Murder in the HOA
A murder mystery comedy
by Stefanie R. Austin and Kari Williamson

July 13, 14, and 15, 2023
7:00pm at The Shop in Zion, Bellefonte, PA

Welcome to Whispering Pines, the picture-perfect neighborhood of your dreams...or nightmares. Quarreling neighbors, pet disputes, and rising rebellions are just the start of the evening. Join us at the annual homeowner's meeting where the HOA Board resolves to end all the conflict...one way or the other.

Poster design credit:
Caitlin Meleski of Caitlin Meleski Artwork

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Cast

Joe..........................PAUL MARCINKEVAGE*
Tina........................CARRIE MARCINKEVAGE*
Susan.....................KENDRA ENGLISH
Crystal....................PRISCILLA MCFERREN
Pat..........................GREGG BAPTISTA
Mandy.....................NICOLE SUMMERS
Renee......................KARI WILLIAMSON
Lindsey....................STEFANIE AUSTIN
Homeowner............STEVE WILLIAMSON
Avery.......................AUBREY WILLIAMSON
Daisy.......................PHOEBE AUSTIN

*Sock & Buskin debut

Crew

Producer.................................................. STEFANIE AUSTIN Director.....................................................KARI WILLIAMSON
Assistant Directors..................................LILLI FALCON, ZACHARY MYERS
Stage Managers.......................................LILLI FALCON, ZACHARY MYERS
Technical Director.................................... STEFANIE AUSTIN
Costumer..................................................JOSEPHINE BRANSTETTER*
Props Masters...........................................LILLI FALCON, ZACHARY MYERS
Light/Sound Designer/Technician...........NATHAN GLUNT
House Managers.......................................AMY SHRECKENGAST*, JARED ERNICO*
Graphic Design...........................................CAITLIN MELESKI

*First production role with Sock & Buskin

Meet The Cast

Headshots credit:
April Cockburn

Paul Marcinkevage

Joe

Paul is enjoying his first role with Sock & Buskin as well as his first murder mystery! He most recently appeared in shows with Tempest Productions and The Next Stage. Some favorites include Rivers Run Under the Earth, The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden, Fallout, and his role of Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing

Carrie Marcinkevage

Tina

Our amazing local theater scene rekindled Carrie’s passion, and she has been grateful to join productions with The Next Stage and Tempest Productions. Highlights are her most challenging role as Dr. Frank in Fallout and her bucket-list favorite role as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. This is her first Sock & Buskin production, and she’s thrilled to join the murder mystery fun!

Kendra English

Susan

Kendra has dabbled in theatre from time to time and is ecstatic to be a part of this amazing Sock & Buskin production. She loves a good murder mystery and loathes the HOA, unless they are clearing the snow. She wonders where they put all that snow. She adores her family and is grateful for their support. She enjoys dancing and looking at the stars. And of course enjoys murder and mystery and murder mysteries.

Priscilla McFerren

Crystal

Priscilla is excited to be part of this premiere production of Murder in the HOA. She has spent many years doing educational and community theatre. Since coming to State College nearly sixteen years ago to be near a growing family, her favorite roles have been Clairee in Steel Magnolias and Polonius in Hamlet, State College Community Theatre; Jessie in Calendar Girls, and Juror Nine in 12 Angry Men, Nittany Theatre at the Barn; Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, Class Act Productions; and a cast member of a recent performance of The Vagina Monologues as her first Sock & Buskin outing.

Gregg Baptista

Pat

Gregg returned to theatre in 2021 after a long hiatus and helped launch Sock & Bus- kin Theatre Company in 2022 as a member of its board of directors. Last year, he was seen on stage as Mr. Green in SCCT’s production of Clue and as Greg in Sock & Buskin’s Cutthroat Christmas, and he helped out back- stage for Sock & Buskin’s Sin-ergy, 86’ed, and Moon Over Buffalo. Gregg works as a writer in development at Penn State in an office filled with talented and quirky coworkers, and he is excited to be a part of another year of live theatre with Sock & Buskin.

Nicole Summers

Mandy

Nicole is happy to return to the stage for her second Sock & Buskin performance and is especially pleased that she, her husband, Terry, and their four very loud dogs do not live in an HOA. When she isn’t trying to cajole her dogs into silence, Nicole is director of the Bellefonte FaithCentre and, along with her husband, is an owner/instructor at Summers Martial Arts—a World Tang Soo Do studio. Nicole loves all things canine and is particularly fond of her golden retriever, Winslow, and their daily hikes. She also watches a dis- concerting amount of true crime documentaries.

