Murder’s in the Heir

It's up to the audience to decide the outcome of this murder mystery! In this audience participation murder mystery, each of the heirs to the tyrannical billionaire Simon Starkweather has the means, motive, and opportunity to do away with him. Starkweather gathers his family and employees on a storm-filled night to announce the contents of his will. His lawyer reveals that he has bequeathed vast fortunes to his four relatives and numerous servants. However, within hours the will becomes invalid. The heirs and servants are not pleased so it's not surprising when they roam the old mansion carrying such items as an axe, a gun, and a wrench, as well as other potential means for murder. Predictably, the lights go out, and Starkweather is found murdered. His grandson is determined to find his grandfather's killer. Each night, the audience votes during intermission on who they think is the murderer – and that character is revealed as the killer at the end of Act I Content Advisory Murder’s in the Heir by Billy St. John does not carry an official strict industry age rating, but it is universally considered family-friendly and generally appropriate for ages 10 and up. The play is highly popular among high school, middle school, and community theater groups due to its accessible, comedic, and interactive nature. Violence: The show features a murder mystery, meaning characters "die" during the performance. However, the violence is strictly theatrical and comedic, not graphic or gory. Language & Themes: The script is written to be clean and wholesome. It avoids profanity, sexual content, and intense scares, making it highly suitable for a broad audience. Audience Interaction: The play is highly interactive. The audience acts as the detective, with a 15-minute intermission where attendees vote on who they believe committed the crime. This makes it engaging for younger crowds and older adults alike. Because of its interactive whodunit format, it is a great choice for family nights, though younger children (under 8) may lose interest due to the dialogue-heavy mystery-solving elements.