Murder mystery dinner event

The Murder Mystery Company will stage an interactive event on April 6 in Ocala, to benefit the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center. [Photo courtesy The Murder Mystery Company]

Who dunnit?

Well, you’ll have to attend the event to find out.

The Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center is hosting a spring fundraising event with a Roaring ‘20’s Gangster theme on April 6 at the Reilly Arts Center NOMA Black Box.

Actors from The Murder Mystery Company will perform an interactive murder mystery while guests enjoy an Italian buffet dinner from Let’s Eat Fresh Caterers.

Promotional materials state, “Enjoy dinner at Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center’s exclusive Estella Dolce Vita Restaurant for an evening of fun, glamour, deception and danger. As dinner is served the mystery unfolds. A notorious gangster’s life ends…WHO DID IT? You are a part of the investigation—maybe even the KILLER! Can you and your fellow detectives solve the crime and who can you trust… before it’s too late?”

“We want this to be a new approach on a fundraiser,” said Levonda Goodson, the center’s CEO. “We think it will be a fun and exciting evening for everyone. Every dollar raised will go to advancing our mission and supporting the growth of a healthier Greater West Ocala community.”

The center offers a range of medical services, including preventive care, chronic disease management and acute illness treatment.

The Murder Mystery Company has more than 3,000 actors nationwide, along with 24 troupe directors.

“Born in a Grand Rapids, Michigan, living room in 2002, our journey from local performances to becoming America’s premier immersive theater experience reads like a mystery novel itself. Today, we stand proud as the largest theatrical company in the nation, offering over 7,500 shows annually across more than 20 troupes nationwide,” notes the organization’s website.

“At The Murder Mystery Company, we believe in the power of imagination. Our interactive Clue-style comedies invite every guest to step into a world of intrigue and play their part in a riveting tale of mystery. Whether you’re slipping into a flapper dress or a neon jumpsuit, you’re not just attending a show; you’re stepping into a role in a thrilling narrative crafted just for you,” officials noted.

The schedule of events is cocktails, clues and characters at 4 p.m., buffet opens at 5 p.m., show begins at 5:30 p.m. The Reilly Arts Center is located at 500 NE 9th St., Ocala.

“Come in your Roaring ‘20’s flapper dresses, zoot suits, fedora’s, boa’s, pearls and headbands,” encourages the wellness center’s leadership. Theme attire is optional, however.

The cost to attend is $60. RSVP by going to bit.ly/EBWmurdermystery
For more information about the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center, go to ebwchc.org