Murder on the Menu® for your Holiday Party

Looking for a fun holiday party? Murder on the Menu has been performing for holiday parties for 30+ years. Each event is unique and customized for the client to include their goals and objectives (to have fun?), agenda (during a lunch, dinner, reception?), and specific guests. Our professional actors and tech staff and onsite director coordinate the action! Your guests can become as involved as they'd like! That's what makes it so much fun! Contact us for more info. Leave a comment below with your email address, or fill out an RFP on our website.

Murder on the Menu performs at the venue of your choice--anywhere in the world. Don't have a location? We can suggest one for you.  Groups of 5 to 200. Anywhere in the world.

Murder on the Menu: An English Tea Room Mystery 7/19

Murder on the Menu will be performing at the Tudor Rose Tea Room in Santa Rosa (CA) on Saturday night, July 19.

Join us for an evening of mystery and intrigue at the charming Tudor Rose English Tea Room. Come as your favorite sleuth. Be prepared. Ask questions. Sharpen your wits!

Admission includes a table-sharing meal and haunting entertainment.

Fabulous English dinner fare includes a choice of Bangers and Mash or Shepard's Pie! Also soup, salad and cheese cake.

To reserve your space, go here:
http://www.tudorrosetearoom.com/store/p2/MURDER_MYSTERY_DINNER_-_JULY_19.html

Murder on the Menu

Murder on the Menu® is the oldest mystery event company in California. With over 35 years in the business, we're the BEST! That's because all events are about the clients. Each mystery event reflects the goals and objectives, jargon, agenda and specific participants. Professional actors and audio/visual enhance the performance and ensure a great evening.

Murder on the Menu designs mystery plots for corporate meetings, incentive programs, appreciation dinners, FAM trips, hotel openings, fundraisers, conventions and more.

Murder on the Menu works with you to create an event that not only "hooks" you with a story and characters that are unbelievably close to home, but lets you wrestle with the clues in an unforgettable whodunit. A customized murder mystery insures a successful and memorable event.

Murder on the Menu is booking holiday parties now.. at the venue of your choice. Groups of 10 to 350!

Request a Proposal.

Murder on the Menu at Brassfield Estate Winery

Peter Nachtrieb as Frank T. Lawman

Brassfield Estate Winery in Lake county was the stunning setting for an evening of intrigue and mystery produced by Murder on the Menu. Flappers, gangsters and 'others', dressed to the 'nines', mingled with 'characters' from Murder on the Menu, as they became involved in the Crime of their Lives. 

This evening was the second annual mystery event for Brassfield Estate's Serenity Wine Club. Not only were the guests feted to an outstanding mystery, but they dined on great food by Piper Johnson, and drank wonderful Brassfield Estate Wines. Eruption is a personal favorite!

There were four crimes, lots of clues and innuendos, and great acting by the Murder on the Menu troupe! Whodunit? All was revealed at the end of the evening. Winners received wine and mystery novels! What a great evening.

Next year: Dying on the Vine

Cartoon of the Day: Mystery Party

Planning a Murder Mystery Event? Contact Murder on the Menu. It won't be like this one. Auditor Parties are actually really fun!

Love this comic from Rhymes with Orange.

Murder in the Library: Murder on the Menu

Sleuths to gather Saturday at Scotts Valley library for murder-mystery fundraiser
By KIMBERLY WHITE -- Santa Cruz Sentinel

SCOTTS VALLEY (CA) - By the time the sleuths arrive Saturday night, only the victim's outline will remain at the scene of the crime, and the suspects who were there when the murder took place will have already been sequestered.

Someone's going to be "murdered" at the Scotts Valley library Saturday, and a murder-mystery fundraiser calls for patrons to don their sleuthing hats for the next several hours, taking cues from a detective to interview suspects and solve the classic whodunit.

But the event also includes an educational component. While talking about their relationships with the victim, and what they were doing at the library in the first place, the suspects will also provide information about the Children, Teen and other areas where they've been confined for questioning.

"For people who haven't been in the library before, they'll learn about the library and what's available in each of the areas," said Janet Rudolph, who founded Murder on the Menu, a professional, Berkeley-based company that designs mystery plots for meetings, fundraisers and other events.

Members of the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library will participate by leading the patrons to the different stations, but the detective and suspects are seasoned actors provided by the company.

"This is not a couple local people cooking up a mystery - these are people who make a living doing this," said Jim Reed, a city councilman and member of the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library.

