Fall in Madison County brings a familiar rhythm. The air turns crisp, high school football lights up Friday nights, and our dinner theater season gets underway at The Spotlight Playhouse. This October, we are preparing to open an all-new interactive mystery production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
The performances are scheduled for Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m. We return the following weekend with shows on Saturday, October 10, at 6:30 p.m., and a Sunday matinee on October 11 at 1:30 p.m. We host these events right here at our home on 214 Richmond Road in Berea. This is not a standard sit and watch play. It is a comedy mystery dinner show presented by The Bluegrass Players, built to pull you right into the action.
For readers who have not experienced one, a dinner show combines a live meal with a live story. You sit at a table with your family or friends, enjoy a prepared meal, and watch the narrative unfold in the same room. The interactive mystery element changes the dynamic entirely. The actors might ask you a question, involve you in a clue, or make you part of the unfolding drama. This improvisational flexibility means no two shows are exactly alike. Your table might get a different reaction or a unique piece of dialogue than the table next to you.
To fuel that three-hour runtime, we serve the Sleepy Hollow Autumn Feast. The menu features roast chicken, red potatoes, seasonal root vegetables, a garden salad, a fresh-baked roll, and peaches and cream for dessert. We also offer gluten-free and vegetarian versions, along with a kids’ Comfort Plate featuring a chicken strip, mac and cheese, a roll, and peaches and cream.
This all-new take on the classic Washington Irving tale keeps the familiar world of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman at its center. However, we have turned the story on its head. The production features new villains, new heroes, fresh twists, and a growing list of suspects. I want to be very clear about the tone of this production. It is not scary. We include a few playful jump scares with the lighting, but this is a humorous, family-friendly show. It is the kind of ghost story that makes you say "what?" instead of "ahh!" Children love the playful mystery, and it serves as a perfect way to kick off the Halloween season.
We want everyone in our community to feel welcome at our table. Our venue offers wheelchair-accessible seating with companion space in the front row. Please let our staff know upon arrival if you have any special needs, and we will gladly assist you. Because of the interactive nature and the meal preparation, advanced reservations are absolutely required. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for dinner shows. The kitchen needs an accurate headcount to ensure everyone gets a hot meal, and the cast needs to know how many tables they are working with.
Dinner theater has been a staple of our programming for years, and it remains one of the most effective ways to fund our educational outreach. The Spotlight Playhouse is more than just a performance venue. It is a working classroom. When you walk through our doors on Richmond Road, you are stepping into a space where dedicated instructors meet eager students. The actors performing your mystery are the same individuals who teach our weekday acting classes. Every ticket purchased for a Bluegrass Players Dinner Show does more than buy you an evening of entertainment. It directly supports the mission and programs of the Spotlight Acting School. When you dine with us, you are helping a local student achieve their goals in the performing arts.
There is a distinct satisfaction in gathering around a table to share food and a story with your neighbors. It reminds us why we do this work in Berea. We get to laugh together, solve a mystery together, and support local arts education all in one evening. You can secure your table online through TicketSource or by calling our box office directly at 859-756-0011. Grab your friends, bring the family, and come see who might not make it to dessert in Sleepy Hollow.
Upcoming Community and Theater Events 🎭
- September 18-20, 2026: Spoonbread Festival (30th annual) on West Jefferson Street, Berea. 🍄
- September 18-27, 2026: Honk! Jr. (Spotlight Acting School students ages 9 to 14) at The Spotlight Playhouse, 214 Richmond Road. 🦢
- September 18-27, 2026: Salem’s Daughter (The Bluegrass Players) at The Spotlight Playhouse, 214 Richmond Road. 👻
- September 25-27, 2026: One Reunion alumni gathering at Berea College. 🎓
- September 26, 2026: Levitt BLOC Berea finale with Devon Gilfillian, Darrin Hacquard, and MojoFlo at Alumni Field. 🎵
- October 2-11, 2026: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow dinner show at The Spotlight Playhouse. 🎃
Tickets and info for all shows: thespotlightplayhouse.com
Sources 📚
- The Spotlight Playhouse: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow dinner show
- TicketSource: Sleepy Hollow interactive mystery dinner theater
- The Spotlight Playhouse
About the Author ✍
Chad Hembree serves as the Executive Director of Spotlight Acting School, The Spotlight Playhouse, and Spotlight Performing Arts. A resident of Berea, Kentucky, and a former member of the Berea Council, he has spent decades working in community theater, arts education, and local journalism. Since 1995, he has operated BereaOnline.com, focusing on local news, civic issues, and stories that highlight community collaboration and grassroots efforts across Madison County.
This article originally appeared on BereaOnline.com.