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 26 years, it wasn’t until 2009 that Murder Café planted its roots in the 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 the creation of his own brand, Frank Marquette 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, Frank 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 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 shows that are available to the public at these popular venues, but the brand 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; but 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 in 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.
This October, Murder Café brings its Halloween-themed murder mystery show Haunted High School Reunion to the Valley with nine performances across the region. You can catch the show at locations like The Kartrite Resort, Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa, The Beekman Arms, Bethel Woods, and more. Co-written by Frank Marquette and director Lauren Roberts, the original production will also be available for private events beginning on October 1.
If murder mystery isn’t your thing, the brand also does historical talks, lectures, and more throughout the year at local destinations. Catch a lecture about the Hudson Valley’s bootleg era history or stay tuned for Theatre on the Road’s A Christmas Carol this winter.
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