Wheel of Misfortune
by Stefanie R. Austin
February 26, 27 & 28, 2026 @ 7:00pm
March 1, 2025 @ 12:30pm
at Titan Hollow, Bellefonte, PA
Jeb is still hot as he continues his winning streak on the long-running and wildly popular game show, “The Quiz Whiz”. However, not everyone wants his winning streak to continue. Anger, fear, and greed top the list of motives in this funny and interactive "whodunnit" where some members from the audience will have the opportunity to “audition” for the game show.
This production is funded in part by a grant from
Featuring Original Music by Chip Taylor
Cast
Sherrie Horner..................................ANDREA BOITO
Benny Barnes..............................NATE SCHIERMAN
Janna Gray................................KYLIE RAE SCHULTZ
Emma.............................................LYNN THEODOSE
Cody ....................................................ANNA LONG*
Jeb Stanley...........................DONALD TOWNSEND*^
Miller........................................J LANCE WILKINSON
Pam...................................................SANDY ADAMS
Contestants........DEEYA KOCHHAR*^, AMBER LEE*
*Sock & Buskin debut
^ Acting debut
Production Team
Director………………………...............................................................HENRY MORELLO
Producer/Stage Manager.......................................................KARI WILLIAMSON
Assistant Stage Manager.......................................................LYNN THEODOSE*
Props/Costumes Lead…..…………………….….....................................KIM PLUMMER
Props Design Assistant......................................................................AMBER LEE
Props Fabrication………………………………..APRIL COCKBURN, TALON COCKBURN*
Sound Designer...............................................................................CHIP TAYLOR
Lighting Technician…………………………..……………………….…………….MARI HOLLIDAY*
Spot Operator…………………………..………………………………….…………….ZACHARY MYERS
House Manager.................................................................AMY SHRECKENGAST
Photographer………………………………………………………………….………..………..VERN HORST
Graphic Designer......................................................................CAITLIN MELESKI
*First production role with Sock & Buskin
Andrea Boito
Sherrie Horner
Andrea performs for captive audiences four days a week in statistics classes at Penn State Altoona. She has had the privilege to be cast in numerous Sock & Buskin shows, including Do Not Resuscitate, Slain in the Speakeasy, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Cutthroat Christmas. She is thankful to have performed with such an amazing cast and crew!
Nate Schierman
Benny Barnes
Nate has appeared in several productions for Sock & Buskin, The Next Stage, and SCCT theatre companies. He sends his deepest gratitude to Stefanie Austin for writing this eloquent, comprehensive bio for him.
Kylie Rae Schultz
Janna Gray
Kylie Rae Schultz is thrilled to be gracing the stage once again, this time as the glittery, glamorous co-host Janna Gray! Her previous Sock & Buskin credits include Elaine Wheeler in Night Watch (where she earned Scream Queen status and learned how to properly “smoke” fake cigarettes) and Rosie in Slain at the Speakeasy. An accomplished singer and lover of the arts, Schultz can also be found on stage singing as a member of State College Choral Society. She is always thankful for the opportunities to share the stage with other talented individuals, and this cast and crew are certainly no exception! Thank you all for the laughter in rehearsals as we bring this hilarious, colorful, and chaotic show to life. Here's to a successful theatrical endeavor, and many, many more in the future!
Lynn Theodose
Emma | Assistant Stage Manager
Lynn is delighted to join the cast of this hilarious romp. She has participated in several S&B productions over the past few years and loves the adventure each new production brings. She is always excited to share the stage with friends both old and new. Lynn is buoyed by the creativity and camaraderie of the S&B community and is forever grateful to be a part of the magic! As always, she is humbled and inspired by the talent and commitment of the cast and crew. Thank you for another fun and wild ride!
Anna Rose Long
Cody
Anna Rose Long is a sophomore at State College Area High School and loves anything theater and film related. She has been in performances of Into the Woods (Little Red), Annie (Molly + President), and enjoys her time in choir. She has always had the dream of becoming an actress, and is working towards making that happen. Shout out to her parents, Doug and Cristin for always making her feel loved, and another shout out to her best friends for always caring about her. Anna found so much love for her character Cody, hopes you will too. She is always open to new opportunities anytime she gets and she is apart of Nancy Mosser Casting Agency.
Donald Townsend
Jeb Stanley
This is Donald’s debut with not only Sock & Buskin, but with acting on stage at all! He is excited and proud to have been welcomed aboard this production, and is thankful and, indeed honored, to work among the talented actors and producers. He hopes you enjoy the show, and also encourages you, the audience, to get involved as well by reaching out to Sock & Buskin and discovering (or re-discovering) your own talents! Donald gives the loudest of shoutouts to his son, Tristan, for whom he has consciously determined to pierce the boundaries of his comfort zone, and to his best friend Tellisa who, years ago, dared to jump along with him!
J. Lance Wilkinson
Miller
Lance Wilkinson is happy to tread the boards once again. Prior appearances: Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy, The Wedding Singer, 9 to 5: The Musical, Footloose, As You Like It, Murder Me Always, Murd-ARR!!! Pirates of the Salty Dog, Dead Tuesday, Clue: On Stage, The Blitz Sisters, All My Murders, Honeymoon From Hell, The Sound of Music and Murder at the Renaissance Faire, all with State College Community Theatre; A Man For All Seasons and Mamma Mia!with Nittany Theatre; Cutthroat Christmas, The Final Rose, The Will To Kill, Rehearsal for Murder, Cutthroat Christmas: Deadly Deals and A Fox On The Fairway with Sock & Buskin; Arthur and Merlin and Mary and Elizabeth: A Conversation for Jerry Sawyer; and in several PSU Student Films. 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.
