What is it: Mysteries Ink is the brainchild of a group of local actors who wanted to bring dinner theater to the area. Unfortunately, COVID had other ideas, putting the idea on hold for a couple of years. It recently got back up and running with a mid-September production of Bullets for Broadway at Mesenburg Plaza Place in Huron.
“At the beginning of the summer, we all got together and decided this was the time to revisit this as a new business venture for all of us,” says Kate Volz, spokesperson and actor. “We’re just a group of actors who got together and really enjoy each other and what we do. We decided to make this a business as a group.”
Although the first two shows have closed, the company wants people to stay in touch because there is more to come.
“We really want to keep this going,” Volz says. “It’s just logistically trying to figure out when there’s a good time for us as actors and what works for Mesenburgs.”
An immersive experience: The productions will be an interactive experience for guests, with four-course meals served by the actors, who will be engaging diners as they are served.
“It’s not just a buffet where you have to get up to get your food,” Volz says. “It will be brought to you and served by the actors. It’s really an immersive experience where once you walk in the door, you are part of the entire show. Various audience members will be called up to either appear on stage or called out from their seats.
“There will be a lot of audience participation going on the whole time.”
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Bullets for Broadway is the first show presented by Mysteries Ink.Making it all happen: An undertaking such as a dinner theater has a lot of moving parts, from securing a play that works to having the actors and a location that can bring the entire evening together. The group that makes up Mysteries Ink has nearly three-quarters of a century of experience in theater, while founder Mark Sartor participated in the Cloak and Dagger Dinner Theater, a popular Columbus-area venue in the 1980s and 90s.
Mesenburg has also played a key role in making the dinner theater work, according to Volz. The firm will provide the meal, starting with a pre-show starter and between-scene changes throughout the show.
“We have always been in talks with them about doing something like this,” she says of Mesenburg. “They have been really receptive and open to the idea and they have the perfect space for us with an incredible culinary kitchen and staff to make this happen.
“They’ve just been a great partner for us and generous enough to open their doors and really help us in any way they can, from putting together the menu to figuring out how we get everyone in and seating charts.”
Moving forward: Mysteries Ink is already trying to figure out its next move, probably offering the Bullets for Broadway production again sometime next spring or summer.
“We’re not 100% sure yet, but we definitely know we want to continue doing this and keep this showing for a while before we switch it out,” Volz says. “But at this time, we don’t have any other performances scheduled.”
The group used posters in area businesses, as well as social media to get the word out about the first show. It plans to use that combination, along with word-of-mouth advertising from entertained guests from the first shows, to promote future productions.
“Definitely look out for us in the future,” Volz says. “We are already working with Mesenburgs’, trying to figure out when we can do another show. At this point, we are definitely going to keep offering this because we believe this is something unique that this area doesn’t have.”
How to get involved: Visit
the
Mysteries Ink website to find information about upcoming productions and ticket sales. There’s also a
Facebook page for fans to follow. In addition, the company can be contacted by email at
[email protected].
“We are hoping to get a lot of photographs and videos from the shows we’re doing in September to help us keep that momentum going,” Volz says. “We like to put out a lot of teasers, so stay tuned. Once we have another date confirmed, we’ll start ramping up the effort again.”