We recently connected with Ryan Murtha and have shared our conversation below.
Ryan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I started as an actor at The Dinner Detective, just me a few actors, a room full of strangers, and the rush of improv-driven fun. I learned on my feet, one table at a time, figuring out how to balance comedy, suspicion, and storytelling while staying locked into the moment, and learning to read people faster than I ever had before. If I could go back, I would’ve put myself in front of audiences even sooner. Nothing teaches timing, tension, and trust like a crowd that doesn’t know you’re part of the show until it’s too late.
As I got more comfortable on “stage,” (we perform amongst the audiences and their tables), I became curious about how the entire experience came together, not just the performance, but the show design, casting, pacing, and energy. Moving into producing taught me how much of a show’s success happens before the audience even arrives. I had to develop systems, learn to manage talent, and be five steps ahead of every potential fire. The most essential skills as a producer are logistics, adaptability, and clarity in communication.
From there, my creative brain kicked in. I wanted to shape not just the show, but the brand. As Creative Director, I learned to craft moments, not just scenes, to turn dinner into theater and theater into memory. Comedy, suspense, and connection had to live everywhere: in the scripts, in the staging, in the guest interactions. The end goal is to build a community, an experience that goes beyond just the night.
Eventually, I leaned fully into the Marketing Director role because if we’re going to build something brilliant, we have to get people in the room. I started learning what makes someone stop scrolling, what drives them to click “buy,” and how to tell a story in just a few words. I tested relentlessly, analyzed everything, and learned how to blend brand voice with audience psychology. Looking back, I wish I’d embraced the numbers sooner. Gut instinct is powerful, but data tells the truth. The most essential skills were emotional timing, copywriting, and trend awareness. The hardest part was keeping up with the platforms. The rules shift constantly, and you have to move fast without losing your voice.
From actor to producer to creative to marketing, the thread through it all has been storytelling, adaptability, and a deep love for the unpredictability of live performance. Every role taught me something different, and every step made me better at seeing the full picture. The work is never static, and that’s what makes it thrilling. You grow by getting in the room, taking the risk, and figuring it out one laugh, one line, and one sold-out show at a time.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a writer, director, producer, actor, and Navy veteran who has always lived between two worlds: the structured discipline of military service and the unpredictable, creative energy of live performance and filmmaking. To some, those two paths might seem incompatible. For me, they’ve always felt like two sides of the same coin, both demanding presence, quick decision-making, and the ability to lead or follow in high-pressure situations.
I got my start in storytelling with a camcorder and a passion for making short videos while studying at the United States Naval Academy. That love of creative expression stuck with me even as I served on active duty in various roles, from Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer to Acting Chief Engineer and Instructor. During that time, I also found my way onto stages, into improv classes, and eventually behind the camera making short documentaries about Navy training. It was a way to show the human side of military life, to give families and friends a glimpse of what service members actually do, and frankly, to scratch the itch I’ve always had to tell stories that matter.
After leaving active duty in 2018, I pursued my MFA in Directing from Chapman University. Since then, I’ve directed and produced short films, proof-of-concept projects, and music videos, and worked as an Assistant Director on both narrative and commercial productions. My work has screened at festivals like the Austin Film Festival, Pasadena International Film Festival, Phoenix International Film Festival, Southeast New England Film, Music, and Arts Festival, and the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival. I’ve been fortunate to win a few awards along the way.
I’m currently the Creative Director, Director of Marketing, Producer, and an actor with The Dinner Detective, the largest interactive murder mystery dinner show in America. It’s live, partially scripted, and incredibly fun. It’s essentially SNL meets Law & Order over a multi-course meal, where the actors are hidden among the guests and anyone could be the killer. I started as an actor and over time worked my way up to helping shape the creative direction and marketing vision of the brand.
Whether I’m on stage, on set, or at my desk writing, my goal is always the same: to create authentic, character-driven experiences that connect people. I use my military background to bring structure, leadership, and calm to high-pressure creative environments. I use my artistic side to bring humor, humanity, and surprise to every project I touch.
What sets me apart is the balance I’ve learned to strike between discipline and creativity, between command and collaboration. I don’t fit the typical mold of a military veteran, and I don’t fit the stereotype of a creative either. I believe in planning deeply and then leaving room for magic. I believe in leading when needed and stepping back when it lets others shine. I believe the best stories and the best teams are built with empathy, clarity, and a shared sense of purpose.
I’m most proud of the moments where those worlds overlap. When someone laughs at a line that wasn’t scripted, when a live audience gets swept up in a show, when a short film resonates with a viewer who’s never served in the military but suddenly understands a piece of it, or when someone in uniform sees me and realizes they can be creative too.
To anyone considering working with me, attending one of our shows, or watching one of my films, know this. I’m here to build meaningful stories that entertain, challenge, and connect. Whether it’s making people laugh at dinner or think deeply in a theater, I’m driven by the idea that storytelling can bridge worlds, and I’m proud to keep building that bridge one scene at a time.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The mission that drives my creative journey with The Dinner Detective is to create immersive, unpredictable, and deeply human experiences that do more than entertain. They connect people. At its core, The Dinner Detective isn’t just a show. It’s an invitation. It invites strangers to step into a story together, to laugh, to question everything, and to become part of something that unfolds in real time, right at their table.
What fuels me creatively is the challenge of blending comedy, mystery, and live improvisation into a performance that changes every night. No two shows are the same because no two audiences are the same. That unpredictability keeps it alive and keeps us honest as storytellers. We’re not just putting on a show. We’re building a moment that belongs to everyone in the room.
But beyond the performance, my larger mission is to build a community around the show, a space where audiences, cast members, creatives, and even first-time attendees feel part of something bigger. Whether it’s through behind-the-scenes content, cast spotlights, fan interactions, or local partnerships, I want The Dinner Detective to be more than a night out. I want it to be part of a larger conversation about creativity, connection, and shared experiences.
We’ve seen firsthand how this show brings people together, from awkward first dates to birthday parties to team-building nights for entire companies, and I want to nurture that. The goal isn’t just to entertain people for two hours. It’s to give them something to talk about, laugh about, and come back to. Again and again.
So for me, the mission is clear. Create unforgettable experiences on stage, and foster a community offstage that keeps the energy going long after the curtain call. That’s what sets us apart, and that’s what I’m most proud to keep building.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is watching people connect through something I helped build. Whether it’s laughter breaking out in the middle of a tense moment, a gasp during the final reveal, or a conversation sparked between strangers after the show, those moments remind me why I do this. It’s about creating something that didn’t exist before and seeing it bring people together in real time.
With The Dinner Detective, that reward is amplified because the audience isn’t just watching the story, they’re inside of it. Seeing guests drop their guard, get pulled into the mystery, and leave talking about it like they lived through something special, that’s where the magic lives.
There’s also something incredibly fulfilling about working with a team of performers, writers, producers, and creatives who bring their own energy and talent into the mix. Collaborating, problem-solving, improvising on the fly, it all feeds into a sense of shared purpose. We’re not just putting on a show. We’re crafting an experience that lives in the memory of everyone who walks through the door.
That kind of impact, real and immediate, is what makes this work worth doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thedinnerdetective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinnerdetective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinnerdetective
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinner-detective-81810a195/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDinnerDetective
- Other: instagram.com/ryanpmurtha; [email protected]
Image Credits
The Dinner Detective