It’s a ‘whodunnit’ with dinner and dessert when the Donati family’s pride and joy – a two-pound truffle – is stolen from their restaurant for a fun evening of chaos, comedy and conspiracies in this newly imagined immersive murder-mystery Truffles: Music! Mushrooms! Murder!!! that opened Saturday, November 2nd in New York City.
You are immersed from the get-go, the moment you step inside the environment. A perfect venue, the Secret Room New York, (707 8th Avenue, between 44th & 45th Street) is transformed into the Donati’s restaurant, the lovely voice of daughter, Isabella Donati (Lindsay Lavin) filling the room, as the hilarious Chef Bruno (Eddie Varley) fills each patron’s glass with wine. The pre-show also includes a visit from the formidable Dante Donati (John Guild), live music by the terrific New York Green Birds Trio, and a savory and decadent tasting platter from Urbani Truffles prior to eating three delicious courses of food while you watch and solve the murder.
It’s a dark and stormy night at the Donati family restaurant when lovable oddballs Dante and delightful Olga Donati (Cassie Nadeau) prepare to auction off their legendary truffle. But when the mushroom is stolen and a murder discovered we are called upon to discover the murderer before the legendary mob boss Don Fiola puts the Donatis out of business for good. Carlo (Willie Marte) and Virgil (Steve Tardio) both add to the fun and coax the audience to play fair. To help, we each received millions of (play) dollars to bid in the auction of the truffle.
Truffles was originally created by Billy Manton, Sonia Carrion, and Hal Galardi and written by Sonia Carrion,this new edition will feature a book by Gregg Ostrin, songs by Jenni Lark, Hal Galardi, Cassie Nadeau and directed by Matthew McVey-Lee, pre-show parody lyrics by Austin M. Tracy, general managed by Aaron Grant Theatricals, executive produced by Aaron Grant. The evening is hosted by Engine Room New York & Urbani Truffles and presented by Truffles Consortium, LLC.
Cast includes John “JohnG” Guild (Amazon Prime Livin’ Large) as Dante Donati, Lindsay Lavin (NYC: It’s A Man’s World) as Isabella Donati, Willie Marte (Regional: Sister Act) as Carlo, Cassie Nadeau (NY: Wretched, Cirquelesque) as Olga Donati, Steve Tardio (Performs with Andsemble, MISC, Inc) as Virgil and Eddie Varley (Regional: Little Shop of Horrors, BWW Award for Best Male Performance) as Chef Bruno.
Truffles Consortium, LLC is a collective of producers, investors, and artists who were fans of the original four year run of Truffles. By banding together, they have relaunched the production with added zeal—featuring updated songs, updated menu, and a brand-new ending. They are excited to share this immersive musical comedy experience with a wider audience.
After a four-year run the audience-pleasing musical, murder mystery, Truffles: Music! Mushrooms! Murder!!! has come to New York for a brand new second “season.” The performance schedule beginning Saturday, November 2 will initially run through December 28, and run Saturdays at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $50 (show only), $95 (includes a three-course meal), and $150* (includes a three-course meal and VIP seating) and can be purchased by visiting TrufflesMystery.com or by calling 212.279.4200.
Doors open at 5:45 pm; Pre-show begins at 6:00 pm; Show begins at 6:30 pm
Runs two hours and is good for all ages.
PLEASE NOTE: The venue is not wheelchair accessible; it requires walking down a flight of stairs to enter, and there is no elevator or lift.
All Photos: Courtesy of Laurie Graff
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