Cruise to Murder: An Evening of Murder and Intrigue on the High Seas

by Sara Geer
June 25, 1997

During an elegant dinner on board a Luxury Cruise Liner, someone will be horribly MURDERED in cold blood. Who is the killer? What was the motive? Can you find the clues and solve the crime before it’s too late?

On June 25th, 1997, Dreamwell Theatre sponsored Cruise to Murder: An Evening of Murder and Intrigue on the High Seas, a murder mystery party.

Guests were given characters to play, and a setting to play them in. On the night of the party, they were then joined by actors, who were not immediately known to the guests. The actors played out a murder, and the guests then were asked to assist in solving the crime, finding clues, asking questions, and the like. The setting of this production was on board a cruise ship.

Cast:
Ali Zimmerman
Matthew Falduto
Sharon Falduto
Paul Chakrin
Sara Geer
Mateo Salazar
Arianne Stevens

Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck
Directed by Sharon Falduto
September 4-13, 1997

Of Mice and Men was a successful first production, bringing in an enthusiastic audience from the Iowa City area. Of Mice and Men is a moving tale of the friendship between two migrant workers, a retarded man and the companion who looks after him. The story takes place in the heart of the Depression, at a ranch in California seething with the turmoil of the time. We are happy to have made this our first production.

Cast for Of Mice And Men:

* Lennie – Neal Leaheey
* George – Matthew Falduto
* Slim – Marc Burg
* Candy – Stan Hollibaugh
* Curley – Brad Quinn
* Curley’s Wife – Maggie Pitsor
* Crooks – Roschell Lloyd
* Carlson – Don Schneider
* Whit – Paul Chakrin
* The Boss – Mat Winegarden

Murder in Disguise: an original murder mystery party

written and directed by Matthew Falduto
October 29, 1997

For the final show of 1997, Dreamwell Theatre presented Murder in Disguise:A Halloween Murder Mystery Masquerade, their second interactive theatre production. The audience had to solve the murder of Abraham Wilson (Steve Katzen), the multimillionaire bigamist. Everyone had a motive, from his three wives (Alex Broek, Sharon Falduto, and Arianne Stevens) to a disgruntled ex-employee (Chrissy Johnson). Even the bodyguard (Paul Chakrin) was a suspect. In the end, the audience discovered Abraham’s personal assistant (Carrie McGivern) had pulled the trigger. Halloween costumes added to the mystery and excitement.

The concept of Dreamwell’s murder mystery parties is that guests are given characters to play, and a setting to play them in. On the night of the party, they are then joined by actors, who are not immediately known to the guests. The actors play out a murder, and the guests are asked to assist in the solving of the crime, finding clues, asking questions, and the like.

Unfortunately, everyone was having such a good time that we forgot to take pictures, so there is no photo record of this event!