There’s been a murder in Scranton! Calling all fans of The Office!

Pivoting to a world of social distancing, The Paramount in Austin has a new interactive walking theatre series.

The Office! A Murder Mystery Parody is short, engaging, and a fun opportunity to get outdoors with a few friends.

The show, which runs through Sunday, April 25, includes five characters from the popular TV comedy. You’ll meet on Congress Avenue in the heart of downtown Austin outside the historic Paramount at your scheduled time. (Start times are staggered at 30-minute intervals and the entire show lasted about 45 minutes.)

You’re met by an energetic Michael Scott who leads the group to talk with three other characters, including Dwight, Jim and Pam, while explaining the murder mystery story line.

The characters actively engage with the walking audience the entire time. If you’re worried about social distancing, the groups are small. There’s a maximum of 35 at a time, and everyone is required to wear a mask. I attended on a Sunday afternoon as part of a total group of six.

We won’t give away the ending, but there was a surprise revelation at the end, which also caused a lot of laughs among our walking group. Costume selection among the crew was also on point – with a dramatic choice at the end – and convincing and enthusiastic characters throughout the entire production.

The most interesting aspect of the murder mystery is that it puts a spin on how characters from The Office! might have handled the pandemic. For example, Scott exclaims, “Dwight hasn’t handled the pandemic well. Or life in general…”

At the end of the walking tour, actors also remind people of how important it is to connect with one another during the pandemic, even if that’s taking time to try to “frame Toby Henderson” together…  playing a game or just taking a walk.

Tickets start at $39.50. The Paramount is also offering group discounts at 10% off for groups of 10-19 or 20% off for groups of 20+. Tickets can be purchased online.

The Paramount is now offering shows to match every taste. Choose your own adventure: outdoors, in-person limited capacity, or virtual. Full program here.

Cover photo courtesy the Paramount Theatre

Britni Rachal lives in Austin, Texas. She is a freelance journalist, full-time marketer, and a Realtor®. In addition to writing, Rachal enjoys traveling, event planning, fashion, fitness and serving the Austin community.