Cutthroat Christmas

A murder mystery by Kari Williamson & Stefanie R. Austin

Sponsored by ServiceMaster by Holobinko

December 8, 9, & 10, 2022 @ 7pm
December 11, 2022 @ 2pm
Titan Hollow in Bellefonte, PA

It's the annual Christmas party for Kringle, the gift-giving app company. In addition to the usual festivities - including an ugly sweater contest - the boss is retiring and is expected to name his successor at the party. What should be a merry and joyful evening is tainted by desperation, disloyalty, and....murder. Who's been nice and who's been naughty? Thankfully, one of Santa's elves is here to help solve the mystery.

Poster design credit:
Caitlin Meleski of Caitlin Meleski Artwork

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"Santa Baby" used by permission from Tamir Music
Written by Joan Javis and Philip Springer, 1953

Cast

Jennifer.............................ANDREA BOITO^
Alexa Andrews.................NICOLE SUMMERS*
Christy...............................KARI WILLIAMSON^
Greg..................................GREGG BAPTISTA
Michael.............................NATE SCHIERMAN
Taylor.................................LILLI FALCON
Nicholas Carnegie............MICHAEL PROCANIN BERNOSKY
Margaret Carnegie............KRISTINE ALLEN^
Detective Jingles..............J LANCE WILKINSON^
Aubrey ..............................AUBREY WILLIAMSON*
Phoebe..............................PHOEBE ROSE*
Aubrey (alternate) ...........JAYDA COCKBURN*

* Theatrical debut

^ Sock & Buskin acting debut

Crew & Volunteers

Producer....................................STEFANIE AUSTIN
Director......................................KARI WILLIAMSON
Assistant Director.....................STEFANIE AUSTIN
Stage Manager.........................APRIL COCKBURN
Assistant Stage Manager........ JAYDA COCKBURN
Costume/Set/Prop Design......APRIL COCKBURN, JAYDA COCKBURN
Light/Sound Designer..............RYAN COLLINS^
Light/Sound Technicians.........RYAN COLLINS^, JAMES ROHAN
Stage Crew................................ZACHARY MYERS^
Video Editor..............................JAMES ROHAN
Graphic Design.........................CAITLIN MELESKI
Front-of-house Staff................AMY SHRECKENGAST^, SHARON COLE^,
CINDY SNYDER^, KYLE STANLEY^

^ First role with Sock & Buskin

Meet The Cast

Andrea Boito

Jennifer

Andrea is excited to be a part of scripted theater again after spending five years as a company member of Happy Valley Improv. She has performed in many productions including Fuse’s Scrooge, an SCCT murder mystery, and too many productions to count at Cresson Lake Playhouse, some favorites being the mom in A Christmas Story and a variety of Nunsense nuns throughout the years. By day she entertains statistics students at Penn State Altoona and is lucky to spend her evenings with her husband John, children Laura, Ian, and Ryan, 2 spoiled granddaughters and 2 even more spoiled cats. She is a proud member of the State College Women’s Welcome Club and hopes that everyone (especially all the Curtain Call ladies) will have an amazing time at the show! She thanks Sock & Buskin for allowing her to play a small part in their beginning of greatness.

Nicole Summers

Alexa Andrews

Nicole is thankful to Sock & Buskin for facilitating her theatrical debut. When she is not practicing lines with her golden retriever, Winslow, she is executive director of Bellefonte’s FaithCentre - a non-profit, social service agency and home to the local Food Bank and Pet Food Pantry. Nicole is also a 2nd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. She and her intrepid husband, Terry (5th degree Master/Instructor) own and operate Summers Martial Arts in Bellefonte. In addition to Winslow, the Summers share their home with three other dogs (Truman, Mousse, and Penelope) and one ghost they have named “Thomas.”

Kari Williamson

Christy

Kari is the director and co-author of Cutthroat Christmas, and is excited to make her first appearance on stage since joining Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. Kari directed S&BTC’s debut show Sibbleger and served as Assistant Director for Sin-ergy. Kari’s most recent acting roles were in State College Community Theatre’s productions of 9 to 5, Murd-arrr!!! and Dead Tuesday. Kari enjoys acting but she is happiest when her roles include a song and dance. When not writing, directing, or performing, Kari enjoys reading, spending time with her family and leading a mindfulness group. Kari is an IT Director at Penn State and holds her colleagues in the highest regard. All of the jokes at IT’s expense were written with love. Many thanks to the cast and crew for sharing their time and talent, to her husband and kids for working around her crazy schedule, and to the audience for supporting local theatre. I hope you enjoy the show.

