OCALA, FL (352today.com) Saddle up and get ready to head back to the Wild West with Vanguard High School’s VHS Players’ latest production, Dead in Deadwood. This immersive murder mystery dinner theatre experience transports you to the year 1880, to the rough and tumble days of a town clinging to the vestiges of its former glory.
For two nights only, February 16 and 17, the Knights Union will be transformed into the infamous Leland Hotel, where outlaws (that’s you, partner) gather, and Miss Iggy’s boasts the title of the best little dance hall in South Dakota. Get ready to strut into Deadwood but watch your back – it’s going to be a dangerous night at the Leland.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the action kicking off at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m. featuring Lee’s Famous Fried Chicken. But this is no ordinary dinner. As you get your fill, you’ll be thrown into a thrilling mystery where everyone’s a suspect and a keen eye could reveal the most sordid of secrets.
“There isn’t a bad seat in the house, the action happens all over the room,” says Sarah LeBeau, Director of Troupe #12-1003 at Vanguard. “We encourage our guests to get out of their seat and really investigate the crime. This isn’t a formal dinner at all. We want everyone to really enjoy themselves. It’s a lot of fun, the actors have a great time, and the guests have a great time as well.”
Remember, every table is part of the stage. If you love doing a little detective work, you’ll get the chance to interact with the cast, scrutinize the evidence, and there might just be a few unexpected twists to keep you on the edge of your “saloon chair.”
Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased here.