Irmo South Carolina Library Stages Murder Mystery Dinner Fundraiser
The Friends of the Irmo Branch Library, located in Irmo, South Carolina, are setting the stage for their annual Murder Mystery Dinner fundraising event scheduled for Aug. 2. Drawing inspiration from Main Street’s Vaudeville history, the event promises an engaging and exciting exploration into the city’s theatrical past.
The Grand, A Theatre Steeped in History
The venue for the fundraising event, The Grand, is a building with a rich history dating back over a century. Once playing host to a dazzling array of traveling Vaudeville acts for Columbia crowds, it now serves a dual purpose as a late-night bowling alley and tiki bar. One renowned act of yesteryear, “Zam Zacks”, featuring audacious men hurling knives at a young woman at high speeds, has presented itself as a source of inspiration for this year’s Murder Mystery Dinner.
Plotting a Murder Mystery from the Past
The aptly named “Murder on Main Street” has its setting in 1910, one year after the Grand Theatre first greeted audiences on Columbia’s Main Street. Playwright Licia Jackson spun a tale that nods to the local history of the period, lacing her play with colorful characters and a plotline revolving around the puzzling murder of a knife throwers’ assistant.
Notable characters include Maude O’Riley, the madame of a local brothel, State Senator Hampton Huger, a man fixed on the governor’s mansion, and the Rev. Obadiah Wright, a pastor with a mission to reform the city’s ladies of the night.
Fundraising for a Cause
The event features a cast of dedicated volunteers who, dressed in period costumes, reenact the stories of the past. It’s all part of a significant fundraising effort organized by the Friends of the Irmo Branch Library. The group’s drive aims to accumulate funds for an outdoor programming space at the library which is experiencing increased footfall due to the growing suburban city.
While acknowledging the ambitious nature of their fundraising goal, organizers remain optimistic. The continued success of the annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater leaves them hopeful of raising sufficient funds to bring the project to life.
An Interactive Dinner Experience
The event itself promises an immersive experience for attendees. Audience members are granted the opportunity to grill the murder suspects during the second act. At the play’s end, all present will cast their votes for the identity of the killer. Correct guessers participate in a raffle for door prizes.
“Murder on Main Street” is set to be showcased from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 3 at The River Center at Saluda Shoals Park. Tickets can be acquired from the Irmo Branch Library, priced at $75 per person or $600 for an eight-person table. An optional costume contest for attendees dressed in “turn-of-the-century (1910) attire” will also be a highlight of the evening.
This exciting event gives community members the opportunity to have a fun night out while supporting their local library, proving that history, mystery, and community spirit can form a potent combination for a good cause.