Debra Van Bruggen, vice president of the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library, said the idea to host a murder mystery came up while members were discussing ideas for the group's annual fundraiser. They agreed to tie it in with this month's Big Read celebration of Edgar Allan Poe, the 19th-century author who penned classics such as "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart."

"We had this idea (for the murder mystery), and when we heard about the Big Read and how Santa Cruz County was featuring Poe, we thought he'd make a perfect character" because he was so mysterious, she said.

In fact, the tell-tale thump-thump of a heartbeat will indicate to the groups that it's time to move on to the next station, each of which will feature hors d' oeuvres, beer and wine. Just before the culprit's revealed, organizers will auction off several weekend packages, including a sleepover at the library that includes a pizza dinner, dessert and breakfast.

The Friends group hopes to raise $15,000, which will be used to construct a back patio, Van Bruggen said, thereby creating more usable space at the library.

IF YOU GO:

MURDER IN THE LIBRARY
WHEN: 7-10 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Scotts Valley library, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley
COST: $50 per person (adults only)
INFORMATION: Jim Reed at 707-4993, Debra Van Bruggen at 588-5401 or www.fsvpl.org

Murder in the Library: October 22

The Friends of the Scotts Valley Library invite you to join them for their third annual fundraiser.... "Murder in the Library".

This engaging and interactive evening at the new Scotts Valley Library will be scripted and performed by Janet A. Rudolph’s Murder on the Menu. Appetizer stations will be woven around the murder mystery, a no-host bar will be offered, and a live auction for five “big ticket” items will be held just before the arrest of the guilty person that evening. Tickets limited, so don’t delay!

Solve the Mystery on: Saturday, October 22
Scene of the Crime: Scotts Valley Library
First Clue Time of Death: 7pm to 10pm

Tickets: $50 per person (adults only)

Available at: The Scotts Valley Library,
Please make checks payable to:
"Friends of the Scotts Valley Library"

Evening highlights:

Whodunit... you solve the mystery, play the game.
Gastronomical delights served progressive style
Murder's signature lethal potions
"Un-Silent" auction
Optional dress code - dress as your favorite sleuth
No host bar

Proceeds from this fundraising event will benefit the library's new back patio.

- Space is limited and tickets are available on a first come basis.
- If you would like to volunteer and help with this event email us.

Murder on the Menu/ TeamBuilding Unlimited: Readers Choice BEST nominee

Thrilled to announce that Murder on the Menu/TeamBuilding Unlimited  was nominated for California Meetings + Events Readers Choice BEST Award in the TeamBuilding Category.  We're over the Moon! We try our best, and we're so honored to be recognized. Murder on the Menu has been in business for over 28 years!

Read all the nominees HERE.

Culinary TeamBuilding

TeamBuilding Unlimited and Murder on the Menu offers many different types of culinary team building. Our latest is Murder on the Menu: The Ultimate Cooking Experience!

Murder on the Menu, California's #1 mystery event company, partners with Paulding & Company, a local long-established San Francisco Bay Area Professional Kitchen & Catering company, to bring our clients a customized interactive murder mystery event, set in the Paulding & Company kitchen—where your guests are the chefs, and the mystery unfolds as you cook and dine.

Our Murder on the Menu crew of improv actors will add to the drama. What could be better? You get to cook great food, eat well...and solve the mysteries that unfold one clue at a time. It's a recipe for success!

Available for groups up to 65!

Murder on the Menu, Castro Valley

ONE SUSPENSEFUL NIGHT ONLY!!!!

Murder on the Menu presents a Fundraiser for the Castro Valley Chamber of Commerce

A Night of Dinner, Theatre & Dancing

JUST THE FACTS:
4 Course Dinner, Theatre and Dancing

Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 6:00PM

Paradise Grill at Willow Park, 17007 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94546

Proceeds Benefit: Castro Valley Chamber of Commerce

$100 per Person or Buy 7, Get One Free

Please Call (510) 537-5300 for Reservations!

Space is Limited.....

Reserve Your Seat Today!

Murder on the Menu in Castro Valley, CA

Murder on the Menu rarely performs public events, but we have a great Fundraiser coming up in Castro Valley, California, that anyone can attend. Proceeds benefit the Castro Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Phone: 510-537-5300 for reservations and information

Dinner, Mystery Theatre and Dancing.

