East County News ServiceMarch 24, 2026 (El Cajon) — The First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon’s theater outreach program, The Circle Players, will navigate Richardson Hall into the high seas next month for an interactive mystery dinner theater production, “The Conundrum on the Crackerjack Cruise.”
Written by Nancy Bond, the play invites audience members to board the fictional cruise ship Grand Jubilation as it sets sail for the Bahamas.
The evening blends traditional performance with a “Game Night” experience. Guests are encouraged to participate as fellow passengers, competing in teams and cheering for victory as the sun and fun shift into a web of mystery and intrigue.
The upcoming production continues a decade-long tradition for The Circle Players — founded in 2015 to provide a creative outlet for local acting, technical and production talent. A volunteer-driven organization, all aspects of the show, from the cast and directors to the kitchen and wait staff, is led by community members donating their time to foster fellowship.
Performances are scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Friday, April 17; 1 p.m., Saturday, April 18; and 6 p.m., Sunday, April 19. All shows will take place at Richardson Hall, 551 Farragut Circle in El Cajon.
Tickets are $35 and include a full dinner served during the mystery. Reservations can be made online through the troupe’s website at www.thecircleplayers.org or via the First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon’s dedicated ticketing page here.
For those interested in volunteering for future productions or seeking more information about the program, call (619) 588-5348 or email thecircleplayers@gmail.com. More details regarding on the venue and community programs are available at www.firstpres-elcajon.org