Do Not Reuscitate
by Stefanie R. Austin
November 13, 14 & 15, 2025 @ 7:30pm
November 16, 2025 @ 12:30pm
at Titan Hollow, Bellefonte, PA
Let's get one thing straight: first aid and CPR instructor Terry Morton doesn't want to be here any more than you do. And it isn't just because he's stuck in a small town with a bunch of kooky characters who, in his not-so-humble opinion, are a bunch of stultus (fools) -- it's because he fears his secret will be leaked. When it inevitably does, one person ends up as lifeless as the training dummy.
This production is funded in part by a grant from
Featuring original music by Chip Taylor
Cast
Terry Morton..................................................JACK DONAHUE
Petunia Peterson............................................SANDY ADAMS
Natalie Brungard.......................................BETHANIE LOUISE
Joey..............................................................CHASE WILSON*
Kris Carter.................................................BRANDON SMITH
Anna Templeton.................................JENNA LEE KOLWICZ*
Bobby...............................................................FREYA LENZ*
Sheriff Edwards............................................ANDREA BOITO
*Sock & Buskin debut
Production Team
Director………………………....................................................PHILLIP ZAPKIN
Assistant Director................................................................ANDI STOUT
Stage Manager...............................................................JACE BEAUTON
Props Master/Costumer…..…………………........................AMBER HUBERT
Sound Designer/Producer..........................................STEFANIE AUSTIN
Assistant Producer/Marketing Coordinator.............STEPHANIE KOONS*
Sound Assistant/Technician......................................MERCER BRISTOW*
Lighting Technician………………………............…………….ELI BEERS-ALTMAN
House Managers...................AMY SHRECKENGAST, KARI WILLIAMSON
Photographer……………………............,..………….………...………..JEREMY ROCK
Graphic Designer...........................................................CAITLIN MELESKI
*First production role with Sock & Buskin
Jack Donahue
Terry Morton
Jack is an actor, author, and musician in the State College Area. As a graduate of John Travolta University (Go Greaser’s) Jack is a Veteran of the stage, starring such productions as Miracle on 34th Street, Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party, The Last Five Years, Bloody Jack, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Mary Poppins, Slain at the Speakeasy, and Deathtrap. He is also an accomplished director. Jack is an active board member of Cultural Resources Inc., Reitz Theater CRI, Dubois. He is the lead guitar player for The Surly Martyrs, the hottest band in central PA in terms of physique. Jack has had a wonderful time working with the great cast and crew and hopes you enjoy the show.
Sandy Adams
Petunia Peterson
This is Sandy’s fourth show with S&B. She has appeared in The Vagina Monologues, The Good Body, and two short plays: The Benefits of Murder and Unreasonable in “Beginnings”, an S&B short play showcase. A retired educator whose prior theater background was mostly dance and choreography, she is stepping outside her theatrical comfort zone acting with S&B and loving every minute of it! Many thanks to all the wonderful members of the cast and crew for your support and patience! And a special thanks to Phillip and Andi for their unending encouragement!
Bethanie Louise
Natalie Brungard
Bethanie is an actress and vocalist currently based in the State College area. She is thrilled to return to the stage with S&B for another murder mystery adventure! A former Chicago artist, Bethanie has performed with companies such as FUSE and Theatre in the Attic, and has found a vibrant and welcoming community in Central PA. When she’s not performing, she enjoys cooking, hiking with her dog Cooper, catching a great film, and attending live concerts. Bethanie extends heartfelt thanks to S&B for their continued support of the performing arts, and a special shoutout to Phillip and Andi for this exciting opportunity.
Chase Wilson
Joey
Chase is a writer and teacher for the Bellefonte Area School District. He’s extremely excited to be making his debut with Sock & Buskin and hopes that none of his students will see his New York(?) accent. Chase is returning to theatre after an extended leave from the stage due to unexpected circumstances (graduating from Penn State), but he is exceedingly grateful for the opportunity to act with such an incredible cast.
Brandon Smith
Kris Carter
Brandon is happy to be back in another S&B production. He portrayed “Jeff” and “Spencer” in his last S&B show, “Beginnings: A Short Play Showcase”. Recently, he has been busy acting in productions with SCCT in State College and Stone Arch Players in Lewistown. He is excited to be expanding his acting horizons with Do Not Resuscitate, his first dinner theatre production. Brandon would like to send a special thank you and shoutout to S&B president and playwright of Do Not Resuscitate, Stefanie Austin, for writing a script with a basis that is filled with both laughter and drama, as well as characters who are wonderful to portray for actors and interesting to watch for audiences. A special thank you also to directors, Phillip and Andi, for allowing him to take the role of “Kris” and giving him free rein to make the character his own. Sincere thanks to our audiences for your support of local theatre!
Jenna Lee Kolwicz
Anna Templeton
Jenna is an accomplished artist with extensive experience both onstage and behind the scenes. Grounded in the power of performing art, she understands the technical and artistic elements that bring productions to life. Throughout her career she has led creative teams, choreographed and coached stage combat, and mentored performers in movement and performance dynamics. Her multifaceted background reflects a lifelong dedication to storytelling, collaboration, and the transformative power of live arts. A standup comedian and voice actor in the tri-state area, Jenna is grateful to return to community theatre as Anna- a role she embraces as a playful, yet heartfelt, tribute to her work in suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. This act of- well, acting! is dedicated to Anna’s real children, and to the inner dreamers within each of us. Don’t you dare leave your dreams behind.