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009

Where: Willow Park Event Center, Castro Valley, CA

Murder on the Menu corporate event in Napa Valley

Team Building is an important part of our company. However, we haven't abandoned Murder on the Menu, the #1 mystery company in the U.S. Last week we created and produced a special interactive mystery event for Millennium Pharmaceuticals. The mystery was held in The Rhine House at Beringer Winery in Napa Valley. What a fabulous setting! The participants from Millennium were so much fun. They immediately became involved in the mystery event because it was all about them! Our professional actors know how to make the guests the stars, and the Sales Team from Millennium jumped at the chance to "perform". We even built team building elements into the mystery event!

Here's what Mason Brooks, new head of the team from Millennium, wrote,
"Your group was absolutely fantastic! They were engaging, funny and very lively. I went into the dinner thinking it was either going a great success or a complete flop, it was definitely the former. My team really enjoyed it. I had several people who attended come up to me in Miami and rave about the Murder on the Menu dinner. For many it was a first but even those who had done similar things before said yours was more original and drew you in by weaving personal bits and pieces into the plot. Excellent program!"

That's what we like to hear! To plan your next mystery event anywhere in the U.S., contact me at Murder on the Menu.

TeamBuilding Unlimited/Murder on the Menu Overview

Frank Price TeamBuilding Unlimited Janet Rudolph Murder on the Menu	Our Company is the Solution to Your Company Puzzle: Entertainment, Team Building, Green TeamBuilding, Charity Challenges, Chocolate (Yes! Chocolate!) Groups of 5 to 300! Anywhere in the World!
	Several of our clients asked about the relationship between Murder on the Menu and TeamBuilding Unlimited. TeamBuilding Unlimited is a division of Murder on the Menu spearheaded by Frank Price. Yes, we do Murder Mystery events and other types of Entertainment, but we also have a whole "menu" of TeamBuilding Activities and Events to meet the needs of today's changing work environment. Our events give you a great ROI. Scavenger Quests Wacky Mini-Olympic Games Charity Challenges Corporate Grand Prix Dynamic Construction Project (Bridges, Castles, Ships) Hollywood Casting Call: Auditions, Music and More! Sensational Sand Castle Building Mini-Golf Putting Solutions Chocolate! The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting!! Murder on the Menu (interactive team mystery events) The Chocolate Challenge American Team Idol Gimme Shelter Tower of Power Project Team Runway Over 35 new Icebreakers Critical Debriefing All of our events are customized to include the theme of your meeting/event, agenda, goals and objectives, jargon and buzzwords and specific participants. Our events are fun and interactive because they're about your group! Great for meetings, incentives, conventions and special events. With our 25 years of experience, we're the BEST! That's because our events are about YOU! Murder on the Menu/TeamBuilding Unlimited will work with you to create an incredible teambuilding experience or entertaining event and give you a great Return on your Investment. Don't take our word for it, here's what our clients have to say. Testimonials from our Clients Check out our Blog: Murderous Musings/TeamBuilding Talk Contact Janet Rudolph or Frank Price for more information on how your Company can help you meet the challenges of 2009!

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Trikes for Tots VaST Systems

Murder on the Menu/TeamBuilding Unlimited has worked with VaST Systems, one of our favorite clients, at their January Leadership meeting for the past three years. One year we did a Murder on the Menu mystery event, the next year, our team presented Hollywood: Casting Call. Both were very interactive and an overwhelming success. This year, given the current economic situation, VaST decided to work with Murder on the Menu/Team Building Unlimited on a Trikes for Tots event, an event that gives back to the community.
Held at the new Intercontinental Hotel, the Clement, in Monterey, the evening opened with a talk by a representative from The Kinship Center, an organization dedicated to the creation, preservation and support of foster, adoptive and relative families for children who need them. VaST participants began the teambuilding portion of the event with a series of competitive Wacky children's games led by Frank Price, VP of TeamBuilding Unlimited. Did I say competitive? Not all groups opt for competition, but this great international executive team got into the spirit quickly and completely. Not only did they approach each Wacky Game with high spirits, they challenged scores and judging. After a buffet dinner, the group moved on to the Charity Challenge: Trikes for Tots, assembling tricycles for the children The Kinship Center serves in Northern California. 11 Trikes were built and donated.

The evening ended with a new sense of camaraderie. Here's what Leslie Foster wrote:
"You did a great job, as always, and everyone had a good time. Nancy from the Kinship Organization presented very nicely how meaningful our trikes will be to the children. Wishing you the same hopes for a positive 2009 , and we look forward to getting creative with you and Janet and planning another event."

Murder on the Menu/Team Building Unlimited will need to come up with something to top this event! I think we'll be able to do it. We love working with repeat clients!

