Vibe Check: Home Made Theater's 40th Anniversary Murder Mystery Benefit
What keeps a community theater thriving for 40 years? The people.
“Darling, you didn’t know there was a wedding going on?” A seemingly tipsy woman with a bright green dress, animal-print shawl, and exotic, feathery hair accessory asked when I, almost immediately after entering the Mansion of Saratoga last Friday evening, approached her to take her photo.
Absorbing what she just said, and still gathering my bearings after a near-hour long drive there from Albany, I looked around, confused. Wasn’t this the 40th anniversary celebration for Saratoga’s Home Made Theater?
“My son was with the sweetest girl for years,” the lady continued. “We all loved her. Then, I heard he got engaged—and it’s to another girl that I’ve never met! Ah, here’s a friend of the bride now.”
She beckoned a nearby man over to pose with her for a photo. “I’m Jules,” the man said, shaking my hand.
It wasn’t until they walked away that I realized why my boyfriend and sidekick for the night, Sean, had been nudging my arm throughout the entirety of that baffling conversation; and why both people I had just met were wearing microphones strapped to their faces.
The murder mystery show had already begun, with actors walking around, priming crowd members—including the most gullible ones, like myself—for what was to come. With this new realization, I looked around and, sure enough, saw a handful of other actors in elaborate costumes with—you guessed it—microphones on.
Taken aback by my own foolishness, I promptly lost all faith in my ability to solve, or even participate in, the show that was to come. We headed to the bar.
With a drink in Sean’s hand and water in mine—I needed my brain then more than ever—we made our way through the crowd, which was steadily filling up the ornately-decorated rooms of the lower level of the Mansion. With my confidence reloading, I began to make conversation with various attendees, and quickly learned that while some guests were there primarily for the show, others were there mainly to support Saratoga’s beloved community theater—the dinner and a show was just a bonus.
It was at our table in the dining tent that we got to know people in the latter category.
As we introduced ourselves to our tablemates, we quickly realized we were at what was probably the best and most important table in the house.
To my right was Dianne O’Neill, the producer of the evening’s murder mystery show who oversaw the set development and lighting, and coordinated with the Mansion on the overall production and menu for the two-night celebration. (Yes, after Friday night, the staff and actors turned around and did it all again on Saturday night.) “It’s a lot of logistics,” Dianne said, before putting in her dinner order with the waitress. “I think tomorrow I’ll try a different meal. Might as well get our money’s worth.”
Then, there was Stacie Mayette-Barnes and her husband, Howard Barnes. Stacie and Home Made Theater go way back—she was involved in its very first production, and was the general manager for several decades, until 2018. Before the show began, she was called up to the stage to be recognized by the theater’s president, Rick Wissler, for helping shape the organization we know today. In her speech, she recalled being paid in the early days with PayDay bars—volunteerism at its finest.
Next to her was Christine MacLellan, who was on the Home Made Theater staff from 2015-2024 as administrative associate and still writes press releases for the organization. And then there was Mary Fran Hughes. She’s retired now, but she worked with the theater for several decades as a set designer. Her friends at the table eagerly shared her nickname—”MacGyver”—because she’s been known to come up with quick and witty solutions to any and all problems. One time, when a doctor on stage forgot his lines, she, in her most official voice, called from the back, “Doctor, you have a phone call!” and promptly reminded him of what to say. Another time, when a crew member accidentally removed a prop robe from the stage—a critical part of the scene—and she stealthily snuck on stage to return it.
After familiarizing myself with our new friends, the show, Til Death Do Us Part: A Marital Murder Mystery to Die For, began. The quirky plot centered around the death of the groom, Kent Furlongg (all the character’s names were puns), who just so happened to have a wedding party in which every person had a motive to do him harm. But who would take it far enough to actually kill him?
When it came time to turn in our guesses as to who killed Kent and how they did it, I looked at my table to gauge what they were thinking. I felt less alone when I discovered no one else had a clue, and, in Mary Fran’s case, had given up trying to solve anything long ago and was just enjoying the show.
