R House Will Close Out 2024 With a High-Drama Heist

If you're looking to kick off 2025 by getting wrapped up in a little intrigue, R House will welcome the new year with, of all things, a diamond heist.

R House's Diamond Heist New Year's Eve Party will kick off Tuesday, December 31, from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Hosted by Athena Dion, the show will also feature celebrity drag queen Laganja Estranja, joined by Kat Wilderness and Juicy Love in a whodunnit mystery intended to keep guests guessing. Owner Rocco Carulli says the party will continue R House's running tradition of throwing an all-out party every New Year's Eve.

"We try to make it special, bring in special performers, whether it's a celebrity Drag Race queen or just different types of dancers and entertainment," Carulli adds.

"It's a big extravaganza, which is a little bit different to what we normally do," says co-owner Owen Bale. "Then obviously, we throw in Laganja Estranja, who is just such a world-class, shocking kind of entertainer. So, it's gonna be a real showstopper."

Dion, the show's hostess, also acted as the creative mind behind the performance, developing the concept, directing the production, and casting her fellow artists.

"Old spy movies really inspired me," Dion says. "I thought diamonds and glitz were very New Year's already. So, I wanted to add this fun gimmick so that people could feel like they were immersed in a bit of a show. And this may be one of the first times we're doing this whodunnit type of storyline, and we are actually putting together a production incorporating drag shows into a story."

Dion says that striking a balance between narrative and character-focused performances has provided an opportunity to flex a new creative muscle.

"It's really fun because drag is all about creating a character that you want to bring to life, and now you get to add another layer," she explains. "You've created this drag persona, and now this drag persona gets to create another identity. You're taking it a step further into your character development, and I think it's really fun to see how the performers are embracing that."

Bale says they expect a packed house and intend to close the busy season with a bang.

"New Year's is always a big night, and we're expecting the same this year, especially with the show that we're doing," he adds. "It's nice to have a theme and get guests into the mystery with us. All will be revealed by the end of the night."

If you want one final dose of glitz, glam, and drama to end your 2024, it might be worth celebrating at R House.

"I hope everybody can celebrate the new year with us and say sayonara to 2024 and hopefully go into 2025 each with their own metaphorical diamond," Dion says.

NYE 2025 Diamond Heist. 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, at R House, 2727 NW Second Ave., Miami; 305-576-0201; rhousewynwood.com. Tickets cost $20 to $140 via sevenrooms.com.