American Team Idol

American Team Idol, an incredible interactive event, includes team efforts with a song about your group, your company, your meeting. Everyone participates--choice of back-up singer, main singer, dancer. American Team Idol is one of the new 2009 TeamBuilding Unlimited/Murder on the Menu teambuilding/entertainment events. This is a great activity for your next meeting, conference or special event as teams compete to win fabulous prizes in several categories. Points are given for lyrics, style, and creativity. We provide M.C. and judges and a keyboardist to accompany your teams. This is rollicking fun and a great teambonding experience that can take place in the middle of a meeting, during dinner or just about wherever you choose.

Let the fun begin. Groups of 5 to 100--anywhere in the world!

Gingerbread 'University" Building Competition

Twenty five insurance training/educators gathered together Friday at the Lodge at Tiburon to compete in a Gingerbread "University" building contest. Great ideas and great designs were the theme of the event, as each team of five put to use the best candy and gingerbread materials to build a 'real time' gingerbread university. It didn't matter that much of the company's training is done via webinar and internet. In addition to the structures, each team had to name their building and write and sing a song about it. The judges were hard put to choose the best. Each university was unique and spectacular. Prizes were awarded for first, second and third place. The Gingerbread universities then made the trek back to the company offices in San Francisco, hopefully without collapsing.

The real theme of the day was teambuilding/teambonding, and Murder on the Menu/TeamBuilding Unlimited delivered on that. Quite a fun event.

SFCVB Sets Sail

Only in San Francisco

The staff of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau set sail today on a Cruise to Die For.... Some may have thought they were going on a holiday Bay Cruise, but pretty soon they realized more was afoot. Something was up when odd characters offered a partnership with a unique new San Francisco product--"San Francisco in a Bottle." Drink and eat in a bottle. These bottles were going to capture the many neighbors that make up San Francisco--Chinatown Chardonnay, Mission Merlot, South of Market Sauvignon, Beach Chalet Burgundy, and the list went on. The premise was to offer a bottle to each member of the SFCVB, cases to meeting planners and travel agents, and maybe later have the bottles for sale at the SFCVB. But the afternoon wasn't all about this 'fantastic' new wine.

The company that proposed it had some skeletons in their closet, and before the ship docked there were five crimes committed. Joe D'Alessandro, head of the CVB and someone who loves red wine and everything Italian, wanted justice done. Could he be bribed with a bottle of NorthBeach Red--part red wine, some pasta, a little tomato paste and lots of garlic? As it turned out, he was one of the suspects. Murder on the Menu's Ace detective, Frank T. Lawman (aka Peter Nachtrieb) grilled many suspects throughout the cruise. He even brought wanted posters on lots of the well-known suspects and bureau staff. But all good -or bad--things come to an end, at least in Murder on the Menu productions. Each table became a team as they matched wits with Frank T. The solution to the dastardly crimes came to light as the fog shrouded San Francisco Bay. This customized uniquely San Francisco Murder Mystery could happen "Only In San Francisco," everybody's favorite city.

More Holiday Party Ideas

With the economy being what it is many companies are paring back their holiday parties. Murder on the Menu/TeamBuilding Unlimited has lots of ideas that won't strain the budget.

A full scale Murder on the Menu production is awesome, but if you don' t have the budget, consider hiring our Arresting Detective. He breaks up your party and arrests 10-12 of your 'top' people for something great. Wanted posters, small gifts based on interests and foibles of the 'perps'. This is a good natured mini-roast. 30-45 minutes.

Want a new research lab but not sure where you'll find the funds? How about a Gingerbread Research Lab contest. We'll provide all the gingerbread, graham crackers, icing, decorations, prizes and more. Roll up your sleeves and get in the spirit. Donate the Gingerbread Labs or Houses to hospitals or children's centers after the event.

Want to give back to the community instead of the usual holiday party?
How about our Charity Challenge?

• Trikes for Tots is a great way to get into the holiday spirit as seen by children. After a series of competitive children's games, each team will build a tricycle and design a t-shirt that reflects your company and team. Trikes and t-shirts are then donated to local charities for kids in need.

• Bears That Care is another Charity Challenge designed by Murder on the Menu/Teambuilding Unlimited. After a series of children's trivia and games, each participant will assemble a bear or another fuzzy animal and design a t-shirt for the animal. Stuffed animals will be donated to a local charity, police or fire organization.

Want to have the ultimate reward for your team? Consider a Chocolate Tasting. This luscious chocolate seminar guides you through the history and culture of chocolate and tastings of chocolate from 40% to 85% cacao. Like a wine tasting, only better... it's all about chocolate!

