ANNA MARIA – It was a galactic good time as the Murder Mystery returned to The Center for its 13th year.
The annual fundraiser took a year off for COVID-19 but came back with a bang, or a laser stun for this year’s victim, with the theme “space odyssey.”
Set at World Con in the year 2069, two Men in Black agents, Agent B and Agent J, played by Don Purvis and Ray Gardner, crash-landed at the sci-fi convention just as everyone was arriving. They were also just in time to help solve the murder of Hollywood actor Scott Ridley, played by Caleb Roberts. In a surprise twist, Ridley wasn’t actually dead, coming back as a cyborg robot just in time for the cast to break into a toe-tapping rendition of “Time Warp” that brought the audience to its feet for an unforgettable finale to the evening.
This year’s Murder Mystery dinner theater took place Feb. 18-19 at The Center and featured writer/director/actor Brianna Roberts, Monica Simpson, Jillian Gardner, Leah Purvis, Mike Shaughnessy, Chris Scott and Clay Spangler in addition to Don Purvis, Ray Gardner and Caleb Roberts.
The two nights of the annual theatrical spectacular were performed to nearly sold-out crowds with community members clamoring to figure out who the killer was in the hilarious, tongue-in-cheek whodunit production that featured a different killer each night.
In addition to the show, attendees also enjoyed food by Poppo’s Taqueria and donuts by the Donut Experiment as well as a 50/50 raffle, baskets of raffle items donated by local businesses and a cash bar. There were also plenty of photo opportunities as the event was attended by aliens, secret agents and even a few time travelers. A green alien goddess took home a gift card as an award for winning the Feb. 19 costume contest.
Sponsors for the 2022 Murder Mystery include The Morey Foundation, presenting sponsor The Ugly Grouper, after-party venue The Freckled Fin, Progressive Cabinetry, Sato Real Estate, The Donut Experiment, Abrahamson & Uiterwyk Personal Injury Law, Poppo’s Taqueria, Surferbus Outpost AMI, The Original Sand Dollar, Gnarly Mangrove, Graze Street AMI, AJ & Doran, MuniPlan, Moss Builders, Blade & Tine Culinary Consultants, Nomad Collection, Prosper Bradenton, Emily Moss Designs, Beach House Real Estate, Eason Builders Group, Island Photography, Johnson Homes of West Florida and HSH Designs.
There’s nothing to see here as a Men in Black agent attempts to flash away the memories of anyone who sees the alien at her side. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Aliens hang out with cast members before the start of the 13th Annual Murder Mystery fundraiser at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Attendees at the 2069 World Con are surprised when murdered Hollywood actor Scott Ridley comes back to life as a robot. - Kristin Swain | Sun
The Center’s Executive Director Chris Culhane takes a walk in the Matrix during the Murder Mystery fundraiser. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Aliens of all kinds came out for The Center’s theatrical party. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Several Conehead aliens left their planet of Remulak to join the party at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Participants in the Saturday Feb. 19 costume contest take the stage with Murder Mystery cast members Chris Scott and Jillian Gardner. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Deputy Dicky Darko tries to help one male alien win the night’s costume contest. - Kristin Swain | Sun
A green female alien took home the grand prize for best costume Feb. 19. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Everyone got in on the space odyssey themed fun at this year’s Murder Mystery. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Former writer and director of the annual Murder Mystery, Beth Shaughnessy reaches out a comforting hand between acts to her son-in-law Caleb Roberts who played the not so very dead Scott Ridley. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Center Executive Director Chris Culhane checks to see if Hollywood actor Scott Ridley really is dead during a break in acts of the Murder Mystery play while audience member Lynn Zimmerman looks on. - Kristin Swain | Sun
It’s all fun and games, even when there’s a dead body at The Center’s 13th Annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Feb. 19. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Hollywood actor Scott Ridley was the victim this year in The Center’s Murder Mystery. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Agent B and Agent J question World Con organizer Beth Brundlefly about the death of Scott Ridley while Deputy Dicky Darko pouts because his investigative services aren’t welcomed by the agents. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Great Scott! The Murder Mystery was visited by an astronaut, a Conehead and a couple of time travelers in the form of Doc Brown and Marty McFly. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Some of the cast breaks into a dance to Will Smith’s “Men in Black.” - Kristin Swain | Sun
A pink haired intergalactic traveler lands at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
This alien/man combo didn’t win the costume contest, but they sure had a good time at the show. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Lines of raffle tickets as long as your arm were sold with patrons attempting to win one of several gift baskets donated by local businesses. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Mike Shaughnessy as Stanley Duprick did a quick costume change before the cast jumped into a rendition of “Time Warp” from Rocky Horror Picture Show. - Kristin Swain | Sun
In an epic team-up, Scully and Mulder from the X-Files met with Agent B from the Men in Black. - Kristin Swain | Sun
