Book your tickets prom-ptly
By Chelsea Yarnell
For the TODAY
There’s always the typical teen drama leading up to senior prom. Who will ask whom? Will the varsity team win their game before the dance? And who will be voted as king and queen of the night? But not usually “Who committed murder?”
Relive the glitz, glamour and gossip of prom night with Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts’ performance of “Murder at the Prom.” The murder mystery dinner experience will be hosted at the Pacific Restaurant in Tillamook on Saturday, Oct. 18.
This interactive whodunit performance combines a high school tale with a twist of deadly suspense, all wrapped in a night of prom pageantry gone terribly wrong. The plot promises suspense, laughs and plenty of hairspray.
Guests are invited to attend the evening dressed in their favorite prom attire, the more flamboyant and gaudy the better. The evening features a four-course dinner, complementary drink and commemorative drink glass. Social hour will begin at 5:30, with dinner starting at 7 pm.
When a shocking crime interrupts the evening, it’s up to the guests to uncover the clues and question the suspects.
“The show is built around having dinner so there are breaks in the show where the clues on the table need to be opened and deciphered by guests,” Director Lisa Greiner said. “There are also dossier cards that tell guests their character names and how they have had an interaction with the actual cast. There are certain characters that get called out of the crowd. Everyone attending participates in the evening in way, shape or form: whether it’s reading a clue or asking a question.”
Who will the clues lead to? Class snobs Charles Jonathan Edward Buckley III and Margot Ralston? The class outcast Patty Primpinpoof? Or the duo from the wrong side of the tracks, Vinnie DiMici and Bella Baloopi? The mystery must be solved before the night is over.
“We don’t release the cast list because we try to keep it a secret,” Greiner said. “We want the actors to appear as if they’re coming in as dinner guests so it’s a surprise when your tablemate starts partaking in the performance.”
At the end of the evening, each table names their prime suspect. Those who guess correctly will be awarded first, second and third place prizes. And of course, it wouldn’t be a prom without voting for Prom King and Prom Queen.
“I want the evening to be immersive and engaging,” Greiner said. “I want people to feel like they’re a part of the show; everything is happening right around you.”
Last year’s murder mystery dinner was a huge success, selling out weeks before the event, so don’t hesitate to purchase tickets.
The evening is a fund-raiser for the Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts.
Guests should be 21 years or older as the production contains gunshots, adult humor and mature content.
The Saturday, Oct. 18, dinner and show begins at 5:30 pm at the Pacific Restaurant, located at 205 Main Ave in Tillamook. Tickets are $85. For more information and tickets, go to tillamooktheater.com.