Murder on the Star Gazer Express: A Dinner Party Mystery Plot

This is one of dozens original murder mystery shows we can do for you and your guests. EMAIL to book your next adventure!

Setting: A luxurious private train car named the Star Gazer Express. Guests are traveling from New York City to San Francisco on a cross-country adventure.

The Victim: Bartholomew “Bart” Vanderbilt – A self-made tech billionaire known for his ruthless business practices and flamboyant lifestyle.

The Guests: (Assign these roles to your dinner party guests. These are just templates, we customize our shows to your guest list.)

Olivia Kensington: A renowned astronomer and the owner of the Star Gazer Express. Known for her eccentric personality and love of stargazing.
Charles Dupont: A charming art dealer with a shady past and a gambling addiction.
Scarlett Sinclair: A Hollywood movie star on the run from a recent scandal.
Professor Alistair Finch: A brilliant but absent-minded archaeologist obsessed with a lost treasure.
Dr. Evelyn Walsh: A renowned cardiologist with a mysterious connection to Bart Vanderbilt.
Detective Miller: A gruff and experienced detective, hired by Olivia to discreetly investigate a recent threat made against Bart.
Margaret “Maggie” O’Leary: Bart Vanderbilt’s loyal but overworked personal assistant.
George “The Giant” Jackson: Bart Vanderbilt’s imposing bodyguard with a hidden past.

The Crime: During dinner, a scream pierces the night. Bart Vanderbilt is found dead in his compartment, stabbed with a stargazer’s dagger (a decorative item aboard the train).

The Dinner:

Appetizers: Guests mingle and introduce themselves, establishing their relationships with Bart and each other. Clues about Bart’s personality and the other guests’ motives can be subtly woven into conversations.
Main Course: As the meal progresses, tension builds. A hidden compartment in Bart’s room is discovered, revealing a blackmail note or a cryptic message. The Detective questions each guest, uncovering secrets and alibis.
Dessert: Guests are presented with pieces of a torn photograph found near the crime scene. They must work together to piece together the image, which could reveal a crucial detail about the murder.
Accusation: After dessert, each guest has the opportunity to present their theory about the murder and accuse a fellow passenger.

The Resolution:

Guests vote for who they believe is the murderer.
The “murderer” is revealed, along with their motive and the opportunity they had to commit the crime.
Guests can discuss the clues and red herrings throughout the evening.

Additional Touches:

Encourage guests to dress in 1920s attire for an immersive experience.
Provide name tags with each guest’s character name and a short bio.
Decorate the table with miniature constellations and astronomical props.
Play dramatic music throughout the evening to heighten the suspense.

Optional Twists:

Plant a fake clue on one of the guests to throw suspicion off the real culprit.
Introduce a hidden romance between two characters that adds another layer to the mystery.
Have a surprise witness emerge at the last minute, providing a new perspective on the crime.

This is just an outline, feel free to add your own creative twists and details to make the murder mystery dinner party unique and engaging for your guests!

A division of Improv Theater LLC

The New York Improv Theater is a one stop edutainment center for corporate team building, office / holiday parties and more. Our comedy shows and workshops deliver high impact results. Clients include Google, Mercedes Benz, META /Facebook, TikTok, JP Morgan Chase, Accenture, Morgan Stanley, Twitter, Roblox, Rimowa, EI Digital, Accenture, Datadog HQ, Milbank, BING/Microsoft, Band of America – Merrill Lynch, Home Depot, Ernst & Young, Johnson & Johnson, Louis Vuitton, Coach, UBS, BDO, AMEX, Master Card, Macy’s, 360i, IBM, GM, Kraft, UNILEAVER, HBO, Prudential, Convene, Conference Board and many more… (NYC DOE VENDORS)

COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

Providing College / University campus activities at Harvard, Syracuse, Seton Hall, Princeton, Georgetown, Vaughn, Molloy, Montclair State, Bloomberg College, High Point, Williams College, Lynchburg College, Southern New Hampshire University, Ferris State, Mount Isa, Misericordia, Sacred Heart, Hastings, Pace, Vaughn, College Misericordia, University of Vermont, Stone Hill, Yeshiva, Columbia, NYU, Hofstra, Cooper Union, John Jay, Fordham, Sacred Heart, Seton Hall, and more.

Touring Nationwide

Additionally, 1000s of public and private events at The Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, Wolf Trap, The Argyle Theater, Emelin Theater, Gerold Opera House, 72nd Street Pier, Cherry Point Marine Base, Disney Resorts, Ohio National Guard, Connecticut DCF, First Nights Winchester VA, Binghamton First Night, Haddonfield First Night, Chateau Briand, Babylon Carriage House, retirement homes, numerous libraries, YMCA, JCC, Parks and Recreation, 1000s of k12 schools and summer camps in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska.Artistic Director, Walt Frasier has 25+ years of professional credits in comedy, Theater and music. He got his big break in TV performing comedy sketches on MTV’s Stankervision, Late Nite with David Letterman, TruTV’s Friends of the People, and most recently on HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay. As an actor, Frasier has appeared on NBC’s Blacklist, CBS’s Blue Bloods, USA’s Royal Pains (Filmed in Puerto Rico), Netflix’s Lilyhammer (filmed in Norway) and NICK’s Naked Brothers Band. In addition to 1000s of live performances around the world, Frasier has also appeared in numerous commercials, industrials, webisodes and reality TV shows. Arthur Avenue regulars may also recognize Walter, if you add a white beard and red suit, as he has been official Little Italy Santa for the past 15 years.

Artistic Director Walt Frasier

With over 30 years of experience in theater, comedy, and television, Walt Frasier is the Artistic Director of Improv Theater LLC, a leading edutainment center known for its high-impact comedy shows and workshops. His extensive career includes performing comedy sketches on MTV’s Stankervision, Late Nite with David Letterman, TruTV’s Friends of the People, and HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay. As an actor, Walt has appeared on NBC’s Blacklist, CBS’s Blue Bloods, USA’s Royal Pains, Netflix’s Lilyhammer, and NICK’s Naked Brothers Band, in addition to numerous commercials, industrials, and live performances worldwide.