A powerful politician's son takes the wheel of his family's speedboat on a summer night, an ex-lover and old friends aboard, and by the end of the night one person is dead and another is in a coma. That's the fictional scenario at the center of a touring interactive show landing in Milwaukee this fall, and this time, the audience doesn't just watch the trial unfold. They decide the verdict.
“The Jury Experience — The Deadly Boat Ride” is set to take over the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center, with audience members stepping into the role of jurors for a live courtroom drama, as reported by CBS 58. Participants use their smartphones to vote at key moments in the story, and those choices can reveal different elements of the case as it develops. By the end of the roughly one-hour performance, it's the audience that delivers the final verdict on whether the death resulted from jealous rage or whether there's more to the story.
The son of the politician faces a murder charge in the fictional case, and CBS 58 spoke with production team member Rafael Meninelli about how the show unfolds. Participants use smartphones to vote during the performance.
A Global Theatrical Format Lands on the Lakefront
The production is the work of Fever, the live-entertainment technology company that reached a $1.8 billion valuation after a $110 million funding round led by Goldman Sachs, according to Music Business Worldwide. The company's event marketplace has since expanded to more than 500 cities worldwide. Fever also produces globally recognized franchises like Candlelight Concerts, per Blooloop.
The production has already staged live mock-trial performances in more than 120 cities around the world, according to the Fever Newsroom. The production brings the speedboat tragedy to life for audiences in each market.
Content Warnings and Show Rules for Attendees
The Milwaukee staging carries an age requirement of 12 and older, with parental discretion advised due to sensitive themes including domestic violence, emotional manipulation, alcohol use, and a distressing audio recording of a 911 call, according to TheaterMania. Minors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult throughout the performance.
Late entry is strictly prohibited once the show begins, and every attendee is required to bring a smartphone to scan QR codes and cast votes during the performance, the outlet's listing notes. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime to give participants time to settle into their roles as jurors before the trial begins.
Why Milwaukee's War Memorial Center Fits the Story
The choice of venue adds an unmistakable local resonance to the fictional speedboat storyline. The War Memorial Center sits directly on Lake Michigan, and its event spaces, including Memorial Hall, which can accommodate up to 300 guests, and Fitch Plaza, which can hold more than 300 guests, offer panoramic lake views, according to the War Memorial Center. The building itself carries its own history: it was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, dedicated on Veterans Day in 1957, and designated an official Milwaukee Landmark in 1974.
Promoters of the show have leaned into that local flavor, suggesting the fictional tragedy could just as easily have started along Milwaukee's riverfront, in a Bay View bar, or after a night out in the Deer District, according to the Secret Media Network. Framing the story with familiar geography is meant to heighten the moral weight participants feel when they're asked to cast their votes.
How the Fictional Case Compares to Real Wisconsin Law
The stakes the fictional jury weighs aren't far removed from real Wisconsin statutes governing fatal boating and driving cases. Under Wisconsin Statute § 940.09, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and causing a death is charged as a Class D felony, with a prison range of five to 25 years, according to the Wisconsin Legislature.
When intoxication can't be proven, prosecutors can instead pursue homicide by negligent operation, a Class G felony under Wisconsin Statute § 940.10, provided the conduct shows criminal negligence, per Stangl Law Offices. That distinction, between an impaired operator and one who was simply reckless, mirrors the kind of evidence Milwaukee's jurors will be asked to weigh as they decide what really happened aboard that speedboat.
Tickets and Show Dates
Milwaukee performances are scheduled for November 21 at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., with additional shows on December 19 at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $49.
