More on The Difference Engine Steampunk Murder Mystery Theater Event

The Difference Engine is an all “Steampunk” convention that has a one day event in the summer and a three day event on New Year’s Eve weekend.  This event will not only immerse you in the creative world of the retro-futuristic imagination, but it will be totally unique among Steampunk Conventions!  This will be the first ever interactive and all “Steampunk” Murder Mystery Theatre event!  

The first event will be “The Difference Engine One day Summit” on June 4^th, 2011 where  “Delegates” (from sovereign nations),  “airship pirates”, and other “special interests” from around the world meet to try to purchase plans for a “Difference Engine” computer (historical device) with full military application software (fictional), so the weekend is guaranteed to be a Machiavellian playground!  All participants will be invited into the concert hall for “Meetings with the Admirals” five times during the event. (Each meeting will be one act of the murder mystery play!)  In between acts of the play, you will be enlightened by panels on a variety of topics related to Steampunk and entertained by performers offering dancing and song.  There will also be a large vendors area, console gaming, table top gaming, Steampunk Movies, photography in Steampunk Attire, and a full Steampunk Fashion show voted on by the attendees.  During all of this clues to the various murders will be left around the premises and those turning in the most useful reports or clues to security will win a prize for sleuthing.  Naturally if they actually lead to an arrest, a prize is guaranteed, otherwise, those turning in the most clues win 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place prizes.  After all of this and the conclusion of the play, there will be a dance!  Steampunk Attire is strongly encouraged, but optional.  

The second event, “The Difference Engine World Conference” on Dec. 30^th, 2011 through Jan. 1^st, 2012, will be similar in form, but will include a lot more panels, authors, and performers, including a performance by Marquis of Vaudville, and a little more formally attired Steampunk New Year’s Eve Party and Dance with a ‘Steampunk” ball drop at midnight.  We hope you will go to our website and see how you can become an active part of these fully interactive dramatic events!

The schedule at present is as follows:

The console game room, table top game room, vendor area, Official Photographer, and costume item rental room, and the film screening room will probably be open throughout the event, but may be closed at mealtimes or for other purposes.

10 am Registration and opening vendor room (and possibly gaming rooms and film room)

11 am Act One and introduction of delegates

12 pm  Introductory Steampunk Panels, Class on a basic Waltz, Performances by guest dancers or actors

1 pm Steampunk Panels & Music Performances

2 pm Act Two

2:30 pm Dieselpunk & other "Steampunk related" panels, Performances by guest dancers or actors

3:30 pm Panels & Sarasvati Boddhisatva (music & song) Performance

4:30 pm Act Three 

5:00 pm Panels & Performances by guest dancers/actors

6:00 pm Panels & Performances  by guest musicians

7 pm Act Four

7:30 pm Fashion Show

9:30 pm Act Five and Conclusion

10:30 pm Waltz

11:00 pm to 2 am Dance with DJ (probably "Son of Sam" playing Darkwave, Steampunk, and various other dance music)