The shows have been seen by over 3000 people over 12 years and have become a very special feature event at the Castle with up to 8 different shows each season.  Although murder mysteries were popular in other areas of the country, Beardslee Castle was the first venue in the Mohawk Valley to present this type of production with the showing of "Murder in Morocco" by Veronica Hart in 1996.  Veronica's Cooperstown based players were followed by the classic interactive plays of Alan Bryce's 'Drop Dead Productions'.  Alan, a veteran of the London stage,  put together numerous self-written shows complete with dismembered bodies and wild special effects.  

      The collaboration with Chef Randall at the Castle spurred Alan's budding interest in fine wines as Randall shared a delicious selection with Alan after one of the shows.   Alan was eager to learn more about fine wine and the next few after-show tastings led to the idea of creating a wine auction as part of Alan's position as chief fundraiser for the Herkimer ARC.  This was the start of the New York International Wine Auction now held annually at Cooperstown's Otesaga Resort Hotel. 

      Eventually Alan moved out of the area and the Castle went without a murder mystery company for a short while.  Then Veronica Hart returned to produce a handful of shows until  2003 when the Castle started work with Bob Greene and the ACME mystery company of Syracuse.  Bob's shows are creative, witty, tongue-in-cheek take-offs of popular cliché themes and always come with a wacky cast of oddballs.  The performers are quick and energetic and members of the audience participate by being given lines to yell out after they hear their cue.  Mis-steps or mistakes become ad-lib take off points for hilarity while the plot is weaving and thickening.   The guests pick out their choice for the guilty party which is revealed with a creative twist of a climax to the show. 

     Of course dinner is half the reason for the event and the kitchen always prepares a great meal served on family style platters to keep the service seamless and out of the way of the action.   On some occasions the dinner is styled to match the theme of the show including the upcoming "Freagan Family Reunion" show which will include grilled pork with red-eye gravy, cornbread, roast beef with smashed potatoes and apple pie.  A full bar is available and a quick service wine list is in place at each table for groups that wish to share a bottle.   Parties of 6 or more are seated at their own tables while couples or smaller groups are put together at tables of 8 to 10 to help grease the conversation and keep everyone laughing.  

    For more information on Beardslee Castle's murder mysteries and other dinner theater events please contact Randall at the Castle at 315-823-3000.

As a new feature we offer do-it-yourself murder mysteries for smaller, private groups.  Participants are given their character's dossier and clues before arriving and the plot unfolds around the table in your own private dining room.  The staff throw in some surprises and dinner can be as plain or extravagant as you like.  These events are available for groups of 10 to 40 people.   Private or corporate performances by the ACME mystery company are subject to availability of the group and require a minimum of 75 guests.