After turning in our sure-to-be wrong guess (I mean, do you remember how my night started?), I ran inside to use the restroom, and overheard the cast members upstairs, giggling as they read through the audience’s guesses together. That’s when it all clicked for me.
Home Made Theater has always been heavily supported by volunteers, but in 2024, the board decided to make the organization completely volunteer-based. When I heard the happiness in the actors’ voices, I could feel how important this organization is to so many people, and how everyone involved has a passion and genuine desire to enrich the community with theater arts. (I’m not crying, you’re crying.)
So when we returned to our table to discover that we were indeed so, so wrong about the murderer, it didn’t really matter. We were just happy to be there, and happy to be part of this night—and this organization—that means so much to so many people.
Take Emily Bryan, the board member who played Shirley Knott and crouched by Sean and I at our table after the performance to see how we enjoyed ourselves. Or Ed Miller, another actor from the performance who told us about how he got his start in acting later in life, after retiring from the State. Or Dianne, who had the warmest personality and shared after the show how she was born in the Australian countryside and lived in several other countries before marrying an American man and ending up here.
My point is, it’s the people behind Home Made Theater who make the organization what it is. They’re the reason the theater is still thriving at 40 years strong, and why people continue to come back to experience the very passion that I could sense from every person involved in that night’s show.
As a twenty-something who’s still trying to find her purpose in life—and knowing there are so many people like me in a similar position—the 40th season celebration of Home Made Theater taught me one thing if nothing else: It’s never too late to discover your passion, and when you do find it, it will radiate from you in a way that inspires others to find their spark, too.
—Cierra
On Air
Last week, Netflix released Race for the Crown, a six-episode docuseries on Thoroughbred racing and the lead-up to the Triple Crown. The show just so happened to have been filmed during the first year the third leg of the Triple Crown—the Belmont—was run at Saratoga, and the Spa City is featured prominently, especially in the last episode.
On Deck
Tickets are still available for Single in Saratoga: Low ABV Edition, a speed dating event coming to Broadway Coffee Co. on Thursday! There will be three sessions, for ages 21-30, 31-40, and 41-50. Get your tickets before they’re gone.
Open for Biz
On Wednesday, Jen Marcellus celebrated the grand opening of her new Broadway boutique, Gilded, with a party featuring drinks, snacks, giveaways, and, of course shopping. Jen is the owner of Miss Scarlett Boutique on Phila Street, and opened Gilded to cater to a more mature audience. Need a last-minute Kentucky Derby look? Head there right now!
Talking Derby
Speaking of the Derby, the race goes off at 6:57pm today, with live coverage beginning at 2:30pm on NBC. We’re rooting for Tiztastic, the Steve Asmussen–trained son of hometown hero Tiz the Law, and, of course, for Journalism (how could we not?!), who just so happens to be the favorite.
Shakin’ it Up
If all this horse talk has got you in the mood for a Shake Shack burger from Saratoga Race Course, you’re in luck. While you’ll have to wait for the Belmont to roll around to get your fix at the trackside joint, pretty soon, you’ll be able to get Shake Shack any day of the year. The chain recently announced its first year-round Capital Region restaurant will be going into Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026.
Hard Launch
Yesterday, a trio of Saratogians celebrated the launch of their new brand of boozy iced coffee. Sidecap, a canned beverage made with Kru coffee and packaged at Saratoga’s Ninth Planet Beverage Solutions, is the brainchild of Adam Feldman, Dave Dolinsky, and Case Fell, who were joined on Friday by Senator Jim Tedisco, Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus, and members of the Saratoga community for a ribbon-cutting and tasting event at Purdy’s. Stop by the Saratoga liquor store to pick up a four-pack and try Sidecap for yourself.
ICYMI
Cabinet Meeting: Two Designers Team Up on a One-of-a-kind Kitchen
Humans of Night at the Brewseum
Berne-Knox-Westerlo Basketball Player Making National Headlines
Meet the Skidmore Grad Who’s Designed Looks Worn by Uma Thurman, Adele, and Michelle Obama