Hiring a Murder Mystery Theater group for your event can be a total success or an awkward flop. The right troupe can leave guests thoroughly entertained, and the wrong troupe can make the night drag on forever. The Murder Mystery events are popping up in more and more cities, with new companies offering this style of entertainment in their party offerings. Why is it so popular?



One reason is that the quality of some murder mystery troupes is getting so much better. A good mystery is intriguing and challenging. Believable actors can transport your guests to another time and place, leaving their worlds behind. A night of suspense and thrills is so different from the mundane company event or holiday party.

Choosing the right murder mystery cast for your party is crucial. The factors depend on your needs. Do you want challenging detective work for your guests, or more comedic fun? Or both? Do you like campy over the top actors or characters that blend into your party without anyone noticing. Would your guests enjoy a modern setting, or another era such as a Speakeasy in the Twenties, or Victorian England? Would you like a dark Noir feel, or a parody of the Sopranos? So many options!

When I was 23, I got my first taste of the mystery dinner theater world. In NJ, I worked with a troupe that specialized in the campy over the top mystery dinner theater. Silly scripts, comedic characters that were hokey, but it was so much fun. That was the style and what people expected. I fit in perfectly, I got to hone my spontaneous improv skills, table to table, cracking people up. I even wrote a campy script that is still being used today by that same company.

A few years later, I relocated to Los Angeles, CA. Out west, the murder mysteries we performed were contrasting: the goal was to have your actors blend right in with the guests, you did not know who was who. The mysteries they solved were actually challenging and intriguing, the writing was superb, the plots filled with twists. When someone would discover something, the guests were truly amazed and excited and captivated. But still I would see too much down time in between these moments, a little slower moving night, and I wanted to see actors talents utilized more.

One character in this style did not blend in, the lead detective was outed of course from the start, and drove the night. A fun and important role, I auditioned for the role, telling the producer that I would be a cross between Columbo and Jay Leno. I developed performed that character in mystery dinners across the country with this company, who called themselves the Rolls Royce of Mystery Companies.

Now I am Detective Sharpo for my own murdery mystery theater troupe, Sharpo Mysteries. I believe in a blend of challenging detective work mixed in with some silliness. We want guests to be intrigued and entertained at the same time. This perfect mix keeps the night moving and leaves everyone happy. Nora and I write the scripts ourselves, I am now a member of the Mystery Writers of America, and they employ quality compelling plots, not cheesy surface predictable fluff. But we never forget we are here to have fun. We even start the night early during the cocktail hour with intermingling performers doing magic and comedy in a lowkey fashion, it sets the tone for a night of fun.

By asking the right questions, you can find a murder mystery company in your city that truly provides a one of a kind experience. This perfect mix of mystery and comedy will leave your guests talking about this event for years!