By Vita Duva –
Media Credit: Newport Art Museum - Move back in time and try your hand at solving the mystery.
Do you often find yourself glued to the television at night watching shows like Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Boston Legal, imagining yourself as the Unit Chief working to solve each and every mystery? Well, now that fancy can undoubtedly become a little bit of a reality for you…
This fall season, the Marley Bridges Theater Company in collaboration with the Newport Art Museum bring forth, “The Art of Masquerade,” a brand new Murder at the Museum series open to the general public. Yet beware, Co-Founder/Creative Producer, Jessica Bradley and her devoted theater associates, Artistic Director, Patrick Grimes, Associate Director, Charles Lane Cowen and Music Director, Katherine W. Bettinghaus plan to put more than just their artistic abilities to work this time around.
The innovative 90-minute interactive show travels into the glamorous Gilded Age, as guests are cordially invited to mingle back in time among Newport’s very own millionaires, socialites, bohemian artists and Hollywood starlets – all while a murder mystery unfolds throughout the engaging and enchanted evening.
“People love the freedom and permission to play and embrace the inner child, actor and gumshoe,” Bradley said enthusiastically of the audience’s immersive experience. “We give guests the opportunity to forget their daily trouble, while also offering them the chance to learn a new dance, discover Newport trivia and see priceless art by Rhode Island artists, all while in a gorgeous mansion.”
Fortunately, Bradley’s interests are in sync to her audiences’, considering she not only helps write every one of the team’s unique, original and customized scripts, but Bradley also performs weekly in these cleverly constructed murder mysteries; sometimes she is unveiled as a suspect, other times as a murderer.
“It tests my creativity and forces me to think outside of the box. I find that this often leads to inspiration and helps in creating a more memorable event not only for myself, but most importantly, the guests and the Museum,” stated Bradley.
Additionally, when the theater company and the art museum partnered back in September 2010, it was the perfect alliance, as both organizations are strongly dedicated to preserving the social history, architecture and the arts of Newport. Hence, it only seems natural that Bradley would be happy choosing to split her time between the two organizations.
Bradley added, “We always incorporate various aspects of the Museum, including the artwork, architectural elements, the home’s architect (Richard Morris Hunt) and of course, instrumental historical figures of the Art Association, notably, Maud Howe Elliott.”
The high energy, family-friendly sequence is present on Saturday nights at 7 p.m. in the Museum’s, John N.A. Griswold House, located on the ever-famous Bellevue Avenue through Dec. 17. They are certainly not to be missed.
Admission rates for Murder at the Museum run $13 for youths and $25 for adults. There is a 30 percent discount for Newport Art Museum members, as well. Reservations are encouraged. For further information on this event and other events whether at the Marley Bridges Theater Company or the Newport Art Museum contact Jessica Bradley at (401) 848-8200 ex. 7995.
