participate during the show. Many of our shows include conga lines, mambo lessons, limbo contests, lifeboat drills, and more! There's never a dull moment at a Lakeside Players murder mystery!
After the crime is committed, the audience is instructed on how to vote for the person they think is the murderer. They usually do this while dessert is being served. The first three people to correctly guess the murderer and the motive win prizes provided by the restaurant hosting the event.
We perform a wide range of shows. All are comedies and many involve singing and dancing. Pictured below is the cast from "Euphoria's Secret," a Victorian spoof about the first underwear mail order catalog. Our other Victorian show, "Home Sweet Homicide," is a spoof of Sherlock Holmes.
In the top row are Bob Skibber, Tony Schwartz, and Nancy Johnson.
Seated are Marylou Ambrose, Martyn Freed, and Mary Brinkman.
"Murder on the Lust Boat" is a hilarious spoof of romantic couples' cruises. The audience gets to sing and dance besides solve a murder !
Pictured above are the actors from "Murder on the Lust Boat." This show has a large cast and is one of our more elaborate murder mysteries. Woven throughout the show is live music, dancing, mambo lessons, conga lines, a limbo contest, a lifeboat drill, and a male hula demonstration! Pictured from the left are Marylou Ambrose, Tony Schwartz, John Rowley, Ronni Deisler, Tim McHale, Marilyn Lyman, Bill Parker, Nancy Luke, Nancy Johnson, Roxan Schwartz,
Martyn Freed, and Phyllis Jordan.
The limbo contest in "Murder on the Lust Boat." We've never heard of going head first, but whatever works for this gentleman is fine with us!
A male guest dons a grass skirt and coconut bra to demonstrate the hula dance he learned from Monique, activities director aboard the Lust Boat!
You bet it is! And not just when you attend one of our shows. Being in a show is a blast! If you've ever thought about acting, then a Lakeside Murder Mystery is a great place to get your feet wet. Unlike a full length play that involves months of time, a Lakeside Murder Mystery has just two or three rehearsals, followed by the show, which is usually on a Friday or Saturday night. A small part in a dinner show is a great way to break into acting. It will also give you the experience to someday perform in a full length play. Think about it. If you're interested, just email us, and we'll tell you how you can get started acting in a
Lakeside Murder Mystery!
Interested in acting in one of our shows or hosting a show at your establishment? The first thing you need to do is contact us. Either email us at the bottom of this page or from our home page. We'll be happy to talk with you and get you started acting or planning a show at your place of business!
|