By Michelle Kinsey—
MUNCIE, IN – Put on your thinking caps, local gumshoes, and get ready to hit the bricks to solve one humdinger of a mystery!
Mystery-loving dames and swells are invited to head downtown during September’s First Thursday (Sept. 5) to question suspects, look for clues and – hopefully – solve the case!
The Great Muncie Mystery is hosted by Ball State University’s Office of Community Engagement, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Ivy Tech Community College, and Muncie Civic Theatre.
The event s free and open to all!
The mystery, with a 1920s “Great Gatsby” theme, is in cahoots with Muncie Civic Theatre’s upcoming production.
“Muncie Mystery gives us the opportunity to have a bit of extra fun in promoting the show and lean into that fabulous Roaring ‘20s theme,” said Bianca Sulanke, the writer of the script for this year’s whodunnit and a project specialist in the Office of Community Engagement. (She’s also a Muncie Civic veteran.)
Here’s what we know so far:
A heist has taken place during one of Jay Gatsby’s parties. One of his most important guests had their necklace stolen and a servant – Ruby Cohen – was fired for it. She insists that she was framed and needs our help to find the thief and bring them to justice.
The suspects are movie star Tilly Eckhaust; gambler Cecil Roebuck; heiress Faustina O’Brien; jazz musician Lester Myer, and Yale man Earnest Bunsen. The evidence, left behind at the party, includes driving gloves; a champagne glass with a lipstick mark; a hat; an accounting textbook, and a cigarette case.
Pick up your Crime Tracker form at Canan Commons, Muncie Civic Theatre or Dave’s Alley beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Crime Tracker contains 10 riddles that, once solved, will lead you to the clue/suspect locations downtown.
Once you have cracked the case, turn in your guesses at Muncie Civic Theatre by 7:30 p.m. because the big reveal is set for 8 p.m. on the main stage. And while you wait for the big reveal, cut a rug on the stage with Harmony Dance Studio.
Gumshoes with correct guesses will be entered into a drawing for great downtown prizes! You must be present at the reveal to win.
And keep your eyes peeled during the reveal for special invitations to The Great Muncie Mystery Speakeasy.
This is the fifth Muncie Mystery and players are encouraged to wear 1920s glad rags to the event.
“Muncie Mystery has become such a great way for people to explore Downtown, discover new spaces and have a blast doing it whether independently, with family or friends!” said Cheryl Crowder of Muncie Downtown Development Partnership. “It’s just so much fun!”
For more about the event, go to www.downtownmuncie.org
