Book of Mormon Murder Mystery

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATER: INSTRUCTIONS

This Murder Mystery has 6 different suspects, and your youth will each take on the identity of one of those 6 suspects. Throughout the evening, they will all be given clues to help them try so unravel the mystery, and hopefully figure out “Who Dunn It”!
There is some preparation you will need to do BEFORE the big day, and also on the DAY OF. The following information will tell you what you need to know – read it right away so you are not surprised at the last minute!!

FILES IN THIS DOWNLOAD (in addition to this one)

• CLUES. Instructions included inside the file.
• LABEL FOR ENVELOPES. These are helpful for labeling all the clue envelopes you will be putting together. You don’t have to use these - but if you don’t, make sure you clearly label each envelope.
• NAME TAGS. Very important, and addressed in “” and “”
• TABLE PLACE CARDS. Instructions included inside the file.

All of the following instructions hinge on 2 questions:

1. HOW MANY YOUTH DO YOU EXPECT? Don’t misinterpret that - you will need all of your adults, but the following instructions are only interested in the number of youth. The words “Murder Mystery Party” tend to cause excitement, so however many people you normally have at a mutual – take that, and add 10%.
2. HOW MANY TABLES ARE YOU GOING TO SET UP? There will be 6 youth at each table (use the round ones). So, take your usual attendance, add 10%, then divide by 6, and you have the number of tables.

PREPARATION TO DO BEFORE:

• Print and cut 1 “set” (1 of each character) of the TABLE PLACE CARDS for EACH TABLE (file provided for you). Remember, if you will have 9 tables, you will need 9 sets.
• Print 1 “set” (1 of each character) of the NAME TAGS for EACH TABLE. The file provided for you prints 5 sets. They are formatted for the 3 x 10 labels (1” x 2 5/8”). Very important to read about handing them out in “”.
• Print and cut 1 “set” (1 clue per character per round) of Clues for each table. Assembly instructions included in the file.
• Get an Emcee for the evening WELL in advance. Use someone who can have fun with the kids and keep their attention. He/She will have a decent amount of preparation, so the more time you give them the better. They will not only Set the scene at the start, keep the rounds moving, Reveal the Murderer at the end, but they should also be THE ONLY PERSON who knows who the Murderer is. He/She will need several files that you should have received: “FOR EMCEE – Script”, “FOR EMCEE – Your Instructions” and all Narration files and PowerPoint Presentation. These documents will have all the information they need to prepare for the activity. This activity will require access to a sound system, so you may want to offer help to the Emcee in getting that working if you feel them may need it.
• Plan the menu (see “” section)

PHYSICAL SET UP OF ROOM OM THE DAY OF:

• Even though there are only 6 youth at each table, SET UP 8 CHAIRS. In addition to the 6 youth you will need 1 extra chair for an adult to pass out clues and help them (they WILL need help), and 1 extra chair in case someone comes late. If a youth comes late, they should sit at a table and join in all the speculation and fun of trying to figure out “Who Dunn It?!” They can also take over the job of passing out the clues at the start of each round. If, when all youth are seated and you are ready to begin, you might need to rearrange a few people to ensure that there is at least 1 of each character at each table. After you have done that have an adult(s) step into whatever roll(s) is needed. That adult can still be in charge of passing out clues.
• Bring the instructions for TABLE PLACE CARDS (pg 1 of file) with you when you set up. Show the “Correct” diagram and the “Common Mistakes” diagram to whoever is placing the Table Place Cards on the table. And seriously.. TAPE THEM DOWN (as shown in the diagram) or kids will move them around.

AS THE KIDS ARRIVE:

• It is VERY IMPORTANT that the NAME TAGS are handed out in order, ONE SET AT A TIME or you will have an uneven amount of each character making it too difficult to fix. Correct: Move left to right, then down the page of labels. DON’T SKIP ANY NAME TAG… EVER!!. Incorrect: up and down, or random.
• Each youth should be instructed to sit at any empty seat where the TABLE PLACE CARD matches their name tag. Even though you hand out the NAME TAGS in order, the first 6 people through the door do not all have to sit together. In the end there will probably be a little shuffling around of people, and maybe an adult or two that has to step in as a character since you will probably not have an exact number of kids that fills all tables - but the characters will all have the same amount, so it will be fine.

THE FOOD:

• The murder mystery is set around a three-course dinner. Your best success will come when the food can be served quickly. Here are Ideas to help you out with each of the courses:
  • ROUND 1 – SALAD OR APPETIZER COURSE: Make this a “1 step process”. Examples: SALADS where the lettuce is already in bowls, they take a bowl at the food table, go sit down where salad dressing is in a bowl at the center of the tables. CHIPS AND SALSA where a portion, large enough for the whole table, is delivered to each table as the game begins. VEGGIE TRAY where a tray, large enough for the whole table, is delivered to each table as the game begins.
    • Cautions: If you want to save time and have this course of food waiting on the table when they sit down you have to be careful – the will eat it too early. Idea: Big bowl of salad covered in saran wrap with a sign on top that says “DON’T EAT UNTIL INSTRUCTED”. Have bowls, forks and dressing next to salad on table. (saw this done at a ward and it worked SO well!!)
• ROUND 2 - MAIN COURSE: You want the food to be something that gets people through the food line as quick as possible. This is best done when there are the fewest number of things to do at the food table. Examples: SPAGHETTI: Noodles, sauce, breadstick, sit down. SOUP: fill bowl, sit down. LASAGNA: put on plate, bread stick, sit down. BBQ BEEF: Bun, meat, chips, sit down. Another aide is if you use 2 long tables where people can go down either side of either table, creating 4 lines.
  • Cautions: 1) Unless you have a LOT of people helping with food, hand delivering to each table is slower than having them get their own food. 2) Avoid a main course like a Baked Potato Bar: unwrap potato, mash it, butter it, look at toppings to decide what they want, take forever putting them on, sit down…. too much time.
• ROUND 3 – DESSERT COURSE: Think like Round 1 – A “1 step process”: BROWNIE, ICE CREAM SANDWICHES, PIE, CAKE, COOKIES, etc.
  • Caution: Scoops of Ice Cream can be tricky because you can’t scoop it too early or it will melt, wait too long and people are waiting. If you have your heart set on Ice Cream, do Root Beer floats. You can put the ice cream in the cups a little early, and if it is a little melted it won’t matter.

THE GAME:

• Once the evening starts - if you have chosen a good Emcee - you will have nothing to do except get the food out on time, and eavesdrop on the tables to see if you can figure out “Who Dun It?”

YOU NOW HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET STARTED!!!

You can email NICOLE with any question, you can get her email in the instruction file when you download it.

Have fun and again thanks Nicole!