From Grammar to Gory: A Teacher’s Journey into Murder Mysteries

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Meet Alison Rampa, a middle school English teacher who’s got more layers than an onion—specifically, an onion with a penchant for the morbid. By day, she’s molding young minds with literary finesse; by night, she’s the curator of chaos as the brains behind Queen City Murder Mysteries. Talk about extracurricular activities!

“It’s a way for me to be me,” Rampa quips, probably while juggling a stack of essays, a glass of wine, and a prop knife. Yes, nothing says ‘personal fulfillment’ quite like solving a murder—or at least, pretending to.

Rampa’s murder mystery dinners are like Shakespeare meets Scooby-Doo, requiring attendees to flex their inner detectives as they sift through clues and interrogate suspects. “It’s a play in three acts,” Rampa explains, sounding distinctly like an optimistic tour guide trying to sell the last tickets to a doomed haunted house. “By the second act, you know who done it, why, and how, and in the third act, all is revealed, and you win a prize.” Spoiler alert: The prize is probably not a lifetime supply of chocolate, but who knows?

Her theatrical escapades have captivated crowds ranging from the cozy circle of seven to a raucous mob of 300. Talk about versatility! Rampa’s English teaching skills are the secret sauce that turns her scripts from a sad collection of words into something that doesn’t require a thesaurus to enjoy. But let’s be honest—despite all the improvisation, her financial returns are as paltry as a classroom lunch.

“Tickets are 25 dollars each,” Rampa says, trying to sound chipper while calculating her net worth in pizza slices. “I’m able to make a little bit of money. Like pay the mortgage money? No. Buy myself a nice dinner and put my kids into their schooling.” Little Timmy will just have to settle for ramen again.

But for Rampa, the spotlight isn’t about lining her pockets; it’s about the thrill of the performance and the sincere joy it brings. Her adrenaline rush doesn’t come from bungee jumping or skydiving, but rather the blissful moment when audience members try to solve the whodunit before running for the exit.

“I enjoy the adrenaline that happens on a lot of levels,” Rampa confesses, likely reminiscing about all the awkward silences from the audience when the plot twist hits. “When ticket sales come in, when people say they like the show, when the cast counts their tips at the end. Those are all signs that people had a good time.” And let’s face it, if they leave alive and slightly confused, that’s a win in her book!