I'll be posting other options for you to do on your own. Stay tuned.

Gilead Sciences TeamBuilding in Half Moon Bay

Sam's Chowder House in beautiful Half Moon Bay was the setting for two events--one from Murder on the Menu and another from TeamBuilding Unlimited! Sam's Chowder House has great food, beautiful views and a terrific beach, so it's no wonder that Gilead Sciences' Analytical Development Group chose this location for their one day offsite. The weather cooperated, and it couldn't have been a better place for a day of fun and surprises and great teambuilding.

Janet Rudolph wrote the mystery "Analyzing Murder" specifically for this group. Murder on the Menu scenarios always contain information on the group--their goals and objectives, jargon and buzzwords and specific guests. Acted out during lunch by Murder on the Menu's talented team of actors, the mystery quickly involved the guests. Within no time, the guests became the stars. Each table was a team. There were four crimes to solve, and these research and development group quickly tried to decipher clues as they became involved in "the Crime of their Life."

As if this wasn't enough fun and intrigue, Frank Price from TeamBuilding Unlimited, the other half of Murder on the Menu, prepared a series of Wacky Gilead Games for the group. Sand and wind didn't seem to bother a soul as they competed in the 'Wacky Games.'

The Gilead Sciences group learned a lot about each other through both the mystery and the games. This was the objective, and the goal was reached. We didn't have to debrief this group. They got it first time out. Friendships were made, working relationships changed, as the group got to know each other on new levels.

Raj Kaur, the main Gilead contact, sums up the day:

"It was so much fun!! Everybody enjoyed the whole event: the food, the murder mystery, and the wacky games. They all loved the whole idea. We enjoyed every single game. Thank you so much for your services!! You ROCK!! I will definitely hire you for my future events."

Peter Nachtrieb, Ace Playwright

Peter Nachtrieb, Murder on the Menu's 6'6' witty ace 'detective' extraordinaire, is also an award-winning playwright. Peter has a BA from Brown and an MFA from SFSU. Peter just announced his 2008/2009 season. He'll still be acting with Murder on the Menu

throughout the Fall and Winter, but you won't want to miss one of his shows. He's absolutely brilliant!NOVEMBER: Washington, DC
"boom" presented by Woolly Mammoth Theatre
Directed by John Vreeke, featuring company members Kimberly Gilbert and Sarah Marshall, with Aubrey Deeker November 3 – November 30, 2008
Tickets and more info
“Sex to change the course of the world…” A grad student’s personal ad lures a randy journalism coed to his subterranean lab, where he studies fish sleep cycles for signs of the apocalypse. Will their “intensely significant coupling” lead to another big bang, or is mankind’s fate in the hands of someone watching from outside the fishbowl?"
(Peter will be there for performances Nov 5-9)

Seattle, WA:
"boom" presented by Seattle Rep, Directed by Jerry Manning
with Nick Garrison, Gretchen Krich and Chelsey Rives
November 13 – December 14, 2008
Tickets and more info
(Peter will be there Nov 13 or 14ish -19)

Cleveland, OH
"boom" presented by Cleveland Public Theatre
November 28 - December 20 2008
Tickets and more info

2009
January, San Francisco, CA
Encore Theatre Company presents the world premiere of "T.I.C. "(trenchcoat in common) directed by Ken Prestininzi performances begin January 2, 2009 @ The Magic Theatre
More info TBA!!
On a summer devoid of friends, money and fun, a teenage girl starts a blog about her apartment building. Using photography, recordings, and research she begins to pry deep into the lives of those that surround her. The deeper she goes, the more secrets emerge, and what begins as a lark starts to become dangerous.

Los Angeles, CA: the LA premiere
"Hunter Gatherers" presented by the Furious Theatre Company, Directed by Dámaso Rodriguez
January 24 - February 21, 2009
(Previews January 21-23)
More info and tix:
The Los Angeles premiere of the 2006 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award-winner finds Pam and Richard hosting their best friends, Wendy and Tom, for an annual dinner get-together. An animal sacrifice kicks off the evening, followed by a little more sex, violence, deception, wrestling, and dancing than at previous parties. A darkly comic evening where the line between civilized and primal man is blurred, and where not everyone will survive long enough to enjoy the brownies for dessert.

March 2009, Lousiville, KY:
Anthology Show (title tba), Humana Festival of New Plays, Directed by Sean Daniels
Peter will be writer for the annual anthology performance by the apprentice company
Dates/More details TBA