WT Productions invites you to solve ‘Cupid Must Die!’

WT Productions is providing something creatively different to help celebrate this upcoming Valentine’s Day: the interactive dinner theater murder mystery “Cupid Must Die!”

Cupid is hosting his annual exclusive party to celebrate love and romance. Not everyone is enchanted with Cupid on this occasion, however.

Six quirky individuals, whom Cupid labels as “misfits when it comes to love,” have arrived at the party. These misfits include a self-proclaimed nerd who lives with her parents and is obsessed with baking and the Food Network, an eight-time divorcee who has just come from an event at which he performed as a clown, a successful business woman who has no time for love except for her six cats, a homeless man with a limp, an aspiring puppeteer with a severely flirty hand puppet, and the Grim Reaper himself.

These six all have some issues with Cupid. During the course of the evening, someone is going to die. Will Cupid survive? Will love survive?

WT Productions is partnering with North Avenue Pub & Grill and Marquee Youth Stage on this one-night only fundraising event that will take place on Saturday, Feb. 17. The social hour begins at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m.

During the social hour, characters will interact with audience members. They may provide details that can be used as clues to help you determine the killer later that evening. Salad and an appetizer will be served just prior to the show beginning. There will be a meal break when the entrée will be served.

Once the main course is over, the performance will resume until dessert is served. During this time, predictions of whodunit and why will be collected. The show will conclude with the big reveal. Once over, several prizes will be awarded to those who guess correctly or come up with very creative responses.

“Cupid Must Die!” is written, produced, and directed by Debbi Dennison (Streamwood) and Carl Zeitler (Glen Ellyn). The show features Dennison, Danny Glenn (Schaumburg), Betsey Milord (Joliet), Stephen Pickering (Fox River Grove), Julane Sullivan (Batavia), Nikolai Sorokin (Wheaton), and Zeitler.

The event will be held at North Avenue Pub and Grill at 27W371 North Ave. (Route 64) in West Chicago. Free parking is available. “Cupid Must Die!” is appropriate for a PG-13 audience.

Dennison is enthusiastic about the upcoming event. “The show is a great night out for either a traditional date night or a gathering of friends. The audience will enjoy a great three-course meal served to them while watching an interactive show. They also act as the detectives as they gather clues to guess whodunit and why. There are great prizes to win,” she said.

Prizes include a gift basket from Pinot’s Palette; a $100 gift certificate from Cake Frosted; a $50 gift certificate from North Avenue Pub & Grill; a $50 gift card to Olive Garden from Dawn Block-Century 21; tickets to Bit Theater; free fitness class passes from Orangetheory Fitness; a pair of bottles of wine — red & white (Valentine’s Day colors) — from WT Productions; a “Seasonal” gift package from WT Productions; and a surprise themed gift from All Dressed Up Costumes.

The event is a fundraiser; part of the proceeds will go to Marquee Youth Stage in St. Charles. Not only does Marquee provide their own youth theater education and productions, but they partner with independent groups like WT Productions and allow them to perform in their venue.

“This event is great on many levels. We provide a fun interactive show with generous prizes donated by supportive businesses. The food and meal service are excellent. Plus, we raise money to help support a group that supports other community theater groups,” Zeitler said. “If you enjoy fun, good food, and supporting the performing arts, then this event is definitely for you.”

Pickering believes this show brings a lot of things that would appeal to audiences. “The script is so funny! The characters are hysterical and outrageous, and the way they interact with each other is just wonderful! If I had to pick one thing, though, it would be this cast.”

“These are some of the best from all around the Chicago area, and they are all bringing their A game to every rehearsal,” Pickering said. “It’s such a treat for me to be a part of it all, and I know it will be a special treat for the audience, too!”

Patrons have three plated entrée choices (served by wait staff): vegetarian rigatoni with vodka sauce, roasted chicken with roasted potatoes, or pan-seared salmon with roasted potatoes. The vegetarian rigatoni meal is $67 per person. The roasted chicken is $75 per person, as is the pan-seared salmon. All meal options include house salad, bruschetta, soft drinks, water, coffee, tea, and a slice of cheesecake.

There will be a cash bar available for other beverages during the social hour and meal break. Tickets include the meal items, performance, tax, gratuity, and credit card service fee.

Some of the cast have previously performed in this style of show, but Milord is appearing in her first interactive murder mystery and she finds the process “so exciting because in a show like this, actors have an opportunity to engage with the audience in fun, improv ways. Being able to break that fourth wall is a unique and interesting experience for an actor!”

Glenn has appeared with WT Productions in several shows including a murder mystery production. “I feel like the things audiences will most enjoy about ‘Cupid Must Die’ are the highly colorful cast of characters, the whodunit nature of the show (everyone loves a mystery) and the fact that they, the audience, are actually part of the show which puts them ‘on stage’ with the actors. In fact, they will have the opportunity to interact with the cast and participate in the action. This coupled with a nice romantic dinner will surely create a Valentine’s Day celebration to remember!”

Tickets are only available online and must be purchased by Saturday, Feb. 10, at 11:59 p.m. in order to have meal orders, staffing requirements, and seating arrangements ready for the night of the event. Tickets are available at wtproductions2.weebly.com/

This is the second murder mystery dinner production that WT Productions produced at North Avenue Pub & Grill. They performed “Murder’s Day,” a Mother’s Day themed show this past May to a full house, so tickets will be in demand again for this event.

David Klem, owner and operations manager of North Avenue Pub & Grill, confirmed this sentiment. “The murder mystery was such a success last year, we are very much looking forward to it again!”

Dennison had the final word on the show. “It has unique, interesting characters that will take you on a funny and suspenseful ride. Of course, there is a murder, but perhaps there is love as well? Hmmm. You’ll have to come to the show to find out.”