Gregg Baptista

Greg

Gregg performed in and worked backstage on various high school and community theatre productions in his native Massachusetts and returned to theatre in 2021 after a long hiatus. He was most recently seen on stage as Mr. Green in SCCT’s production of Clue and helped out backstage for Sock & Buskin’s first full-length show, Sin-ergy. Gregg works as a writer in development at Penn State in an office filled with talented and quirky coworkers. He helped launch Sock & Buskin Theatre Company this year as a member of its board of directors and is thrilled to see such an enthusiastic community response to the group’s first season.

Nate Schierman

Michael

After being kicked out of several staff meetings, kids’ birthday parties, and carpools for insisting on being the center of attention at all times, Nate found the theater to be a more appropriate setting for his constant need for ego stroking. He is very thankful to his castmates and the folks at Sock and Buskin, for allowing him to indulge in his delusions of grandeur; and to his family for allowing him to pursue his hobby of grown-up make-believe.

Lilli Falcon

Taylor

Lilli is a second-year Ph.D student in Educational Psychology at Penn State and is originally from Miami, FL. Her love of theatre began in middle school as part of the ensemble in local productions of Aladdin and Thoroughly Modern Millie. After a brief ten-year hiatus, Lilli made her return to theatre as Ava in Sin-ergy, and is thrilled to once again be in a production with the amazing folks at Sock and Buskin. When not acting or working/studying, she can usually be found napping, drinking Starbucks or planning her next adventure with her loved ones. Lilli is so grateful to her friends and family, namely her roomie Zach, her partner Josh and her amazing mom for supporting her in her love of theatre. Merry Christmas!

Kristine Allen

Margaret Carnegie

Kris has been addicted to theatre since age 5, when her mother (a former professional actress), in a fit of nepotism, cast her in a kid’s role in a high school play. Her favorite roles have included Constanze in Amadeus, Babe in Crimes of the Heart, Barbarina in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Doris in Same Time Next Year, and Amanda in The Glass Menagerie. Most recently, she was seen as Juror #8 in 12 Angry Men (& women), John Dickinson in 1776 (an all-female version), and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She’s glad to be playing a female role for a change and is thrilled to be working with everyone at Sock & Buskin again (having played Dr. Jekyll in their Halloween show - don’t miss it next year - it was a blast!). In real life, Kris is program director of WPSU-FM.

Michael Procanin Bernosky

Nicholas Carnegie

Mike is a Boalsburg resident. He is an actor trained at the now-legendary Nimrod Theatre (Sydney, Australia) and holds an M.A. Theatre Arts (Penn State). Most recently he appeared in Sock & Buskin’s Sin-ergy in the role of Lewis, the bookie. In other regional theatres he has played Pablo Picasso in My Name is Pablo Picasso and Jack Nolan in Moon for the Misbegotten (State Theatre); Lt. Colonel Nathan Jessup in A Few Good Men (Millbrook Playhouse); and Governeur de la Bourdonais in Paul & Virginie and Bogart in Play It Again Sam (Penn State). In his capacity as Nicholas Carnegie, CEO of Kringle Corp., he wishes everyone a “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year!"

J. Lance Wilkinson

Detective Jingles

J. Lance Wilkinson is happy to tread the boards once again since returning to the stage in 2015, following a 43-year hiatus since high school. Prior appearances include Sitting Bull (Annie Get Your Gun); Kringelin, Rich Man and Phil (Gypsy); ensemble (9 to 5 The Musical, The Wedding Singer); Duke Frederick (As You Like It); Henry (Murder Me Always); Sheriff Willie Rackham (Murd-ARRR!!! Pirates of the Salty Dog); the Press Corp (Dead Tuesday); and the Motorist (Clue on Stage); all with State College Community Theatre, as well as Chapuys' Attendant (A Man For All Seasons) and ensemble (Mama Mia!) with Nittany Theatre and in several PSU Student Films. He originated the role "Drunk Messenger" in Jerry Sawyer's Arthur and Merlin, and spoke and sang the "voice" of the mute Zechariah in Jerry's Mary and Elizabeth: A Conversation. Thanks to Vija for indulging him yet again, and for the support from family and friends and the welcoming and growing State College theatre community.

