Stefanie Austin, cofounder of Sock & Buskin Theatre Company, is the first to admit that the company has a a loftya goal: a To re-energize the local theatre scene.a A year into the life of the company, with nearly a dozen productions and an Awesome Foundation grant under their belt, Sock & Buskin is doing just that.
Sock & Buskin, which takes its name from terms for the ancient Greek symbols of tragedy and comedy masks, was founded by Austin, Gregg Baptista and Kari Williamson in May 2022. The recent wave of area community building through the arts inspired them and they wanted to be a part of it.
Live theatre, requiring collaboration both onstage and off, appealed to the founders of Sock & Buskin. They were looking to create a a theatre that would provide opportunities for people to express themselves and to learn more about theatre, support theatre artists, entertain a variety of audiences, and inspire others to pursue creative interests.a
Along with traditional plays and musicals, Sock & Buskin has made a name for itself by producing interactive murder mysteries, which Austin called a the linchpin to our success.a More than just plays, these productions allow the audience to get involved, often having as much fun as the actors in the piece, and the company offers two types: dinner theatre and interactive parties.
– Photo courtesy of Sock & Buskin Theatre Company
In Sock & Buskina s dinner theatre murder mysteries, a traditional two-act scripted, often farcical play about a murder is broken up with an extended intermission where the characters walk among the audience. The audience members have the chance to question these outlandish characters to try and solve this murder. Everyone gets a ballot where they can guess whodunit, all combined with a delicious meal.
Sock & Buskina s murder mystery parties are much more immersive experiences. There are a few shorter, scripted scenes, but most of the evening is spent mingling with the mysterya s characters and other audience members, just like at a real party. Guests have a set of questions and icebreakers to guide them, and they have the chance to find clues. With the chance to dress up for the theme, these murder mystery parties are the perfect experience for those who are excited to both solve and be part of a mystery.
Austin feels these murder mysteries have been great for Sock & Buskin because theya re less complicated to stage and theya ve provided more opportunities for actors and crew. Plus, audiences find them a more accessible form of theatre, as Austin noted, a Ita s not just a show … ita s an experience.a
After a year of success, Sock & Buskina s knows that what theya re doing is a all about the people,a be it the actors and creative team bringing their talent to a shared vision or the audience who is there to laugh, cry, and think about what theya re seeing and hearing.
– Photo courtesy of Sock & Buskin Theatre Company
When asked what she enjoys most about creating theatre, Austin said, a The CREATING. The sweat, the tears, the laughter. And the fact that all these people … coming together to create this one production, that hundreds of people will watch. And every time, it’s unique, because it’s live theatre. The audience will feel like it’s just for them because it is.a
Sock & Buskin is always looking to get more members of the community involved. For those who dona t have much experience onstage, Sock & Buskina s works often contain roles with less time on stage (and fewer lines to learn), perfect for first-time actors. They also have openings for behind-the-scenes work like directing, producing, and stage managing. For those with a tighter schedule, the company has a volunteer list with opportunities to usher or work front-of-house.
And if you just want to go out and see some great theatre put on by your friends and neighbors, Sock & Buskin has a full slate of performances ahead for your enjoyment. Their next production, Agatha Christiea s a The Mousetrap,a the worlda s longest-running play, runs September 7-9 at the Boal Barn, and the spooky month of October will feature two murder mystery productions. The interactive murder mystery party a The Mystery of Murder Hotel,” unfolds at the Speakeasy at The Gamble Mill on Oct 12-14, and a The Witching Houra a murder mystery dinner theatre show, runs Oct 26-28 at The Shop in Zion.