Freya Lenz
Bobby
Freya Lenz is a twelve-year-old seventh grader at Mount Nittany Middle School. This is her first show with Sock & Buskin and she’s thrilled to be part of the production. Freya is also a dedicated member of the Nittany Lion Aquatic Club and spends much of her free time focusing on swim training. She has a profound love for the arts and enjoys every opportunity to perform and express herself.
Andrea Boito
Sheriff Edwards
Andrea performs stand-up four days a week, where she tries to keep students awake during statistics courses at Penn State Altoona. Outside of academia, she’s a familiar face in Sock & Buskin productions, having performed in Slain at the Speakeasy, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Cutthroat Christmas. She was nearly in one more—until she quite literally “broke a leg” before opening night. Andrea is deeply grateful to Phillip and Andi for casting her in such a delightful, quirky role, and to Stefanie for crafting characters that are as fun to play as they are to watch.
Meet The Production Team
Phillip Zapkin
Director
Phillip returns once again as the supreme commander, allied forces, Sock & Buskin. He has marshaled all his soldiers for the forthcoming invasion of Titan Hollow. The troops have been drilling non-stop. Supplies of laughter and mystery fully loaded. Every character under his command is entirely prepared to give their life in play, if that is what the script requires of them. It brings a patriotic tear to the eye. In other words, Phillip is proud to return to directing for Sock & Buskin. This is his third full length production as director, following Mousetrap and Suite Surrender. He has also acted in the “Beginnings” short play showcase (for which he co-wrote a play and directed), For Better of For Worse, and Rehearsal for Murder. Outside the theatre world, Phillip is literary scholar and rhetoric instructor at Penn State.
Stefanie Austin
Producer, Sound Designer, Playwright
Stefanie is a proud founding director of Sock & Buskin Theatre Company and has served in nearly every role in community theatre, both onstage and offstage. Coming up, you can see her perform in Silent Bite this December. As a playwright, she publishes murder mystery scripts - including Do Not Resuscitate - through her business, Knock ‘Em Dead Scripts. Her scripts have been performed throughout the U.S., Canada, and U.K. Stefanie loves the collaborative nature of community theatre and is thrilled to see this cast & crew bring another one of her stories to life. She is grateful to S&B and the broader community for the opportunities to share her passion with others.
Andi Stout
Assistant Director
Andi is an award-winning and published writer from Appalachia. She earned her MFA at West Virginia University and teaches English at Penn State. This is Andi’s first time assistant directing, and she is thrilled to make her debut with a Stefanie Austin original script and a star-studded cast of community theatre notables. Things are looking pup! Enjoy the show!
Stephanie Koons
Assistant Producer
Stephanie is thrilled to join the Sock & Buskin Theatre Company as an assistant producer. By day, she works as a marketing and communications specialist at Penn State, where she crafts stories that spotlight the university’s research, people, and creative endeavors. A classically trained pianist, Stephanie has long balanced her professional life with a deep passion for the arts. Over the years, she has attended countless plays and musicals on and off Broadway, experiences that have shaped her lifelong love of theater. A self-described film buff, she is also a member of Filmmakers and Actors of Centre County, where she collaborates with local creatives on film and performance projects. Though relatively new to the world of theater production, Stephanie is eager to learn, grow, and contribute to Sock & Buskin’s mission of bringing dynamic, thought-provoking performances to the community.
Jace Beauton
Stage Manager
Jace is excited to be working on their 9th show with Sock & Buskin.
Amber Hubert
Costumer, Props Master
Since her formative years, Amber has immersed herself in a variety of creative outlets. Painting, writing, embroidery, graphic design, photography, just to name a few. While her first creative love was dance, (and is currently a dance instructor at The 814 Dance Company), the theatre has been calling since watching Barney: Live in New York at 4 years old. Amber is thrilled to have found a place in the Sock & Buskin Theatre Company and is eager to learn all she can from this amazingly talented and welcoming community.
Eli Beers-Altman
Lighting Technician
Eli is happy to be a part of another Sock & Buskin murder mystery and to work with Phillip and Andi again. When not doing theatre, Eli likes to spend his time watching films, playing Ticket to Ride, and walking around Colyer Lake. He hopes you enjoy the show!
Mercer Bristow
Sound Assistant/Technician
Mercer will try his hand backstage as sound technician for this production. First, it keeps him off the streets at night; plus, it’s another opportunity to work with the wonderful people who make up the Sock & Buskin company.
Cast and crew photo by Jeremy Rock of J. Rock Photographs
Thanks & Recognition
Business Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors ($500+)
Jared Ernico, REALTOR, eXp Realty
Special Thanks
Lyida Lenz
April Cockburn
Titan Hollow
Nittany Mall
Front-of-house Volunteers
Amy Shreckengast
Kari Williamson
Crystal Butterbaugh
Robin Post
Laurie Hughes
Adeline Aileo
Robery Henry
Stephanie Katz
Tara Caimi
Laurel Sanchez
Lynn Theodose
Coming up next from Sock & Buskin
Production Photos
Dress rehearsal photos by Jeremy Rock of J. Rock Photographs
