'Cafe Noir' murder mystery dinner in Marysville to help raise funds for The Sedona Project

Feb. 14—Inspired by myths of swirling vortexes with healing power, Chaya Galicia found a name for her up-and-coming nonprofit, The Sedona Project.

But the story goes much deeper than that. It comes from one of the darkest periods of Galicia's life, when her adolescent daughters were struggling with their mental health and it seemed there was nothing she could do to find them or herself the support they so desperately needed.

"I remember sitting around the kitchen table and talking about how hard it was to find somebody to help and to find good therapy," said Galicia. "Finally, I said, 'you know what, let's do something about it, I'm tired of complaining, let's make something.' I had no idea what that looked like at the time, but I was compelled to do something about this huge gap in support for kids and their families."

As things began turning a corner, Galicia found herself backed by a tribe of like-minded adults with similar struggles and a desire to help others form healthy and healing connections. By July 2022, The Sedona Project had finalized its board with a mission to create a safe and judgment-free environment for exploring wellness.

To do this, the group plans on establishing a network of volunteers who are willing to donate their time toward Sedona's "three pillars" of support: peer counseling, professional care navigation, and group healing activities.

Prospective volunteers must submit an application and undergo an initial interview and background check before completing a series of training. This training is currently being conducted by Galicia, who has leveraged her background in public health management to source and research free educational materials.

Sedona now consists of about a dozen fully vetted volunteers but only has two established programs. These include a monthly meeting for parents with kids experiencing depression or anxiety, and a monthly meeting for people living with chronic illness. Organizers are careful to specify that these peer support groups are open to everyone, however they are facilitated by non-professionals. The other two pillars are still in development.

"It's hard right now I think because there is no official space to do these programs," said Alyssa Fesler, one of Sedona's volunteers.

Finding a more permanent location is at the top of Galicia's priority list which is why Sedona has been hosting a series of unique fundraising activities. It started with a "speakeasy" event last spring followed by a stargazing and wine tasting event this past October. These events reportedly raised a combined total of $5,000, much of which went toward a former lease and insurance costs.

"Our plan is to do a couple of really fun fundraisers every year," said Galicia. "All of our fundraisers have been a little bit different and they've all been really fun."

Sedona's newest fundraiser will again take place in a Marysville "speakeasy" known as Neva's Place, located in Chinatown. This space has been donated by Marysville City Councilman Stuart Gilchrist in order to host "Cafe Noir," a murder mystery dinner and play directed by Amber Colvin.

"It's a great charity and super important I think after COVID with everybody's mental health taking such a dive," said Colvin.

Colvin, a seasoned local actor, previously served as a bartender for Sedona's first fundraiser and was greatly inspired by the venue. Having previously starred in a string of murder mystery dinner theaters alongside veteran actor Joseph Moye, Colvin decided it was time to revive her beloved "Cafe Noir."

"This will be my first time directing and I feel very lucky to be surrounded by so many great minds that have directed before and are helping me discover that within myself," added Colvin.

The "Cafe Noir" trilogy, by David Landau, was used by local thespians from 2017 to 2019 as a fundraiser for both the Sutter County Museum and the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts in Yuba City. Colvin and her crew now look forward to reprising some of their roles in what has developed into a local cult-like following.

About the show

Set in the 1940s, "Cafe Noir" centers around the adventures of private investigator Rick Archer, who sets out to find a curvaceous runaway on the forgotten island of Mustique. When the cafe's owner is found washed ashore and murdered, Archer employs his hard-boiled talents to find the killer.

This thrilling murder mystery also involves a bit of audience participation. Audience members will be given the chance to vote twice on what they want Archer to do next, decisions that will ultimately change the flow of this comic tribute to the Bogart era.

"Cafe Noir" showings will run Thursday through Saturday starting on Feb. 29 and ending March 16. The venue is located in the basement of the Whatnot shop located at 101 C St. in downtown Marysville. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with entertainment to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are currently available on eventbrite at tinyurl.com/2p932vxr. Tickets cost $75 each and will include a Caribbean-themed dinner and libations.

The venue can only hold 25 audience members per evening. For more information about The Sedona Project, to make a donation, or apply to be a volunteer, visit thesedonaproject.org.