Aubrey Williamson

Aubrey

Aubrey is making her theatrical debut with Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. Aubrey took part in the State College Community Theatre Summer Camp, and has done several performances with Singing on Stage. Aubrey can also be seen this holiday season in her school’s Christmas show, where she will play an angel (her mom says she was type cast). When not performing, Aubrey loves playing board games and playing with her dolls. Her favorite subject in school is art.

Phoebe Rose

Phoebe

Phoebe is very excited to be making her theatrical debut, working alongside her mom, Stefanie, and performing with her best friend, Aubrey. Phoebe is in first grade and she loves school; her favorite subject is math and her favorite "special" is art. She loves to draw, ride her bike, swim, do gymnastics, and play soccer and softball. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher or astronaut.

Meet The Crew

Stefanie Austin

Producer, Assistant Director, Co-Writer

Stefanie is the President and a Founding Director of Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. Stefanie’s been an actor, director, and various other roles in a number of productions since 2014; her most recent roles were as Miss Scarlet in SCCT’s Clue in April and as Sherry in S&BTC’s debut show, Sibbleger in June. Stefanie wrote, directed, and co-produced Sin-ergy, Sock & Buskin's first full-length show in October, which performed in front of a sold-out crowd for all three performances! Off-stage, Stefanie works at Penn State Human Resources, plays soccer and softball, and enjoys spending time with friends and family, including her amazinly supportive husband, Peter, and their two kids and two dogs. Stefanie thanks the cast, crew, and volunteers for all their amazing work on this production, as well as all those who support community theatre as patrons, donors, sponsors, and volunteers!

Ryan Collins

Light & Sound Designer/Technician

Ryan is excited for the challenge of sound and light design. This is his first experience in community theatre. He has previously provided audio support for a high school musical production in Clinton County. Ryan is a substance abuse treatment professional by trade, but has a lifelong passion for live music performance and, more recently, production. No longer performing in a band, he has spent much of his free time the past few years mixing live bands in venues throughout central Pennsylvania.

James Rohan

Video Editor, Lighting Technician

James is a recent graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, with a bachelor's degree in Digital Arts. He is currently working as a graphic artist and also loves to find any opportunity to do freelance work. James was happy to get the opportunity to join Sock & Buskin during the summer as a designer and helped by creating a logo design for the group. James also served as photographe, video editor, and lighting board operator in Sin-ergy. James has a strong passion for Digital Art, such as Graphic Design and Photography, and is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of a fun and interesting group like Sock and Buskin where he can use that passion.

Kari Williamson

Director, Co-Writer, "Christy"

Zachary Myers

Stage Crew

Zach is a PhD student in Educational Psychology at Penn State originally from Solon, Ohio. This is his first time being part of the crew and he is so excited! Previous credits include Ryan in Sock & Buskin’s previous show Sin-ergy…that’s it. Zach would like to thank the Sock & Buskin Theater Company, Lilli Falcon (his roommate), and his spouse.

April Cockburn

Stage Manager, Costume/Set/Prop Designer

April is enjoying her role as stage manager and helping with costume/prop/set design. She has a very helpful assistant, her daughter Jayda, who is very creative and has some fantastic ideas for set design! Both April and Jayda are new to the community theater scene, but are enjoying their time and learning a lot!

Jayda Cockburn

Prop Assistant, Assistant Stage Manager, Stage Crew

Jayda is the assistant stage manager and prop designer. The play has inspired her to script and produce a movie of her own. She is having lots of fun with the play and is looking forward to helping with many more.

Caitlin Meleski

Graphic Designer

Caitlin considers herself to be “a small-town-famous graphic designer with a passion for digital artistry”. Before designing the promo artwork for Sinergy, Caitlin has designed posters for productions presented by Selinsgrove Area High School Theatre, Riverstage Community Theatre, and many other small theater companies across the United States. Earlier this year, her poster work has received many accolades including a Hermes Creative Award and two Muse Creative Awards. She has also acted in a few theatrical productions including, but not limited to, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Man Who Came To Dinner, The Music Man, Jekyll & Hyde, Cabaret, Mamma Mia, and Spamalot. Caitlin hopes to continue to combine her skills in design and her love for theater and hopefully get to work for productions on Broadway. You can follow her work on Instagram and Facebook @caitlinmeleskiartwork.