KrisAnn Sullivan
Frank House director, 308.865.8284 OR sullivankw@unk.edu
UNK– The anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic will be observed at the Frank House with “A Day of Titanic Proportion” on Saturday, April 24, according to KrisAnn Sullivan, Frank House director.
The day’s events include “That’s Totally Titanic!,” a 1:30 p.m. presentation about the Titanic and its tragic voyage; “Menu for Murder: A Dinner Mystery of Titanic Proportion,” which will take place from 5:30-7 p.m.; and a raffle of Titanic memorabilia. The 1:30 p.m. presentation is free and open to the public. There is an admission charge for “Menu for Murder.”
According to Sullivan, “Menu for Murder: A Dinner Mystery of Titanic Proportion” is the first event of its kind at the Frank House, which is located on the University of Nebraska at Kearney West Campus.
“We have had the traditional ‘Titanic’ dinner in the past, but we wanted to try something different this year,” Sullivan said. “Depending on the reception of our guests, we may host other ‘Menu for Murder’ themed events in the future.”
The murder mystery dinner is limited to the first 32 guests registered by 5 p.m. Saturday, April 17. To register, please Tickets are $35 each and may be purchased at the Frank House during museum hours (Monday-Friday from 2-5 p.m. and Saturday 1-5 p.m.). Tickets can be reserved by calling the Frank House at 308.865.8284.
Individuals can also purchase raffle tickets for $3 per ticket or two tickets for $5. Raffle tickets may be purchased at the Frank House during museum hours Monday-Friday from 2-5 p.m. and Saturday 1-5 p.m. or at Gloria LeDroit’s State Farm Insurance office at 201 West 18th St. during regular office hours.
The menu is reminiscent of meals served on the Titanic when it sank in April of 1912, Sullivan said. The menu includes a light hors d’Oeuvre, spring salad mix with lemon basil vinaigrette, consommé, chicken Lyonnais, roast potatoes, asparagus, dinner roll with butter and hot strawberry sundae.
The Titanic murder mystery will be divided into four acts. Guests will be seated at tables of eight along with a host/hostess. Each table will have a booklet of dialogue with questions and answers which the guests will use to solve the mystery.
“The guests become the actors, and they won’t know what character they play until they arrive,” Sullivan said. “During the evening, guests will read the booklets, and each person has questions to ask in order to find answers. Everyone is a suspect.”
At the end of the acts, guests will guess who committed the murder. “We will have a good time for a good cause,” Sullivan said.
In addition, a raffle of Titanic-themed items will take place during the “Menu for Murder” event. Winners do not have to be present during the time of the raffle. Prizes include a Rose character doll from the Titanic movie in its original box, a silver gravy boat used in the Titanic movie along with a certificate, a collector’s video kit of the movie “Titanic,” a basket of Titanic memorabilia, and the centerpieces from the dinner.
The “That’s Totally Titanic!” 1:30 p.m. presentation about the ship and its tragic voyage is part of the Saturdays at the Frank House series. Paula Nesiba, an AmeriCorps volunteer coordinator, will lead the presentation.
“My talk will include many different pieces of Titanic trivia and knowledge that will go beyond the normal Titanic story,” Nesiba said. “Did you know that there were nine dogs aboard the Titanic when it sank, and only two of them survived? I will also share other tidbits that I have learned over my more than 13 years of studying the Titanic.
“In addition,” she said, “I have Titanic quizzes in both a novice and expert edition for the guests to test their Titanic knowledge. Those with the highest scores will receive a Titanic-themed prize.”
