From extravagant brunches to arcade bars, the Hudson Valley is no stranger to experiential dining, and Murder Café tops them all when it comes to chills and thrills. A traveling theater company based out of Rosendale, Murder Café has been entertaining audiences throughout the region and beyond with immersive murder mystery dinners since 1998.
Although the company has been in operation for nearly three decades, it wasn’t until 2009 that Murder Café planted its roots in the Hudson Valley. The brand was originally founded through parent company Theatre on the Road in Las Vegas and, when owners Frank and Kristen Marquette finally moved their company to the East Coast, it wasn’t long before Murder Café became known for quality shows and high-caliber actors.
Before creating his own brand, Frank was already heavily involved in the world of theater, having worked on hundreds of interactive comedy plays since 1994. As an actor, director, playwright, and producer, he comprehends the ins and outs of a production, and his expertise shines through in every Murder Café show. As for his wife, Kristen, she understands costume design through and through thanks to her experience owning and operating her own salon, Studio KTM in Red Hook, and she completes the brand’s team with her costume-design and script-writing skills.
Together, the Marquettes have built quite the reputation in the Valley, having performed at some of the region’s top venues like Mohonk Mountain House, The Beekman Arms, Curry Estate, and Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Not only does Murder Café produce public shows, but it provides private entertainment for anything from company parties to fundraising events.
“Murder mystery theater is one of those classic experiences that many people have heard of, but never tried. Our actors are fantastic, and these events can be a great way to bond with family, friends, or colleagues. As for hosts, it provides them with unique entertainment that drives brand awareness to help them to truly stand out among competitors,” says Frank.
At each event, anywhere between 30 and 200 attendees are invited to come and join in on the dining experience. After entering the dining room, the audience greets the actors and settles in for the show, which is broken up into four scenes between dinner courses. The immersive experience includes an original scripted performance with plenty of audience interaction and prizes for correct guesses about the whodunit culprit.
In the coming months, Murder Café will be performing at Anthony’s Banquet Hall (Leeds), Mohonk Mountain House, Curry Estate, and Rhinebeck’s Omega Institute. The company also does historical talks, lectures, and more throughout the year at local destinations. For the most up-to-date information on upcoming events (including special holiday performances).
Clued In
Want more behind-the-scenes stories from Murder Café’s 27 years of performances? Pick up a copy of owner Frank Marquette’s recent autobiographical release, The True Story of Murder Café, where he recounts the highs, lows, and anecdotes (both comedic and dramatic) that have come from running a quirky family production company. – Megan Wilson
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