BEGINNINGS:
A Short Play Showcase
July 26 & 27, 2024
7:00pm at Sundman Hall
American Philatelic Society, Bellefonte, PA
Celebrate all kinds of “beginnings” with our inaugural Short Play Showcase! A true showcase of local talent - a compilation of 8 short plays written by Pennsylvanian playwrights (including several from central PA), all directed and performed by central PA residents, and all tied together under the theme of “Beginnings."
Featuring a pre-performance art show by artists of the Art Alliance of Central PA.
Poster design credit:
Caitlin Meleski of Caitlin Meleski Artwork
Act I
THE RIPPLE EFFECT
by Arianna Rose (Delray Beach, FL)
Amy and Jeff have unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant. As they wait for the pregnancy test to give them an answer, they discuss all sorts of unorthodox fertilization rituals and the larger questions a negative result will bring.
PAGE ONE — WRITER’S BLOCK: A HORROR STORY*
by Amanda Minchin (State College, PA)
A frazzled writer works with the monster from her book to create the perfect opening line, only to discover that reality is far scarier (and much more annoying) than fiction.
UNREASONABLE* by David L. Williams (Bellefonte, PA)
Casey has had a strange response to being mugged: they offered to give the mugger their coat and buy them dinner. Why?
GAMMA GIRLS TO THE RESCUE
by Julie Zaffarano (Broomall, PA)
Nadia’s final item on her bucket list is a bungee jump off a scary, high bridge. Can her best friends from childhood, Ang and Mel, overcome their fears and help Nadia complete her list?
*World premiere of the script!
Act II
TEA WITH HER MAJESTY*
by Barbara Pease Weber (Oreland, PA)
It's Valentine's Day and Marcus's first date with the woman of his dreams! Is this the beginning of something wonderful? Or his worst night ever?
FOR THE RECORD...
by F. J. Hartland (Johnstown, PA)
One night while leaving the theatre, a young actor runs headlong into his past. But could it be a new beginning?
THE BENEFITS OF MURDER: A MURDER-COMEDY ABOUT AMERICAN OFFICE LIFE*
by Andi Stout and Phillip Zapkin (Bellefonte, PA)
Following the murder of Christie Doyle of HR in Rivermore Marketing LLC, the boss, Cody Rivermore, forces the remaining employees to participate in a group therapy session with Bubbles, an AI grief counselor program. “This play is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.”
THE NEXT THING*
by TK Tansey (Trappe, PA)
A character finds themself in the waiting room to the afterlife. With no knowledge of their past life and no clue as to what's going to happen next, they try to come to terms with beginning again. Fortunately, they're not alone.
Cast & Directors
THE RIPPLE EFFECT
Director.........................................................................................TOM MCCLARY
Amy..........................................................................................STEFANIE AUSTIN
Jeff….…......................................................................................BRANDON SMITH
PAGE ONE—WRITER’S BLOCK: A HORROR STORY
Director...........................................................................................HIEID J COLE^
Writer..................................................................................................TARA CAIMI
Monster..........................................................................................LUKE STREICH
UNREASONABLE
Director................................................................................MELISSA BRANNEN^
Annette..........................................................................................SANDY ADAMS
Parker........................................................................................BRANDON SMITH
Casey......................................................................................ELI BEERS-ALTMAN
GAMMA GIRLS TO THE RESCUE
Director........................................................................................TOM MCCLARY*
Nadia..................................................................................MARGARET HIGGINS*
Ang….….......................................................................MELISSA SAENZ-LOPATA*
Mel.............................................................................................LYNN THEODOSE
^Directorial debut *S&B directorial or acting debut
TEA WITH HER MAJESTY
Director................................................................................MELISSA BRANNEN^
Marcus...................................................................................ELI BEERS-ALTMAN
Clarice.....................................................................................CLAIRE BRANNEN*
Narnia.......................................................................................GABRIELLE ROSS*
Pierre..........................................................................................PHILLIP ZAPKIN*
FOR THE RECORD...
Director........................................................................................PHILLIP ZAPKIN
Spencer.....................................................................................BRANDON SMITH
Arlo…......................................................................................MERCER BRISTOW*
THE BENEFITS OF MURDER
Director..............................................................MICHELLE RODINO-COLOCINO^
Assistant Director................................................................TARA CAIMI^
Melanie..........................................................................................SANDY ADAMS
Jimmy........................................................................................LYNN THEODOSE
Madisen...................................................................................GABRIELLE ROSS*
Cody...............................................................................................LUKE STREICH
THE NEXT THING
Director………................................................................................PHILLIP ZAPKIN
Jaime..................................................................................................TARA CAIMI
Morgan..................................................................................................ROD EGAN
Gene……….....................................................................................PHILLIP ZAPKIN
Production Team
Production Manager; Stage Manager....................................STEFANIE AUSTIN
Casting Director………..................................................................TOM MCCLARY*
Lighting/Sound Designer.............................................................KYLE STANLEY
Photographer/Videographer…...................................................LIZ FUHRMANN*
Marketing Assistant…………………….………...…………………………………………ANDI STOUT*
House Managers…………………………..KARI WILLIAMSON, AMY SHRECKENGAST
Graphic Designer......................................................................CAITLIN MELESKI
*First production role with Sock & Buskin
Meet The Cast
Sandy Adams
Sandy is excited to again being part of this great group of Thespians! She recently appeared in The Vagina Monologues and The Good Body for Sock & Buskin and is looking forward to taking part in these creative and entertaining short plays. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Stefanie Austin
Stefanie is the current President and a founding director of S&B. She has been involved in community theatre on and off stage for the past 10 years; most recently, you may have seen her as Gwen in S&B's Rapture, Blister, Burn in June. She looks forward to directing Rehearsal For Murder this September.
