Join us for a night of mystery, murder, and laughter at an upcoming public dinner theater show in Chicago. Open to all — no group needed!
See Upcoming Dates →What’s Included?
Three-Course Meal
Enjoy a full dinner while the mystery unfolds around your table.
Live Performance
Professional actors perform a hilarious whodunit right in the room.
You Solve the Crime
Interrogate suspects, gather clues, and submit your final accusation.
Two Hours of Fun
Shows run approximately two to two and a half hours, including dinner.
Dinner Menu
Palm Court in Arlington Heights
$79 + fees per persion
1950s Sockhop
Parking: Street Parking only. To get to Palm Court from Downtown Chicago: Get on I-90 W (Kennedy Expressway). Follow I-90 W toward the suburbs and merge onto IL-53 N toward Palatine. Exit at Palatine Rd East. Follow E Palatine Rd to the intersection with N Arlington Heights Rd. The restaurant is on the NW corner.
Transit: Take the Metra Union Pacific Northwest (UP-NW) line. Head to Ogilvie Transportation Center (Madison & Canal St) in the West Loop. Board a UP-NW train toward Harvard or Crystal Lake - make sure it stops at Arlington Heights. The ride is roughly 35–45 minutes depending on the service. Get off at Arlington Heights station (on South Dunton Ave). From the station, Palm Court is about a 5–10 minute walk northwest. Head north on Dunton, then west along the downtown Arlington Heights streets - it's right in the heart of the downtown area near Vail Ave and Campbell St.
Current Showtimes
Good to Know
Arrive Early
Plan to arrive 30 minutes before showtime. This gives you time to get settled, grab a drink, and meet our mystery experts.
Dress the Part
We encourage guests to dress according to the show theme — it makes the night more fun! Business casual works too if you prefer.
Drinks & Gratuity
Drinks and gratuity are not included in your ticket price. Please plan accordingly and tip your servers well!
Large Groups
Coming with a big group? Purchase all tickets together to ensure everyone is seated at the same tables.
Straight from Off-Broadway. Now open in Chicago!
Is this the dinner show everyone is dying to attend in the Chicago area? Experience an unforgettable evening of laughter, suspense, and immersive entertainment with The Murder Mystery Company’s Public Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Shows at Palm Court Restaurant in Arlington Heights.
Created by Shark Tank Winner Scott Cramton, founder of The Murder Mystery Company. The Producer of the award-winning Off-Broadway immersive murder mystery Speakeasy Die Softly brings this unique form of entertainment to Chi-Town. This interactive theatrical experience combines a delicious three-course dinner with a hilarious live mystery where the audience cracks the case..
This is the murder mystery you and your loved ones have always wanted to go to. Imagine being part of a live-action murder mystery, where the killer could be anybody… even you. Our professional immersive actors guide you through the game, letting you play at your own pace, so introverts and extroverts still have the best time. Every performance is filled with unexpected twists, shady suspects, and one deadly question…
Can you catch the killer before they strike again?
What Happens During a Public Murder Mystery Dinner Show?
From the moment you arrive at Palm Court Restaurant, you’ll step into a world where nothing is quite what it seems.
Some outgoing guests become suspects in the evening’s mystery, complete with character details and light costume pieces. Everyone else joins the investigation as detectives working with their table teams to question suspects, examine evidence, and uncover clues. The winning table will each receive a custom Detective of the Night award certificate.
Our professional “Immersioneers” guide your team through the game. Making it a fun, stress-free experience that highlights more outgoing people while allowing wallflowers to enjoy spending time with their table team. It’s the perfect balance for introverts and extroverts.
More Than Dinner. An Interactive Experience.
Your ticket includes:
- A professionally produced live Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Show
- A delicious three-course dinner at Palm Court Restaurant
- The ability to participate in a thrilling game of murder, mystery, and intrigue that is taking Broadway by storm.
- An amazing excuse to dress up!
- An evening unlike anything else in the Chicago area
No two performances are exactly alike.
The audience changes.
The suspects change.
The accusations change.
The laughter never does.
Perfect For Date Nights, Birthdays, and Group Outings
Whether you’re celebrating a Birthday, planning an unforgettable Date Night, gathering with friends, entertaining out-of-town visitors, or simply searching for one of the most unique things to do near Chicago, our Public Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Shows deliver an experience you’ll be talking about long after the killer is revealed.
It’s no surprise guests return again and again to experience our ever-changing themes and mysteries.
New Themes Throughout the Year
Every month features a different mystery filled with new suspects, fresh storylines, hilarious characters, and exciting surprises.
Travel from a glamorous Billionaire’s Masquerade Ball to a 1920s Mafia Wedding, an Old Hollywood gala, an ’80s Battle of the Bands, a Wedding Gone Wrong, or a festive Holiday Party.
Costumes are always encouraged—but never required.
Why Guests Love The Murder Mystery Company
For more than two decades, The Murder Mystery Company has been creating immersive mystery entertainment enjoyed by millions of guests across the country.
Founded by Shark Tank Winner Scott Cramton, our productions combine professional actors, interactive storytelling, comedy, and audience participation to create an experience unlike traditional dinner theater.
That’s why we’re known as:
The Experts in Mystery Entertainment.
And why every performance becomes:
The Event Everyone is Dying to Attend.
Reserve Your Seats
Seats are limited for every performance at Palm Court Restaurant in Arlington Heights.
Reserve your tickets today and discover why our Public Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Shows have become one of the Chicago area’s most unforgettable nights out.
Our public shows are generally two to two and a half hours full of mystery, intrigue, and murder! This includes a three-course meal (drinks and gratuity are not included) and a three-act show. The show contains two "investigation times" where you can mingle with other guests and our mystery experts.
We usually have shows once or twice each month. This depends largely on the location. Use the Public Shows tab at the top of this page to check available dates near you.
We strongly encourage our guests to dress according to the theme of the show — it makes the evening more fun for everyone! However, if you choose not to dress up, we suggest business casual or nicer.
Yes! We accommodate groups of all sizes at our public shows, as long as we have available seating. The larger the group, the earlier you'll want to reserve your seats. To make sure your whole party can be accommodated, we suggest purchasing all tickets at once.
Whenever and wherever possible, we work with our venues to provide menus and substitutions necessary to accommodate the needs of our ticketholders. Your tickets will indicate the presence of gluten-free or vegan substitutions.
Absolutely — as long as seats are still available for that show. To add people to your reservation, simply purchase more tickets. As long as we have tickets available, your party can grow.
Please arrive thirty minutes prior to the beginning of your show. This allows you time to get any drinks you desire before the show, mingle with our mystery experts, and get settled at your table. We cannot guarantee entry for late arrivals.
Please check your spam and promotional folders! If you still cannot find it, please contact Eventbrite.
We apologize for the inconvenience. If your show is in a few hours please email us. If you have some time before your show, please leave us a voicemail, and we will call you back as soon as we can!
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