"I’ve seen a good amount of professional theatre and university theatre...But I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a show as well executed... Every beat of the show hit the perfect emotional pitch to continually build tension, right up to the terrifying last moment."
-- Phillip Zapkin
Read the full review: Lucille Fletcher’s Night Watch—20 Sept. 2025
Night Watch
by Lucille Fletcher
September 18th, 19th & 20th at 7:30pm
September 21st at 2:00pm
at the American Philatelic Society
Unable to sleep, Elaine Wheeler paces the living room of her Manhattan townhouse, troubled by unsettling memories and vague fears. Her husband tries to comfort her, but when he steps away for a moment, Elaine screams as she sees (or believes she sees) the body of a dead man in the window across the way. The police find nothing except an empty chair. Elaine’s terror grows as, shortly thereafter, she sees another body – this time a woman’s – but by now the police are skeptical and pay no heed to her frantic pleas. Her husband, claiming that Elaine may be on the verge of a breakdown, calls in a psychiatrist, who agrees with his suggestion that Elaine should commit herself to a sanitarium for treatment. The plot moves quickly and grippingly as those involved – Elaine’s old friend and house guest Blanche; the inquisitive and rather sinister man who lives next door; and the nosy German maid Helga – all contribute to the deepening suspense as the play draws towards its riveting and chilling climax.
This production is funded in part by a grant from
Costumes and props were funded by Spark Good
grant from Walmart - Benner Pike
NIGHT WATCH is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)
Cast
Elaine Wheeler.................................KYLIE RAE SCHULTZ
John Wheeler...................................RYAN GARTLAND*
Blanche Cooke................................COURTNEY WITMER*
Curtis Appleby.................................TOM MCCLARY
Helga................................................ABBY FLEMING*
Vanelli / Sam Hoke.........................JACK DONAHUE
Lieutenant Walker............................DANIEL SKILES
Dr. Tracey Lake................................MELISSA SAENZ-LOPATA
*Sock & Buskin debut
Production Team
Director/Producer/Lighting Design.......................STEFANIE AUSTIN
Assistant Director/Costumer/Props Master........KIM PLUMMER
Stage Manager.......................................................JACE BEAUTON
Assistant Stage Manager…..…………….....................AMBER HUBERT*
Sound Designer/Technician..................................CHIP TAYLOR
Assistant Sound Designer.....................................ROSY TAYLOR*
Social Media Content Creator……………………………….COURTNEY WITMER*
Accent Coach…………………….……………..…………………….TOM MCCLARY
Effects/Set Design………………………...............………….DANIEL SKILES, PETER AUSTIN
House Manager......................................................AMY SHRECKENGAST
Photographer………………….......…………….………..………..JEREMY ROCK*
Graphic Designer...................................................CAITLIN MELESKI
*First production role with Sock & Buskin
--- Original Music by Chip Taylor & Rosy Taylor ---
Top row, left to right: Abby Fleming, Ryan Gartland, Kylie Rae Schultz, Jack Donahue, Courtney Witmer, Daniel Skiles, Melissa Saenz-Lopata, Chip Taylor, Tom Mcclary, Amber Hubert
Bottom row, left to right: Kim Plummer, Stefanie Austin, Jace Beauton
Photo by Jeremy Rock of J. Rock Photographs
Meet The Cast
Kylie Rae Schultz
Elaine Wheeler
Kylie Rae Schultz is beyond excited to be earning some Scream Queen points in this thrilling, suspenseful show as Elaine Wheeler! This is Kylie's second Sock & Buskin production, after appearing as Rosie in Slain at the Speakeasy earlier this year. A lover of music and all things artsy, she can also be found on stage singing as a member of State College Choral Society. Portraying such a complex and emotionally volatile character like Elaine has been such a fun and rewarding challenge, and she would like to thank the director, Stefanie, for all of her trust and guidance. She'd also love to thank everyone in the cast and crew for being so wonderful and fun to work with, and hopes that you all enjoy the show!
Ryan Gartland
John Wheeler
Ryan enrolled in a 1-year intensive filmmaking program at New York Film Academy (2005-2006). He then joined the T. Schreiber Studio (2006-2007) and attended various workshops. While living in New York, he was a production assistant on Strangers with Candy: The Movie (2004) starring Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, Chris Pratt, and Mathew Broderick; as well as You Belong to Me (2007) directed by Sam Zalutsky and starring Daniel Sauli, Patti D’Arbanville, and Linda Larkin. Night Watch is Ryan’s first production in 18 years, after becoming a father of three. He credits director Stefanie Austin for “dusting off” the cobwebs and reigniting his passion for performance. “I like to think she cast me because she saw something in me but I’m pretty sure it was just a scheduling issue with the other actors. Either way, I haven’t had this much fun in a LONG time. I’m eternally grateful for her support, trust, patience, and guidance.”
Courtney Witmer
Blanche Cooke | Social Media Content Creator
Courtney is making her first appearance with Sock & Buskin after a 6 year break from the stage. Her most recent production was as Erin in Susan Griffin’s Voices with State College’s The Next Stage Theatre, Inc. in 2019. She has previously performed locally in Café Murder with SCCT and in Rumors, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Arthur and Merlin for Nittany Theatre at the Barn. Outside of the theatre, Courtney is the Assistant Director of Social Media for the Penn State Office of Strategic Communications, as well as an adjunct professor for the Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State. She’d like to thank her husband Jeff and daughters Arya and Yara for their patience as she makes her return to acting, and Sock & Buskin for giving her an opportunity to shake the rust off!
