Casting Call – “Secret City Immersive Mystery Dinner”
Casting for the roles of: Olivia, Maribelle, Alan, Susan, David,
& Detective Locke
Employment: Part Time Contract
Compensation:
– Performances: $25 / hour
– Rehearsals / Fittings: $960 (see schedule below)
Location: Peter Pan Bistro, Queen West, Toronto
Start Date: April 8th 2024
End Date: July 31, 2024 with the possibility of extending
Union Status: Non-Union
Overview:
Secret City is seeking experienced and dynamic performers for an immersive and theatrical murder mystery dining experience that revolves around a group of renowned chefs. In the years following their graduation from culinary school, each member of this famed group of chefs has found success. But things take a dark turn when Maribelle discovers a dark secret about one of their classmates. Determined to expose the culprit, Maribelle designs an elaborate event attended by a who’s who of the culinary industry, at which she will reveal the truth.
Mandatory Dates (subject to change):
Rehearsal: Monday, April 8th, 2024 (10am – 6pm)
Rehearsal: Monday April 15th, 2024 (10am – 6pm)
Rehearsal: Thursday April 18th, 2024 (10am – 6pm)
Rehearsal: Friday April 19th (10am – 6pm)
“Friends and Family” Preview: Tuesday April 30th (Timing TBA)
Rehearsal: Additional TBA date between April 30th and and May 9th
Costume Fitting: TBD (one of above rehearsal dates)
Launch dates:
VIP + Media: Thursday May 9, 2024
Public Launch: Saturday May 11th, 2024
4-8 public shows every Wednesdays – Sunday evenings May – July 2024
Key Responsibilities:
Performing a lead character role in an immersive environment for up to 60 guests, for up to two shows per night
Memorization of the script and performing off book
Engaging individual guests and groups with improvised moments
Assisting with and aiding in audience puzzle solving
Assisting with elements of event operations and logistics
Enforcing general rules and regulations when required
Requirements:
Performance experience (e.g. theatre, film/TV)
Improv experience and/or immersive event experience
Customer service experience
Available evenings and weekends
Must be eligible to work in Canada
Perks:
2 complimentary tickets to all Secret City experiences each month of employment (Escape Casa Loma Series, Where Dark Things Dwell at Black Creek Pioneer Village)
Up to 4 tickets to mystery dinner experience at Friends & Family Rate
This position requires working evenings and weekends. If you are a creative, charismatic, personable, collaborative performer who thrives in a dynamic environment, we would love to hear from you.
Secret City is a place-based experience design studio with a mission to build human connection through shared stories, immersive places, and a sense of play. Secret City blends theatre, gaming, technology and UX design to activate historical sites, museums and dormant venues for fans that keep coming back. Established in 2014, Secret City has designed, produced and operated over 25 live immersive games, large scale events and digital products.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Alan
(Male or non-binary. Age: 30-40. Any ethnicity.)
Occupation: Celebrity TV Chef and cookbook author
Alan is the most colourful of his classmates – he’s loud and brash, cocky and opinionated and needs to be the center of attention to feel like he’s loved. Alan’s totally chill on the surface, but underneath is very insecure and anxious, which causes him to take shortcuts in life whenever he can. He knows he’s a phony but he’s too far into his career to come clean now. When he gets anxious he becomes louder and more obnoxious. Throughout high school he got away from his depressing home life by working long hours in restaurant kitchens, where he loved the camaraderie vibes and the free food.
Think: Matty Matheson or Jonah Hill in Superbad
David
(Male or non-binary. Age: 30-40. Any ethnicity.)
Occupation: Maribelle’s sous chef
David is the most reserved of the group, keeping his emotions hidden, and offering candid constructive feedback even if not always delivered with tact. Occasionally his emotions will boil over in a high strung outburst of frustration and rage. He views his classmates as a serious, professional group of colleagues rather than a group of friends. He preferred when they would work together intensely rather than hanging out casually.
His focus and meticulousness earned him much respect as he worked at various restaurants to pay his bills, and he quickly found his calling in the culinary industry.
Think: House from House or Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange
Detective Locke
(Male or non-binary. Age: 30-40. Any ethnicity.)
Occupation: Private detective
Locke is a very put together gentleman but with a relaxed, gentle air about him. He’s not stuffy or pretentious, even though he’s typically the smartest one in the room. He’s a dashing charmer, able to put people at ease and often finds himself stepping in to diffuse tense situations. There’s nothing he loves more than solving a mystery and his excitement for it grows as the clues pile up. He often uses others as sounding boards for ruminations, even if they are suspects in his case.
Think: Poirot from Agatha Christie mysteries or Benoit Blanc from Knives Out
Maribelle
(Female or non-binary. Age: 30-40. Any ethnicity.)
Occupation: Innovative chef owner
Maribelle is driven, to the point of being a workaholic, especially when an innovative concept takes hold in her mind. When focused on a new project, she is serious and detail-oriented and almost nothing can stop her from accomplishing her goal. Maribelle cares about what is actually good, rather than what is trendy. Her culinary journey began at a young age, influenced by the rich multicultural food culture of the city, as well as by growing up in a family where Sunday dinners were elaborate affairs, which sparked her interest in creating big immersive culinary events centered around unique cuisine.
Think: Kerry Washington in Scandal or Alexandra Daddario in White Lotus (S2)
Olivia
(Female or non-binary. Age: 30-40. Any ethnicity.)
Occupation: Restaurateur
Olivia rocks a bohemian chic aesthetic: she has good taste and a good eye for quality. She is just as happy to grab some street meat for lunch as she is to dine on the most expensive rooftop patio in the city. Her upbringing has made her a savvy business woman and she uses her wealthy “it” girl status to masterfully manipulate people into doing things she wants, feigning obliviousness when really she’s fully in control. She’s well connected throughout the city and works hard to constantly forge new connections. Olivia is a constant presence at the hottest parties in town, name dropping her celebrity connections and making new ones everywhere she goes. Like a savvy influencer, Olivia is always “on.”
Think: Emily Blunt in Devil Wears Prada or Blake Lively in Gossip Girl
Susan
(Female or non-binary. Age: 30-40. Any ethnicity.)
Occupation: Vegan chef
Susan always tries to take an optimistic view of everything, even at inappropriate times. She channels an almost spiritual zen, which she attributes to her veganism and wellness lifestyle, though this can come off as “flaky” to others. She’s usually found wearing flowy earth tones and carries a little fanny pack with her everywhere she goes, inside of which she keeps culinary touches like nutritional yeast, sage, little bottles of coconut aminos or Palo Santo, cannabis gummies, and sample bottles of her Vegan Moonlight Body Mist.
Think: Gwenyth Paltrow or Zoe Kravtiz in Big Little Lies
