"Sock & Buskin performances are consistently excellent, and this was no exception...everyone in the cast gave a top notch performance."

-- Phillip Zapkin

Read the full review: Kari Williamson and Nate Schierman’s Slain at the Speakeasy—23 Mar. 2025

Slain at the Speakeasy
by Kari Williamson and Nate Schierman
Adapted from a party script of the same name by Stefanie R. Austin

March 20, 21 & 22, 2025 @ 7:30pm
March 23, 2025 @ 12:30pm
at Titan Hollow, Bellefonte, PA

It’s a typical night at Ruth’s Speakeasy, where you can find the best moonshine and jazz singers in town. Gangsters, crooked cops, businessmen, and rising stars can all be found here, and everyone respects Ruth’s rules of “no business” and “no guns.” However, betrayal, vengeance, and greed threaten the peace, and one person ends up killed. Was it the crooked police chief? The sultry jazz singer? A scorned woman? Join private investigator Maxwell Parker as he uncovers secrets and solves the mysteries of Slain at the Speakeasy.

This production is funded in part by a grant from

ALL SONGS PERFORMED IN THIS PRODUCTION ARE PART OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN:
"I WANT TO BE LOVED BY YOU" WRITTEN BY HARRY RUBY, HERBERT STOTHART AND BERT KALMAR, 192
"LET'S MISBEHAVE" WRITTEN BY COLE PORTER, 1927
"YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU (I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT)" WRITTEN BY JAMES V. MONACO AND JOE MCCARTHY, 1913
"IT HAD TO BE YOU" WRITTEN BY ISHAM JONES AND GUS KAHN, 1924

Poster design credit:
Caitlin Meleski of Caitlin Meleski Design

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Cast

Maxwell Parker.................................................JACK DONAHUE*
Annie Marconi...............................................KARI WILLIAMSON
Louise Mason...........................................................TARA CAIMI
Ruth Mason.........................................................ANDREA BOITO
William Werner....................................................TOM MCCLARY
Frankie.................................................................DANIEL SKILES
Bugsy.....................................................................OWEN ISHAM*
Nicky.......................................................................DAVID SMITH
Dorothy.......................................MICHELLE RODINO-COLOCINO
Rosie..................................................................KYLIE SCHULTZ*

*Sock & Buskin debut

Production Team

Director……….....................................................................HENRY MORELLO
Stage Manager................................................................APRIL COCKBURN
Assistant. Stage Manager............................................JAYDA COCKBURN
Producers…..………......……..............STEFANIE AUSTIN, KARI WILLIAMSON
Sound Designer/Technician...................................................CHIP TAYLOR
Lighting Designer/Technician..............................................KAITLYN HUFF
Spot Operator.....................................................................KRISTINE ALLEN
Set Design/Construction.....................................................DANIEL SKILES
Costume and Props………………..…….……...............GABRIELLE J ROSENDALE
Marketing/Content Creator…………………………….…………......……….ANDI STOUT
Keyboard…..…………………….……................................................JACOB HELLER*
Drums…..…………….....…………………………….….…..............PARKER WILLIAMSON*
House Manager................................................................STEFANIE AUSTIN
Photographer........................................................................GREG KIMMICH
Graphic Designer..............................................................CAITLIN MELESKI

*First production role with Sock & Buskin

Meet The Cast

Jack Donahue

Maxwell Parker

Jack is an actor, writer, and musician, new to the State College area. A veteran of the stage, he is performing in his first production with Sock & Buskin and looks forward to bringing the character of Maxwell Parker to life. He is grateful for the opportunity and is thrilled to be working with such a talented group of cast and crew.

Kari Williamson

Annie Marconi | Co-Producer, Playwright

Kari is excited to play the role of Annie Marconi. Kari recently appeared as Christy in Sock & Buskin’s production of Cutthroat Christmas: Deadly Deals. She has also appeared on the Sock & Buskin stage in Suite Surrender, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, The Witching Hour, Murder in the HOA, and Cutthroat Christmas. She’d like to thank her husband and kids for supporting her love for theatre.

