The Vagina Monologues
By Eve Ensler

A staged reading presented during the Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest

June 24, 2023
4:00pm at the Blue Brick Theatre
Downtown State College, PA

An Obie Award-winning whirlwind tour of a forbidden zone, THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES introduces a wildly divergent gathering of female voices, including a six-year-old girl, a septuagenarian New Yorker, a vagina workshop participant, a woman who witnesses the birth of her granddaughter, a Bosnian survivor of rape, and a feminist happy to have found a man who “liked to look at it."

Poster design credit:
Caitlin Meleski of Caitlin Meleski Artwork

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Produced Off-Broadway by David Stone, Willa Shalit, Nina Essman, Dan Markley/Mike Skipper, and The Araca Group. Originally produced by HOME for Contemporary Theatre and Art at HERE. Randy Rollison, Artistic Director; Barbara Busackino, Producing Director in association with Wendy Evans Joseph.

Meet The Cast and Production Team

Hilary Appelman

Cast (Sock & Buskin debut!)

Hilary is super psyched to perform with Sock & Buskin for the first time, to work with this powerhouse cast, to get to know this groundbreaking play, and to return to community theater after spending the past two years getting an MFA in creative writing at the Writer’s Foundry of St. Joseph University in Brooklyn. Thank you for the opportunity, Stefanie and Kristi, and thanks to everyone in the audience for supporting live theater.

Kim Plummer

Cast

Kim is employed as the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for the School of International Affairs at Penn State University. She has appeared in many local theatre productions, most recently in The Next Stage’s production of Go Wilder: Two One Act Plays by Thornton Wilder. Other stage credits include: Mrs. Peacock in Clue: Onstage, Violet Newstead in 9 to 5 the Musical, Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday, Elvira in Blithe Spirit, Belinda Blair in Noises Off, Gabriella in Boeing, Boeing, and Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing. She is excited to be performing this piece again with Sock & Buskin.

Sandy Adams

Cast

Sandy taught for Bellefonte School District where she choreographed over a dozen musicals for the Middle and High School Drama Clubs. She had roles in Grease, Anything Goes and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She also volunteered as choreographer for the former Centre County Junior Miss. Sandy currently works for Kissinger, Bigatel & Brower. She is looking forward to performing in this production for the second time with S&B Theater group!

Isako Di Tomassi

Cast

Isako (Izzi) is a recent Penn State alumna and current research assistant in the Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology Department. She is pleased to continue working with Sock & Buskin following her positive experience participating in a previous production of The Vagina Monologues. Izzi hopes to continue acting when she moves to Ithaca, NY for graduate school in Fall 2023. Izzi would like to thank her supportive and wonderful friends who continue to encourage her.

Tara Caimi

Cast

Tara recently appeared in Sock & Buskin's staged reading of The Vagina Monologues and also assisted with stage management for Sock & Buskin's production of Moon Over Buffalo. Prior theatre experience includes the role of Baby Louise in Gypsy, brief roles in college, and box office and production work with The Millbrook Playhouse summer stock theatre. She's excited to be part of Sock & Buskin's encore performance of The Vagina Monologues during Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest. Tara is a certified life coach, personal growth guide, author, and book coach. She is the author of Mush: from sled dogs to celiac, the scenic detour of my life.

Theo Newbold

Cast (Sock & Buskin debut!)

Theo is a third year plant pathology and microbiome science PhD student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State. Theo was previously active in productions of the Vagina Monologues and Mending Monologues during their undergraduate career at California State University Monterey Bay. They are now the weekly host of Sex Trivia at Jax Bar and Grill in State College, PA during the school year. Theo joined this cast in the hopes of reengaging in theater and building community.

Stephanie Whitesell

Cast (Sock & Buskin debut!)

Stephanie is no stranger to the community theater scene in State College. She has been learning about all aspects of the theater and has also acted on the stage since she was in Middle School, many moons ago. Stephanie is very excited to be involved in her first production post-Covid with this amazingly talented cast. Some of her former roles include Matthew in A Man for All Seasons, Ensemble in Mamma Mia and Man of LaMancha, and John Hancock in 1776. Stephanie is currently employed at Penn State in the Student Affairs Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s office. Stephanie is also a Masters of Public Policy candidate at Penn State, graduating in the Spring of 2024.

Lori Bedell

Cast (Sock & Buskin debut!)

Although a company member and regular performer with Happy Valley Improv for the last 5 years, this is Lori’s first scripted performance since moving to State College 20 years ago. Bit by the theatre bug at the age of 8, Lori has performed in numerous local, college, and community theatre productions. Favorites include May in Fool for Love and Chris in Dancing at Lughnasa. She is thrilled to be a part of this important work. Lori teaches in Communication Arts and Sciences in Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts.

Priscilla McFerren

Cast (Sock & Buskin debut!)

Priscilla is thrilled to be performing in this historic and powerful production, and to be part of a Sock & Buskin show for the first time. 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 Claire in Steel Magnolias and Polonius in Hamlet, State College Community Theatre; Jessie in Calendar Girls, Nittany Theatre at the Barn; and Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, Class Act Productions. Love and thanks to Kristi. And this one’s for you, Gail.

Kristi Branstetter

Cast, Director

Kristi is excited to be given the opportunity to direct The Vagina Monologues with these wonderful actors for Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. Besides directing and acting she has spent time on stage as a singer in a variety of bands, currently performing in the Kristi Jean Band. She works as the Kitchen Manager and a culinary instructor at Taste Buds Kitchen. Kristi would love to thank the audience for their support of local artists. Much love to Steven and Jo!

Stefanie Austin

Producer

Stefanie is the President and a Founding Director of Sock & Buskin Theatre Company. Stefanie has a number of credits as an actor, director, playwright, producer, and crew in a number of productions since 2014. She recently directed S&B’s production of The Vagina Monologues for two charity performances in May; she is honored to pass the baton to Kristi and is excited to see her vision for this poignant and powerful show.