A Killer Night in Studio City delivers a delightfully immersive 1950s whodunit that balances classic dinner theater, live musical performances, and tactile escape-room elements. Set inside the iconic Vitello’s Restaurant, the evening transports guests to a 1958 memorial service for rising starlet Sophia Vance. This immersive show is complete with secrets, scandal, and a room full of suspects.
The immersion kicks off the moment you arrive on Tujunga Avenue. Check-in is handled at the door, where table assignments are made (be sure to check in with your friends so you may be seated at the same table). While waiting outside, a roving reporter interviews guests, and cast members make their entrances accompanied by brilliant audio and camera-flash lighting cues that simulate a full paparazzi frenzy.
For an opening night, the technical execution was remarkably polished. The lighting and sound cues were completely seamless, operating at top performance level right out of the gate. I was quite impressed with the tech aspects of the show.
The event separates the audience to keep the initial memorial service more intimate, introducing the core cast, setting up key relationships, and dropping initial story twists. Once inside the Velvet Martini Lounge, the experience shifts into an interactive investigation. Tables feature a secret lockbox disguised as a book. Solving the box reveals a collection of physical evidence such as police reports, notes, and more.
Having mini escape-room puzzles directly at the table brings an exciting layer of gameplay to the murder mystery format, allowing guests to actively crack the case before the final reveal. Tables that correctly identify the killer are even rewarded with a prize.
The show is directed by and starring Noah Blake alongside a phenomenal cast: Sarah Wolter, Brianna Kellum, Anthony Carro, Scott Striegel, and Brittany Pirozzoli. The ensemble has fantastic chemistry and sharp comedic timing. The evening is heavily driven by live music, featuring skilled musicians accompanying the talented cast.
Vitello’s naturally rich aesthetic blends seamlessly with the show’s set dressing, making it hard to tell where the restaurant ends and the story world begins. The food is served buffet-style with a cozy, homestyle Italian menu featuring Caesar salad, vegetarian options, chicken parmesan, meatballs, garlic bread, and mini cannolis. Table service for drinks is available throughout the night.
A Killer Night in Studio City is a highly entertaining night out that escape room fans, mystery lovers, and theatergoers alike will thoroughly enjoy.
Click here for tickets
NOTE: While Noah Blake is the son of Robert Blake and Vitello’s carries notable real-life Hollywood history from 2001, the production itself is 100% fictional. The storyline focuses entirely on its original 1958 Hollywood mystery and does not reference real-world events.