This year, residents of Hicksville and the surrounding communities are invited to celebrate Halloween a little differently. Rather than sitting at home watching scary movies, those in the mood for some who-done-it fun can attend the Manhattan Actors Troupe's Murder at the Costume Ball, an original dinner-theater production which will be performed at Peppercorns on Thursday, Oct. 31.

Murder at the Costume Ball is an interactive play complete with all the who-done-it details as in the board game Clue. The play, directed by Jennifer Maloney, a producer with the daytime soap opera As the World Turns and founder of the Manhattan-based (646) Theater Group, requires audience participation such as the Broadway-based Tony and Tina's Wedding and more local dinner-theater productions as the Soapranos.

"It is an interactive murder-mystery in which the characters are at a costume ball," said Maloney, who also stars in the play. "It's very improvisational-based." Aside from Maloney, Murder at the Costume Ball also stars Long Island native Chris Calvo, a partner with New Direction Entertainment, Fred Caruso, Venus Francois, Laurissa James and Mike Ziniak.

Although there are six actors cast as characters in Murder at the Costume Ball, Maloney said the audience will play a major role in catching the "murderer." "The audience is involved and is part of the ensemble," she said. "Murders start happening and an investigator will come in and they will work together. Clues, such as what the murder weapon is, will be passed on to the audience. Everyone attends the ball and works to figure out who the murderer is. This [play] fits very well with Halloween night."

In addition to solving the murder, audiences will have the opportunity to interact with the cast, dance and enjoy dinner. Since it is a "costume ball," there will also be a costume contest. Although they are not required, costumes are recommended. "This is a unique, interactive experience with a lot of fun elements such as dancing, theater, dinner," said Maloney.

Maloney, 29, is a Boston native who majored in theater at New York University. In addition to working for one of the longest running soap operas in television history, Maloney is also founder of the Manhattan-based (646) Theater Company. In the two years since its inception, 646 has presented four off- and off-off Broadway plays, including Earth and Sky, Private Eyes and Love Through Seven Windows.

By bringing the play to Long Island, Maloney said she is hopeful to provoke an interest for future interactive productions. "We did some research to see what is big on Long Island and dinner-theater seems to be pretty popular," she said. "This is a chance to bring some really good theater into Hicksville and we will certainly do others if there is an interest."

Murder at the Costume Ball will be performed at Peppercorns, 25 East Marie Street, on Thursday, Oct. 31. Cocktail hour will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. A three-course meal will be provided. Tickets are $52 and only 100 tickets will be sold. For reservations, call New Direction Entertainment at 796-5954.