Eli Beers-Altman
Eli is excited to be back on stage in another Sock & Buskin show! You may have last seen him as Detective Trotter in S&B’s The Mousetrap. Thanks for coming out and enjoy the plays!
Claire Brannen
Claire Brannen is retired. She enjoys reading, traveling, streaming foreign series, cooking and eating good food. She appreciates the opportunity to dabble in community theater with Sock and Buskin.
Mercer Bristow
Recently retired from a career in philately, I enjoy comedy parts best of all. Last on-stage part was in On Golden Pond for SCCT. Stage acting keeps me off the streets at night.
Tara Caimi
Tara is an author and life purpose coach who facilitates growth through the power of personal story. She is so excited to perform in Beginnings Sock & Buskin. Tara previously performed in and/or contributed as a member of the crew to Sock & Buskin's The Witching Hour, The Vagina Monologues, and Moon Over Buffalo.
Rod Egan
This is Rod's second show with S&B, though he's been performing in amateur theater for 15 years. When Rod is not navigating the Mississippi or consulting for the FDIC, he leads a quiet life in Oak Hall with wife Beth and two border collies. Their daughters have gone on to more exciting places.
Margaret Higgins
Margaret is delighted to make her debut with Sock & Buskin! She's appeared locally with SCCT, Penn State School of Theatre, The Next Stage, Tempest Productions, and Class Act Productions. She checked skydiving off her personal bucket list in 2020, and won't ever do that again.
Gabrielle Ross
Originally from South-Western Pennsylvania, she spent her childhood performing with a local musical theatre troupe, and participated in her high school drama club. Thanks each patron for supporting local arts, and extends her love to her husband Chase, wonderful friends, and family.
Melissa Saenz-Lopata
Melissa enjoyed memorable roles in the mid-80s in high school productions of West Side Story, The Crucible, and Guys and Dolls. She's excited to rekindle her passion for acting. When not singing 80s hits while driving, Melissa enjoys biking, photography, writing, and indulging in her love of movies.
Brandon Smith
Brandon is very excited to be back performing in what is now his second production with S&B! Last seen in Suite Surrender as Mr. Pippet, he has enjoyed bringing the characters in this showcase to life. Brandon would like to thank all of his wonderful friends and family who show their love and support in his acting hobby!
Luke Streich
Luke performs many roles: mail carrier, father, improvisor, comedian, breathwork facilitator, writer, actor, human being. They find joy in giving life to stories and characters in all aspects of our shared experiences.
Lynn Theodose
Lynn is honored to be a play that celebrates the complicated beauty of life-long female friendships. She is thankful to the S&B community for its commitment to excellence, and eternally grateful for the support of her husband, Mark. Thanks to her husband and kids for their ongoing love and support!
Phillip Zapkin
Phillip has directed two shows with S&B — The Mousetrap and Suite Surrender — and has acted in It's A Wonderful Life. Now he makes his furiously-demanded return to both the boards and the director's chair in this showcase. Outside theatre, Phillip teaches writing at Penn State and scholars along at his own research, which is mostly about drama anyway.
Meet The Production Team
Melissa Brannen
Director
Although the stage productions she's been involved in over the years number in the 30s, this is Melissa's directorial debut with Sock & Buskin. "It's very exciting to bring the creativity of the actors and writers together to come up with a unique work of art that is ephemeral, but hopefully long lasting in our memories." Melissa is grateful to the Sock & Buskin community for the opportunities and support.
Michelle Rodino-Colocino
Director
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.
Heidi J. Cole
Director
This is Heidi's first time directing, so to say she's a bit nervous is an understatement. She would like to thank all those who support her as well as her entire cast.
Kyle Stanley
Lighting/Sound Designer
Kyle is delighted to work light and sound for Sock & Buskin during this short play showcase. His first backstage role was earlier this summer during Sock & Buskin’s production of Sorry, Wrong Number. He has also performed in productions for both SCCT (Dead Tuesday and Clue) and Sock & Buskin (86’ed and The Witching Hour).