Sandy Adams
Pam
Sandy is happy to be doing another show with S&B. She has appeared in Sock & Buskin’s The Vagina Monologues; The Good Body; two short plays: The Benefits of Murder and Unreasonable; and Do Not Resuscitate. Her prior theater background was with dance and choreographing musicals and Centre County Junior Miss (Outstanding Young Woman), as well as playing Rizzo in Grease and a part in the chorus of A Funny Thing …Forum. She was bitten by the stage bug and feels so grateful to have fallen into the hands of all the wonderful folks at S&B both on and off the stage! A special shoutout to Stefanie and all the S&B playwrights for creating characters that are fun to bring to life, and the directors who give their sage guidance and encouragement. And she sends a special thanks to our Audience for supporting local theater. Hope you enjoy!
Deeya Kochhar
Contestant #1
This is the first time for Deeya exploring the field of theatre and stage. As she continues her journey in this space, she realizes that acting is nothing but a set of day to day emotions that comes into play as part of human reaction in a given situation. All one has to do is feel that emotion and reaction and make that act as part of one's organic emotion that comes naturally in the play.
Amber Lee
Contestant #2
This will be Amber’s third Sock & Buskin production, but her first time being both ‘on stage’ and ‘backstage’. Working directly with the fabulous Kim Plummer is always an honor and she is thrilled to make her debut in this hilarious and entertaining murder mystery. Since her formative years, Amber has immersed herself in a variety of creative outlets: painting, writing, embroidery, graphic design, and 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 Co. and is eager to learn all she can from this amazingly talented, and welcoming community.
Meet The Production Team
Henry Morello
Director
Henry is a director, actor, playwright, and musician. He is excited to be directing Wheel of Misfortune for Sock & Buskin this year. Some of his directing credits include La agonia del difunto in Bogotá, Colombia, Slain at the Speakeasy, The Final Rose, and War of the Worlds for Sock and Buskin. Acting credits include the 2021 short film “Sanitize This,” Pale from Burn This, Barney in The Middle Ages, and Teach from American Buffalo. As a writer, he also won an award for his one-act, “The Killing Game,” and has a collection of short stories called Café Chronicles. Lately, he has been writing music and can be seen performing with his band Surly Martyrs around Central Pennsylvania. In his off time, Henry enjoys traveling to Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, and Chicago, where he takes dance and theater classes, and going to shows.
Chip Taylor
Sound Designer/Technician
Chip is thrilled to sound design for Sock & Buskin once again! Along with writing music for Do Not Resuscitate, he has also written music and run the sound effects and sound board for previous shows, including Night Watch, Slain at the Speakeasy, and Fox On The Fairway! Thank you to Sock & Buskin for the continued opportunity to create and share art, and to every patron of the arts!!
Kari Williamson
Stage Manager | Producer
Kari is excited to be part of another Sock & Buskin production. A singer, dancer, actor, and playwright, she has appeared as Christy in Cutthroat Christmas and Cutthroat Christmas: Deadly Deals; Athena in The Witching Hour and Suite Surrender; Mary in It’s a Wonderful Life; Renee in Murder in the HOA; Annie in Slain at the Speakeasy; and Sunny in Silent Bite. This time, Kari is delighted to support the company by serving as stage manager for Wheel of Misfortune. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Mari Holliday
Lighting Technician
Mari is still new to Sock & Buskin, but she is really excited to join them on another show. This time she will be making her lighting debut and is looking forward to working with everyone to make this show shine. Mari was in Cutthroat Christmas: Deadly Deals with S&B two Christmas’s ago, and prior to that she performed in her first murder mystery, Honeymoon from Hell, with SCCT. She looks forward to doing more with S&B, whether acting or production; she is excited to learn, grow, and have fun with everyone she meets.
Zachary Myers
Spot Operator
Zach always knew that he was born for the spotlight. After being in amazing Sock & Buskin shows such as Sin-ergy, Moon Over Buffalo, The Witching Hour, and The Mousetrap, Zach has decided that it is time he gets to know the spotlight more personally. He is extremely excited to, once again, be working with the amazing S&B community! Outside of theatre, you can find Zach avoiding writing his dissertation. As always, Zach would like to thank Lilli for introducing him to the amazing procrastination strategy that is community theatre.
Kim Plummer
Props/Costumes Lead
Kim is excited to be involved with another Sock & Buskin show, this time as the props and costume lead. 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 Hilary in Silent Bite. Other stage credits include: A Fox on the Fairway, Rehearsal for Murder, Much Ado About Nothing, 12 Angry Jurors, Mrs. Peacock in Clue: On Stage, 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.
April Cockburn
Props Fabrication
April is thrilled to be back with Sock & Buskin Theatre Company for another round of props fabrication. She’s especially excited to bring her son into the world of prop making this time, and they’ve had a lot of fun building together for this show.
Talon Cockburn
Props Fabrication
Talon is a junior at State College Area High School and is excited to be volunteering with Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. This is his first time working on props, and he especially enjoyed building the IV stand with the oversized energy drink for this show.
Thanks & Recognition
Business Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors ($500+)
Jared Ernico, REALTOR, eXp Realty
Featured Sponsors ($250+)
Plum Pristine Clean
Special Thanks
The Lunt's of Fayetteville
Titan Hollow
Nittany Mall
Front-of-house Volunteers
Amy Shreckengast
Laurie Hughes
Crystal Butterbaugh
Luke Streich
Jonathan Siegle
Jessica Siegle
April Cockburn
Mercer Bristow
Joe Appel
Caroline Tseo
Steve Williamson
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