Tom McClary
Curtis Appleby | Accent Coach
Tom most recently appeared with Sock & Buskin as William Werner in Slain at the Speakeasy. In 2023 he made his S&B acting debut as Major Metcalf in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. Last year he was the casting director for S&B’s first One Act Play Festival entitled “Beginnings.” He also directed two of the eight plays–The Ripple Effect and Gamma Girls to the Rescue. He received an MFA in Drama from UNC-Greensboro and is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, the national organization for composers, lyricists, librettists, and playwrights.
Abby Fleming
Helga
Abby first started acting in elementary school, and hasn’t stopped since! She spends much of her time with Lewistown’s Stone Arch Players, both as an actress and a member of the board, most recently appearing as Mary O’Donnell in their production of The Tell-Tale Farce. She has also joined State College Community Theatre in the past, last seen as Daria Chase in The Game’s Afoot. She is excited to make her S&B debut with this show, and hopes you will enjoy watching it as much as the cast and crew have enjoyed putting it on!
Jack Donahue
Officer Vanelli | Sam Hoke
Jack is local author, actor, musician and impressionato in this, his second production with Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. He looks forward to working with such a talented cast and crew again and hopes to perform many more times in the future.
Daniel Skiles
Lieutenant Walker | Special Effects | Set Design
Daniel Skiles has most recently performed as the Viscount Crumlich Blankmarsh in a Western South Midland production of The Forlorn Petticoat. Critics called the portrayal avant-garde, with particular emphasis on the use of aircraft marshalling semaphore to convey emotional subtext. Further performances are pending FAA investigation and review.
Melissa Saenz-Lopata
Dr. Tracey Lake
After a 40-year hiatus from acting, Melissa returned to the stage in Sock & Buskin’s one-act Gamma Girls to the Rescue, a fun, heartfelt, and emotional journey. Now she’s diving into the intensity of a suspense thriller and enjoying every moment of this welcome second act. She’s thankful for the encouragement of friends and family and grateful to share the stage with such a talented cast and crew.
Portraits by Jeremy Rock of J. Rock Photographs
Meet The Production Team
Stefanie Austin
Director | Producer | Lighting Design
Stefanie is a proud founding director of Sock & Buskin Theatre Company and has served in nearly every role in community theatre. Most recently, she co-directed Dear Jack, Dear Louise (Jun./Jul.) and starred as Louise Heindbedder in A Fox on the Fairway (Apr.). As a playwright, she publishes murder mystery scripts through her business, Knock ‘Em Dead Scripts, and the scripts have been performed throughout the U.S., Canada, and U.K. Stefanie is so incredibly proud of this cast and crew and the show they created together. She also wishes to express her sincerest gratitude to her family, friends, and the S&B community.
Chip Taylor
Sound Designer/Technician
This is Chip’s 6th(?) show making noises and music for Sock & Buskin, and he is super excited to share his love for noisemaking with everyone once again. Chip would like to thank Sock & Buskin and the cast and crew of Night Watch for so many wonderful opportunities and for being so welcoming!
Kim Plummer
Assistant Director | Costumer | Props Master
Kim is thrilled to step into a new role behind the scenes of a production, serving as both assistant director and costumer. She is employed as the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for Penn State Dickinson Law/School of International Affairs at Penn State University. She has appeared in many local theatre productions, most recently as Pamela Peabody in Sock & Buskin’s spring production of A Fox on the Fairway. Other stage credits include Rehearsal for Murder, Much Ado About Nothing, Juror #6 in 12 Angry Jurors, Mrs. Peacock in Clue: Onstage, Violet Newstead in 9 to 5: The Musical, Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday, Elvira in Blithe Spirit, and Belinda Blair in Noises Off. She wishes to thank her family for always supporting her love of theatre. And a special thank you to Stefanie, for giving her the opportunity to explore a different side of the theatre.
Amber Hubert
Assistant Stage Manager
This is Amber's first show with Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. She is very excited to work on the production team and is eager to learn and assist in any way she can.
Jace Beauton
Stage Manager
Jace is the Stage Manager for this production of Night Watch and is delighted to work with such a wonderful cast and crew. This is their sixth show with Sock & Buskin, previously stage managing A Fox on the Fairway and Cutthroat Christmas: Deadly Deals, and having other tech involvement in Rehearsal for Murder and Rapture, Blister, Burn. Jace is excited for everyone to see this show, and is proud of all the hard work that the cast and crew has put into it.
Peter Austin
Set Design/Construction
Pete started with community theatre set design and construction in 2021 when he was (strongly) encouraged to do so by his wife, Stefanie. He has worked on set pieces for at least nine productions, but he’s lost count. He figures it’s a good use of his engineering doctoral degree. When he’s not working or designing sets, Pete enjoys video games, board games, watercolor painting, golfing, and playing with his kids and dogs.
Thanks & Recognition
Business Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors ($500+)
Jared Ernico, REALTOR, eXp Realty
Special Thanks
Chase Wilson
Scott English
Ken Martin
American Philatelic Society
FaithCentre
Angela Steco & Seven Mountains Media
Centre Foundation
Walmart - Benner Pike
Front-of-house Volunteers
Brent Ottaway
Megan Reilley
Rachel Moon
Brandon Smith
Heidi Cole
Janejira Kalsmith
Luke Streich
Elizabeth Baptista
April Cockburn
Lynn Theodose
Elsa Sanchez
Laural Sanchez
Coming up next from Sock & Buskin
Production Photos
Photography by Jeremy Rock of J. Rock Photographs