Andi Stout
Marketing Assistant; Content Creator
Andi is an Appalachian writer from West Virginia but lives in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. She earned her MFA at West Virginia University and enjoys using her writing skills to celebrate the accomplishments of her Sock & Buskin friends and family.
Tom McClary
Director; Casting Director
Michelle is over the moon to be directing this satirical gem with an amazing cast & crew! You might remember Michelle from Sock & Buskin’s The Good Body and Moon Over Buffalo; catch her perform her solo show This Time with Feeling, in Happy Valley Improv’s Trigonometry, or as her irreverent alter ego Aunt Bernadette who is ready to emcee your next show! Thanks, Todd, for remembering to bring me the thing. Instagram: @rocofem
Liz Fuhrmann
Photographer/Videographer
Liz is excited to share her skills behind the scenes (and the lens) this time! You may have seen her on the stage getting thrown around as gossip reporter, Dora Del Rio, in Suite Surrender with Sock & Buskin. Other productions include A Christmas Carol with Penn State Center Stage, The Witching Hour, and Moon Over Buffalo with S&B. Liz thanks her fiancé, Nate, her friends and chosen family for their continuous love and support with her passions.
Meet The Playwrights
Arianna Rose
The Ripple Effect
Arianna Rose is an award-winning playwright and musicals writer, produced in 35 states and 9 countries. Her plays and monologues have been published by Applause Books and Smith & Kraus. She teaches playwriting for the Dramatists Guild Institute, is a Theatre Professor at Broward College, and Bucknell alum!
Amanda Minchin
Page One - Writer's Block: A Horror Story
Amanda is an award-winning screenwriter, novelist, and all-around content creator, with top nods from the Georgia Shorts Film Festival, WeScreenplay TV Lab, Mad Wife Top 100 Scripts, and Coverfly, among others. She’s also moonlit as a TV and Film Writer, as well as a Script Reader for top screenwriting contests like the Austin Film Festival. This is her 2nd-ever submission to and 1st placement in a playwriting contest... ever.
David L. Williams
Unreasonable
David is a graduate of the theatre department of Cornell University, where he was a four time award winner in the Heerman’s-McCalmon Playwriting contest, and received his MFA in playwriting from the University of Nebraska. He has written more than 30 plays and musicals, and his work has been produced across the U.S. and internationally. He lives in Bellefonte with his wonderful wife Kathleen and his amazing son Samuel, and he works in the English department at Penn State.
Julie Zaffarano
Gamma Girls to the Rescue
Julie is a nationally-produced, Philadelphia-area playwright whose passions are exploring personal truths and creating strong roles for women. She is the founder of the Media Arts Council Play Reading Series. Recent recognitions include: Finalist, Terrence McNally Award; Two times Semi Finalist, O’Neill National Playwrights Conference; Finalist, Veterans Repertory Theatre; Best Production, Pittsburgh New Work Festival; Winner, Best New Work, What if Productions.
Barbara Pease Weber
Tea with Her Majesty
Barbara has six full length, widely produced comedies published by Concord Theatricals and recently began to write one acts after retiring from her corporate job in Philadelphia. Barbara thanks Sock & Buskin Theatre Company for showcasing her new play, Tea with Her Majesty, as part of BEGINNINGS.
F.J. Hartland
For the Record...
F.J. holds an MFA in Playwriting from Carnegie-Mellon University where he was a Shubert Fellow. His plays have been published by Concord, Next Stage Press, and Original Works to name a few, and his plays have made a record-setting nineteen appearances in the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. In addition to playwriting, F.J. has been a professional actor (AEA member) since 1991.
Andi Stout
The Benefits of Murder: A Murder-Comedy About American Office Life
Andi is an Appalachian writer from West Virginia but lives in Bellefonte, PA. She has multiple publications and awards in multiple genres, but The Benefits of Murder... is her first play, which she co-wrote with her partner, Phil Zapkin. Andi is excited for her work to be part of the Sock & Buskin showcase!
TK Tansey
The Next Thing
TK Tansey is an active actor/dramaturg/playwright based in Philadelphia. As an actor, he has performed throughout the tri-state area and co-founded Philadelphia’s Tiny Dynamite theater company. As a dramaturg specializing in new play development, he has been fortunate to work with several rising talents. These experiences, as actor and dramaturg, lead to playwriting.
Thanks & Recognition
Special Thanks
Caitlin Meleski
Scott English & The American Philatelic Society
Melanie Rosenberger & The Art Alliance of Central PA
Walmart, Benner Pike
Nittany Mall
Faith Centre Thrift Store
Big Spring Spirits
Hoag's Catering & Event Rentals
WPSU TV
Front-of-house Volunteers
Amy Shreckengast
Kari Williamson
J. Lance Wilkinson
Brent Ottaway
Robin Post
Janejira Kalsmith
Jonathan Siegle
Coming up next from Sock & Buskin
Production Photos
Photos by Liz Fuhrmann