Tara Caimi

Louise Mason

Tara is thrilled to play Louise in Sock & Buskin's production of Slain at the Speakeasy. This is her sixth role with Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. She has enjoyed singing and dancing in Cutthroat Christmas: Deadly Deals, reporting as Carl Phillips in S&B's Live Radio Play, The War of the Worlds, and portraying a variety of characters in the fundraising staged reading of The Vagina Monologues. Many thanks to Sock & Buskin for offering such wonderful and welcoming community theatre. When she's not refueling with acting and singing, Tara is an author and trauma-informed creative life purpose coach.

Andrea Boito

Ruth Mason

Andrea is a Teaching Professor at Penn State Altoona, where she entertains math and statistics students 4 days a week with her one-woman show. She has been honored to be a part of many Sock & Buskin performances, including Cutthroat Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Will to Kill, and even broke a leg (kind of) in Cutthroat Christmas: Deadly Deals. She is excited to reprise her role as speakeasy matron Ruth. Thanks to all the cast and crew for making it a joy to rehearse!

Tom McClary

William Werner

Tom made his Sock & Buskin acting debut in 2023 as Major Metcalf in The Mousetrap. He made his production staff debut with S&B in 2024 as the casting director for BEGINNINGS: A Short Play Showcase. He also directed two of the eight one-acts in that presentation – “The Ripple Effect” and “Gamma Girls to the Rescue.” He has also performed in productions with State College Community Theater, Fuse Productions, The Next Stage, and The Nittany Valley Symphony. He is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America, the national professional organization for composers, lyricists, librettists, and playwrights.

Daniel Skiles

Frankie | Set Designer/Construction

Chris is making his Sock & Buskin debut as David Mathews (no relation), but he is not unfamiliar with the stage. He has been seen in many previous shows, such as Squid Ink Collective’s The Lightning Thief as Hades/Ares/Chiron/Kronos, FUSE’s Matilda as the Escapologist, and SCCT’s Hairspray as Corny Collins, along with several other FUSE and SCCT productions. He is happy to join the cast on their journey to solve this mystery and hopes you will enjoy the ride!

Owen Isham

Bugsy

I’m a musician, actor, and filmmaker in the State College area, with a Production Arts degree from Allegheny College. This is my second time acting in a stage play and my first time working in a Sock & Buskin production. I also perform folk music at venues all over State College under the stage name Concrete Trees, and am hoping to launch a full-time career in music. I have always loved art and creative expression and am always looking for new ways to create and share art.

David Smith

Nicky

David is ecstatic to reprise his role as Nicky and expand it to the stage in his return to Titan Hollow. David enjoys acting with Sock & Buskin, Altoona Community Theater, and 39 Tigers. Some of his favorite roles have been Wes Gold in S&B’s The Final Rose, Sergei in ACT’s Matilda, and baring it (nearly) all as a professional stripper in 39 Tigers’ The Full Monty. When not singing & dancing, David can be found exploring nature, being active, and creating art at his business in State College, Old Main Frame Shop. David is eternally grateful for the support of his family and friends. Most especially his BearGirls, Elliana & Mia, as well as the love of his life, Emily. She's the best.

Michelle Rodino-Colocino

Dorothy

Following her roles as Ethel in Moon Over Buffalo, Nina in The Good Body, Holly in For Better or For Worse, and director of The Benefits of Murder, Michelle LOVES working in her fifth S&B production with our dedicated & supportive cast, director & production crew! Everyone brings their unique talents and flair (special shoutout to Daniel for his garlic-onion bread!). Thank you, wonderful family, for running lines, bringing that thing I forgot & staying up late to watch Wheel after rehearsal. See Michelle in her scripted original solo, Little Stars, April 13 and her duo, Gals for All Seasons, June 29, both at the PIT in NYC. She also does improv with Happy Valley Improv, Highwire Improv in Baltimore, It’s Improv Baby! and the all-women Dolly Lana and duo Public Access TV. Michelle is excited to create theater for healing, joy, and collective power. Follow her at BlueSky & Instagram @rocofem

Kylie Schultz

Rosie

Kylie is thrilled to be making her Sock & Buskin debut! While this is her first show with the company, she is certainly no stranger to the stage! Born and raised in the State College area, she's always been heavily involved in music and theatre and loves creating, performing and storytelling. Mainly a singer, you can also find her on stage as a member of State College Choral Society. She'd like to thank everyone in the cast and crew of Slain at the Speakeasy for being hilarious and great to work with, and hopes that you all enjoy the show!

