How to get away with ‘Murder Mystery in Meadow Brook Hall’

Oakland University students —grab your magnifying glass to help solve a mystery in Meadow Brook Hall.

On March 3 at 6 p.m., students will be able to tour Meadow Brook Hall, enjoy dinner in the ballroom and solve a mystery, thanks to the Student Program Board (SPB), which is the main student social event planning body on campus.

SPB works with representatives from the hall to ensure that students will get the most out of their time in the hall and from the event.

“Students will work in teams to solve the murder and there will be professional actors that will give the students clues to solve the mystery,” Cassie Hock, annual events director, said.

“Dinner will be served during the night and there will be photo booth for students. The theme is masquerade and there will be masks available for students at the event,” she added.

“Every detail is discussed not only with our client but with our entire team,” Lori VanHulle, manager of sales and events at Meadow Brook, said.  Both menus and timelines are discussed and detailed, along with room diagram and seating arrangements for every event.

“This is an exclusive use event,” VanHulle said. “This client (SPB) will have the entire mansion for the event.”

Attendees will come into a reception in which they will be able to tour the mansion and move into the ballroom for the dining portion of the event.  After dinner, they will head to the main floor, where the murder mystery will take place.

According to VanHulle, Murder Mystery events are very popular in the mansion due to the exclusivity and the architectural design of it.

Meadow Brook hosts its own annual mystery dinner, which includes a three-course meal, cocktails and a chance to solve a mystery. On Oct. 30, the event’s theme was the 1920s.

“It is a very interactive event that our guests seem to enjoy,” she said.

The Student Program Board has had Murder Mystery events at Meadow Brook Hall in previous years, but each time they try to do an event to make it a unique and special event for students.

“Events at Meadow Brook Hall are very special. It is unique that students at a college campus have the opportunity to host events at a National Historic Landmark,” Hock said.

Attire will be semi-formal. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 17 at the Center for Student Activities (CSA) Service Window in the lower level of the OC for $20 each.

Participants must be Oakland students currently enrolled in classes to attend.

Students can enjoy a tour of Meadow Brook for free with their student ID.

Meadow Brook house tours are offered daily Monday through Friday at 1:30 p.m. T

here are four opportunities for a tour on Saturdays and Sundays at the following times: 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

For more information about this event, visit the Student Program Board’s website or contact them at [email protected] or (248) 370-4295.

Upcoming SPB events:

Dueling Pianos in Pioneer Food Court on Wed. Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Painting Without the Twist in Banquet Room A on Mon. March 7 at 6 p.m.

Drag Queen Bingo in Banquet Rooms on Wed. March 23 at 6 p.m.

Chicago Trip on April 2

Spring Concert (Andy Grammer) on Tue. Apr. 15