High Stakes and Second City get Chicago Clued In
Cast members of Clued In: An Invitation to Die For playing select dates in October at UP Comedy Club.
Throughout October, six actors will hit the stage for 90-minutes of murder mystery improv mayhem with High Stakes Productions and The Second City’s collaboration on Clued In: An Invitation To Die For. A new suggestion from an audience member will allow for a singular detective to unravel a completely unscripted plot filled with suspicion, murder and your favorite who-done-it characters. I talked to High Stakes Productions artistic director, Caleb George, about how this cast solves a mystery and makes people laugh, the magic of Chicago improvisers, and how a tech team keeps up with the on-demand cues.
Q. Clued In: An Invitation to Die For is fully improvised, how does the cast of six go from a clue to a mystery solved in 90 minutes?
A. Clued In: An Invitation to Die For is the evolution of the murder mystery show that High Stakes Productions has been successfully running at The Second City’s studio theaters since 2016. Having been able to analyze and study murder mysteries over the years allowed us to create improv tactics and games to effectively portray plot devices unique to the genre such as interrogations, accusations, and summations.
Through Clued In: An Invitation To Die For we explore the locked room mystery in which an impossible crime occurs and the detective has to figure out who did it and also how. After receiving a mysterious invitation, the six improvisers are trapped on stage with a secret murderer. The setting is based on a suggestion from the audience, and a singular detective is chosen at random to unravel a completely unscripted plot of deceit, suspicion, and murder.
Q. This Halloween murder mystery is a partnership between Second City and High Stakes Productions, what does each bring to the table for a production filled with hilarity and horror?
Our collective hope is for audiences to leave with a renewed love for improvisational comedy and murder mysteries.
The Second City partnered with High Stakes Productions due to our legacy in producing comedy shows rooted in the genres of mystery, suspense, and horror. Between Clued In: The Improvised Murder Mystery and Hitch*Cocktails, our Hitchcock-inspired show at The Annoyance, we have more than ten years of experience mixing suspense and horror with comedy. A lot of our cast members also perform with The Second City as understudies or in their touring companies, which made the partnership a no brainer.
We wouldn’t have been able to extend the show to an uninterrupted 90 minutes without The Second City’s support. Their production capabilities have helped us elevate the show into a theatrical experience that will immerse audiences into the murder mystery genre through special props, live music, specialty cocktails, and many other surprises that will be revealed to those who attend.
We’re deeply honored to be working with The Second City on a production of this scale and we can’t wait to show you what we’re cooking.
Q. Murder Mysteries have their stock characters, will these archetypes come into play?
A. Absolutely! Clued In wouldn’t be a murder mystery without the iconic characters audiences have come to expect: amateur sleuth detectives, a helpful narrator, a wealthy family member, playboy figures, lowly help, ex-lovers, vengeful business partners and of course, an opportunistic murderer. The beauty of doing this with a cast of 25 highly experienced improvisers is that each will bring a unique take and add richness to the already larger-than-life characters that you can see in murder mysteries.
Anyone who sees Clued In: An Invitation To Die For can expect an impossible murder only a skilled detective can solve despite the lies and deceptions of nefarious characters, red herrings, backstabbing accusations and a clueless victim who, unfortunately, held all the answers.
Q. How does a theatre’s tech department keep up with all of the changes and shifts each night?
A. The Second City has the best tech team as they specialize in sketch and improv shows. They know how to navigate the beautiful chaos of improv shows by anticipating improvisers’ moves and influencing the show through tech cues.
Q. There are only four opportunities to see Clued In: An Invitation to Die For, why should this be everyone's must see October event?
A. We’re the only show in the city that offers suspense mixed with Chicago style comedy in a fully improvised 90-minute showcase. Anyone who loves suspense and thrillers will be amazed by the intricate and hilarious plotlines that our veteran improvisers come up with, and murder mystery fans will fall in love with the immersive surprises that stay true to the genre. The best part is, it's different every week!
Ultimately, you’ll experience mind blowing improvised entertainment that can only be found at the mecca of improv – The Second City.
Clued In: An Invitation to Die For is on stage at UP Comedy Club Oct. 10, 17, 27, and 31. For times and tickets visit secondcity.com.
