The Cipher in the Stream: an Interactive Murder Mystery

This March, join the actors at Threepenny Theater Co. for The Cipher in the Stream—an original interactive murder mystery and fundraiser for the Chetco Activity Center, which is gearing up for crucial building repairs in 2026!

The mystery: 

For more than 80 years, a mysterious secret has been buried in the forests of Southern Oregon—and once it was unearthed, it proved deadly for one unlucky Brookings resident. 

In the midst of the Japanese Fu-Go balloon missions during WWII, a stray balloon with a top-secret payload landed in the remote forests of Southern Oregon, where it lay undisturbed for generations. Upon its discovery in 2025, locals were shocked to find that the balloon wasn’t carrying explosives—instead, they found a watertight canister attached with a cryptic payload containing a set of map fragments and a cipher key.

Dr. Alistair Sykes, a retired cryptologist, worked around the clock to restore the map and decipher its coded phrases. He believed the map and its coordinates could reveal the location of a secret coastal intelligence post, or even the identity of an embedded Axis collaborator.

But Dr. Sykes was murdered just hours before revealing his findings. Amongst a nervous mix of locals, rival scientists, and federal agents, one of them is the killer, desperate to suppress the truth of the Cipher in the Stream.

Was it…

• Tyler, Sykes’ nephew and under-appreciated research assistant?

• Cyrus, the retired logger who discovered the balloon?

• Steve, the caretaker with a chip on his shoulder?

• Colonel Thompson, the brash Army intelligence agent? 

• Mrs. Davies, the ambitious State Department liaison?

• Mrs. Morrison, the greedy antiquities dealer with a pioneer family pedigree?

• or Dr. Alice Fremont, fellow scientist and longtime family friend?

It’s up to you, the audience, to solve the mystery! As you traverse the halls of the Chetco Activity Center and question the suspects, you’ll work in teams to gather key clues and get the chance to bring Sykes’ killer to justice at the end of the night.

This interactive mystery is even friendly to repeat visitors! With three different possible endings, each night promises to offer guests a unique experience with each character, and a fresh puzzle to solve.

Presented in partnership with the Chetco Activity Center (home to our local Meals on Wheels program!), a portion of the proceeds from this event will go directly to the Center, which is currently working hard to raise funds for crucial building repairs!

The Cipher in the Stream runs March 20-28 at the Chetco Activity Center, 550 Chetco Ln in Brookings, Oregon.

Friday performances begin at 7PM

Saturdays performances begin at 2PM

A complimentary hors d'oeuvres reception will begin 45 minutes before the start of each event, along with signature beverages available for purchase!

Seating for this one-of-a-kind event is limited! Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online on Threepenny’s Zeffy Fundraising Page or in person at the Chetco Activity Center on the North end of Brookings. For more info call 541-373-0534, or send a message to contact@threepennytheater.com