Kari Williamson

Renee | Director, Playwright

Kari is excited to be involved in another Sock & Buskin production. She has directed Sibbleger and Cutthroat Christmas, and appeared as Christy in Cutthroat Christmas. Kari, along with Stefanie Austin, is one of the writers of Murder in the HOA. Having served for three years on her neighbor- hood’s HOA board, Kari appreciates how difficult it can be to strike the right balance between the Tinas and the Pats of the neighborhood. She is grateful that her HOA has done just that. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Stefanie Austin

Lindsey | Producer, Technical Director, Playwright

Stefanie is the President and a Founding Director of Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. She has credits as an actor, director, playwright, producer, and crew in a number of productions since 2014. Most recently, she directed S&B’s productions of Moon Over Buffalo (April) and The Vagina Monologues (May), and played the role of Maeve in 86’ed (February). Stefanie is having a blast in this show playing one of the two snarky “peanut gallery” women on the balcony and performing with her daughter, Phoebe, for the first time. She also happens to live in an HOA, though it’s much more pleas- ant than the one in this production! She thanks her hus- band, Peter, and her two kids for their unwavering love and support. Viva la revolution!

Steve Williamson

Homeowner

Steve is excited for his first full production ever. He teaches Math at Philipsburg-Osceola High School and spends as much time playing soccer as his wife tolerates. He also enjoys doing a myriad of activities with his family and is amazed by seeing Kari (and Stef) bring these scripts from idea to production.

Aubrey Williamson

Avery

Aubrey loves to perform and is excited to be in her second show with Sock & Buskin. Aubrey appeared in Cutthroat Christmas and is thrilled to be playing the role of Avery in Murder in the HOA. She enjoys singing, dancing, playing video games, and pretending she opens a restaurant.

Phoebe Austin

Daisy

Phoebe is excited to be back on the stage again after making her theatrical debut as "Phoebe" in S&B's murder mystery Cutthroat Christmas last December. Phoebe is a rising second grader who loves art, riding her bike, swimming, gymnastics, soccer and the beach. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher or astronaut.

Meet The Production Team

Lilli Falcon

Assistant Director, Stage Manager, Props Master

Lilli is so excited to be a part of this production alongside such a wonderful, kind, and talented cast and crew! She is a Ph.D. student in Educational Psychology at PSU and is originally from Miami, FL. She is grateful to her friends and family, especially her bestie, Zach, and fiancé, Josh, for all their support (and rides to rehearsal). Enjoy the show!

Josephine Branstetter

Costumer

Jo is excited to join Sock & Buskin as their costumer for Murder in the HOA and more! She is a recent high school graduate with a passion for costume design and a plan to make it a career. After COVID presented several difficulties, she re-immersed herself into theater and does not plan to leave soon. She hopes you enjoy the show, and keep an eye out for her future costumes with Sock & Buskin. To keep up with Jo’s sewing and theater endeavors, you can find her Instagram @dadshakespeare.

Zachary Myers

Assist Director, Assistant Stage Manager, Props Master

Zach is excited to be joining another Sock & Buskin production with his best friend, Lilli, and an amazing cast and crew. He is a Ph.D. student in Educational Psychology and originally from Cleveland, OH. He would like to thank the cast for their amazing work and his spouse for tolerating constant references to the play.

Amy Shreckengast

House Manager

Amy is excited about being a part of Sock & Buskin, and she has volunteered for all of the group’s main stage productions to date. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Jared Ernico

Assistant House Manager

Jared is a one-liner specialist and has acted in two previous Sock & Buskin productions. This is his first time helping out with crew and front of house, but it shan’t be his last!

Nathan Glunt

Sound/Lighting Designer/Technician

Nathan has been involved in live sound ever since he was a teenager. From live stages, small bars, and outdoor amphitheaters, he has helped set up audio equipment and mixed a variety of venues. He was the sound technician on Sock & Buskin’s 86’ed and Moon Over Buffalo, and he is very excited to work with the group again for Murder in the HOA. Nathan was born and raised in Altoona, PA. He moved closer to the State College Area for work with AccuWeather designing and maintaining studios as an Engineer. Aside from live sound production, Nathan is an avid musician always looking for gigs in the surrounding areas.

Caitlin Meleski

Graphic Designer

Caitlin considers herself to be “a small-town-famous graphic designer with a passion for digital artistry.” She is a 2015 Advertising Art & Design graduate of SUN Area Technical Institute and a 2019 Bachelors of Arts graduate of Susquehanna University. Before designing promo artwork for Sock & Buskin, Caitlin designed posters for productions presented by Selinsgrove Area High School Theatre, Riverstage Community Theatre, and many other small theater companies across the United States. 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.