Citizens of Sachse and its surrounding communities are being called for jury duty – for a case that happened nearly 100 years ago.

Sachse Historical Society’s Murder Mystery Dinner gives couples, friends and family members a dinner and a show where they actively participate in solving a murder.

Set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, this year’s dinner will fulfill the original vision for the fundraiser.

“We did (a mystery dinner theater) back in March of last year,” said Ed Brown, president of the Sachse Historical Society. “It was originally going to be a Valentine’s one, but we couldn’t get a location to conduct the dinner.”

The Family Life Center at First United Methodist Church of Sachse will be the venue again for the second year of the event, which brought in around $2,000 in ticket sales last year. According to Brown, the money raised supports the Historical Society’s efforts to maintain the museum and the Sachse caboose. Tickets are $50 and include a meal from Venezia’s Pizza Cafe, two drink tickets, dessert and a seat for the interactive show. Attendees can choose to be even more immersed in the story by wearing 1920s attire such as flapper dresses and bow ties.

The mystery’s surprises begin as soon as the doors open. Brown shared that the actors’ ad-libs and the interjections of the historical society members brought laughter throughout last year’s play, and the conclusion caused gasps of shock to come from many of the participants.

“I think one table had figured it out, but the rest of them, they were all over the place,” Brown said.

This year’s show is expected to bring the same comedy and suspense. The play, set in 1929, has no further details except for the phrase, “Was it true love? Or true murder?” The North Texas Civilian Actors from Mansfield will present the original play that is based upon a real case.

“It’ll be better than last year,” Brown said, “because now that we know how it’s done and everything, we shouldn’t have any issues.”

Visit sachsehistoricalsociety.com for tickets and more information.

By Allison LaBrot

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