Meet The Production Team

Henry Morello

Director

Henry is a director, actor, playwright, and musician. He is excited to be directing Slain at the Speakeasy for Sock & Buskin this year. After taking time away, he returned to acting in the 2021 short film “Sanitize This.” He directed La agonia del difunto in Bogotá many years ago and more recently The Final Rose by Stefanie R. Austin and War of the Worlds in State College. Some of his favorite roles were 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 around State College. Henry enjoys traveling to Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico. He spends his off time in Chicago, taking dance and theater classes and going to shows.

Chip Taylor

Sound Designer/Technician

Chip is a local musician and sound maker who is excited for his 4th foray into theater sound design and production! He is extremely grateful to Sock & Buskin for the continued opportunities to create, to experience, and to learn!

Kristine Allen

Spot Operator

I love the spotlight! It’s something I can really get behind. It truly allows me to shine. (I’ll see myself out...)

Andi Stout

Marketing/Content Creator

Andi Stout earned her MFA at West Virginia University and holds multiple awards and publications in multiple genres. She enjoys using her writing skills to celebrate the accomplishments of her Sock & Buskin friends and family.

April Cockburn

Stage Manager

Once immersed in laboratory work, April now embraces her role as stage manager for her fourth production with Sock & Buskin. Thanks to her daughter's passion for theatre, she's evolved from a scientist into a backstage maestro. After surviving the creative whirlwind of Sin-ergy, mastering holiday chaos in Cutthroat Christmas, and engineering a human-sized cauldron for The Witching Hour, she's ready to dissect the delightful mayhem of Slain at the Speakeasy.

Kaitlyn Huff

Lighting Technician

Kaitlyn has been dabbling in community theater since 2010. She has assisted with lights and sound for multiple productions with Wilmington, NC comedy troupe, Pineapple Shaped Lamps from 2011 to 2015. She returned to theater in 2022, assisting Altoona Community Theatre with The Holiday Christmas Wonderthon and their 2023 spring production of Oliver!. This is her 4th production with Sock & Buskin, first assisting with Rapture, Blister, Burn in June 2024, followed by War of the Worlds in October and Cutthroat Christmas: Deadly Deals in December. She expects to have a bloody good time with Slain at the Speakeasy.

Gabrielle J. Rosenberger

Costume & Props Designer

Gabby is happy to be back behind the scenes with Sock & Buskin for Slain at the Speakeasy. Her most recent tech role was as “Lord of Props” and costuming for Rehearsal for Murder. Originally from southwestern Pennsylvania, she spent her childhood performing with a local musical theater troupe and participated in her high school drama club. She extends her love to her husband Chase, wonderful friends, and family. She also extends a special thank you to all the audience members, for supporting local theater!

Jayda Cockburn

Assistant Stage Manager

Jayda, 13, returns for her 4th adventure with Sock & Buskin. She's been her mom April's go-to assistant from Sin-ergy to Slain at the Speakeasy, tackling everything from prop management to actor wrangling. Jayda's also stretching her acting muscles in her school's Once Upon a Mattress, proving her theatrical talents are anything but pea-sized.

Stefanie Austin

Co-Producer, House Manager

Stefanie is the current President and a Founding Director of Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. She is a playwright, actor, director, producer, and everything in between. Most recently, you may have seen her as director and actor (Monica Welles) in Rehearsal For Murder (Sep.) or as producer and sound designer in Cutthroat Christmas: Deadly Deals (Dec.). Upcoming in May, she will be playing Louise Heindbedder in A Fox on the Fairway. 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. She is incredibly grateful for the S&B community. Thanks for supporting local performing arts!

Jacob Heller

Keyboard

Jacob is a freshman at State College Area High School. He is a proud member of many music ensembles including Jazz Band 1, Master Singers, Symphonic Band, Marching Band and Thespians. He is excited to perform in his first production with Sock & Buskin Theatre Company.

Parker Williamson

Drums

Parker is a sophomore at State High. This is his first involvement in theater. He has been a drummer for 6 years with a focus on jazz. He enjoys most jazz styles and especially loved spending time in New Orleans a few summers ago.