PHOTOS from "Win, Lose, or Die!" at October Ensemble

by John Posada
03/27/2024

(FORKED RIVER, NJ) -- Following their hit debut performance of the interactive, original murder mystery, The Sweetest Crime, October Ensemble produced another hit Murder Mystery to sold out crowds March 22-23 in Forked River. The latest production was Win, Lose, or Die! A Comedic Murder Mystery Game Show by Eileen Moushey. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

The show, held at Fetherman Hall inside the Forked River Presbyterian Church, centered around the fictional game show, Lyrical Pursuit, where knowledge of lyrics could lead to fame and riches. Host Sparky Duke (Michael Michaliszyn), along with his dazzling assistant Daisy Decarlo (Elle River) invited real audience members to challenge the current ‘Lyric King,’ Furlong Shemp (Dylan Manigian). And challenge they did! The beginnings of popular songs were provided by hot-tempered ‘sound guy,’ Joe Plum (Dakota Reider) and contestants were tasked with finishing the lyrics!

Audiences were immersed in the interactive experience from the moment they walked in the doors, as Dr. Les Parker (Brandon Gulya) –the former, recently defeated, champ of the show – and his teaching assistant, Melody Bass (McKenzy Hupke), warned that the game was ‘rigged,’ and to trust no one. Amidst finding their seats, audiences also met a variety of other characters, including the show's sponsor Del Spiggins (Miranda Gale), who offered coupons for her questionable line of fruit drinks.

Just as the gameshow reached its bonus round... The Lyric King wound up dead! Luckily, one of the contestants just happened to be Agent Judy Dawson (Jennifer Carlisle) with the FCC’s Game Show Fraud Unit. Audiences sleuthed, interrogated, and voted until the murder was solved while enjoying complimentary desserts, coffee, and tea.

The show was a roaring success, with multiple sold out showtimes and rave reviews. It was directed by award winning directing team Dakota Reider and Elle River and stage managed by Bliss Rubin.

October Ensemble is a new, inclusive New Jersey-based production company founded by Dakota Reider and Elle River that believes ART is WORK and offers adult creatives the space and voice to express themselves through theatre and storytelling. Everyone who works with October Ensemble is paid for their work.

“The name October Ensemble was chosen because, as anyone who works with us knows, we believe in ensemble-focused productions” Reider and River explain, “No one fades into the background, and we all work together as storytellers.”

“Additionally, October is an autumn month, and we want to focus on the rich and interesting stories of adults: a demographic too often forgotten after college. Perhaps most importantly, October is also a month of change, and we believe change is needed in the arts. Change in the way we treat people who give us their time and talent, change in the way we value the labor of art, and change in the way we interact within our communities,”

Win, Lose, or Die! is only the beginning of a larger partnership with Forked River Presbyterian Church. Coming up next, they will be presenting an immersive, comedic, in-the-round production of Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill. The show opens on Mother’s Day Weekend, and will be appropriately paired with a Mother’s Day Tea (included in the price of every ticket).

Here are more photos from the production.

Upcoming performances and events for October Ensemble include:

* The Roles I Didn't Get: A Bitter Broadway Cabaret (April 19th - 21st) at Waterview Cafe, Barnegat

* Pride and Prejudice (May 10th - 11th) at Fetherman Hall, Forked River

* The Trail to Oregon! (June 21st - 29th) at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, Ocean Grove

* Intro to Theatre Workshop (July 2nd - August 3rd) at Waterview Cafe, Barnegat

* Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier (October 18th - 26th) at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, Ocean Grove

* The Last Five Years (November 15th - 16th) at Fetherman Hall, Forked River

* A Blue Christmas Cabaret (December 19th - 22nd) at Waterview Cafe, Barnegat

Tickets and information for all upcoming shows are available at octoberensemble.com or by calling (609) 607-7861.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. Currently, John has spent the last 6 years concentrating on photographing almost 400 theater productions at over 70 different NJ theatres. Click here for John's website.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. Currently, John has spent the last 6 years concentrating on photographing almost 400 theater productions at over 70 different NJ theatres. Click here for John's website.