It’s the Lost in Williamsburg Christmas Special! Ever wanted to part the curtains and see how Williamsburg’s world-famous Christmas wreaths are made every year? It’s a lot more sordid than you would ever imagine. Along with the usual apples, pine boughs, and pineapples, no Williamsburg wreath is complete without a generous helping of bitterness, envy, and jealousy. And this year, it leads to murder!

Contains mild swearing

Caroline Corney - Your Host

Lydia Carter - Betty Miles

Michelle Ford - Natalie Moore

Garland Lancaster - Barley Prentis

Walker Thompson - Waverly Prentis

Meril Gerstenmaier - Karen Moody

Debbie Smith as Derechia

Davis Richardson - Cory

Deborah Elder - Giselle Bordeaux

Edward Glass - Mr. Randolph

Canton Murphy- Timmy

Joe Hertzler - Teddy

Patrick Popek - Judge

Debi Burcham - Marion

Jennifer Ryan - Becca

Jack Martin - Wreath Announcer

Christa Leonituk - Tourist 1

Paul Hellyer - Tourist 2

Mike Murphy - Wreath Maker 1

Lynn Sikora - Wreath Maker 2

Liz Barnes - Wreath Maker 3

Pete Lutz - Wreath Maker 4

Daniel Fishbonius of the Chronosphere podcast - Wreathmaker 5

Rish Outfield and friends - Assorted Wreath Makers

Written, directed, edited, and scored by Phillip Merritt

©2022 Phillip Merritt

So this is it. The big super-sized finale that provides a closure of sorts to the Cats With Benefits/Old Country Road Killer storylines. Though Halloween night has ended (depending on how you define such things), there are still plenty of horrific things in store for the residents of Williamsburg. But what do a couple pieces of ugly old jewelry have to do with anything? I can’t tell you that, but I will say that not everyone makes it through alive to find out the answer!

This podcast contains swearing.

Robert Mosby as Roger P. Shiffle

Mike Turner as Ed Jackson

Jalen Mouser as Toby

Frank Battle as Mr. Toliver

Ed Champion as Dr. Blevin

Claudia Swain As Jordan Bales

Claire Penix as Meghan Marshall

Lynn Sikora as the nurse

Philip Burcher as John Dunhill

Linda Hertzler as Valerie Dunhill

Susan Branch Smith as the unnamed ghost

Jacob Wilson as Josh Ryder

Reid Perkins as Caleb Souter

Suzanne Douglas as Cynthia Souter

Louise Menges as Margaret Souter

Will Hausman as Dale Souter

Austin Beach as Mr. Guest

Sarah Golding as Mrs. Guest

Daniel Turner as Zeph Metcalf

Zoë Bowen Smith as Ally Burks

Colleen Kennedy as Hexabeth Blackhard

Series Recap for Those Just Joining Us:

The Thing in the Floorboard

Now that greasy thug Ed Jackson has gotten his grimy little hands on the weird object Valerie Dunhill stashed away at the old Dunhill farmhouse all those years ago (waaayy before she started secretly murdering tourists), what will happen to it? We’ll find out when Ed’s shady employer at the Historic Williamsburg Corporation, Mr. Toliver, finally makes an appearance. What could he want with the strange artifact? Hopefully nothing kinky.

Cats With Benefits

Aaron, the lead singer for the majorly underappreciated college rock band Cats With Benefits has been missing for a couple weeks now. Unbeknownst to the band, the secret séance convened to contact Aaron in the afterworld has ended in a bloody mess. How badly were people hurt? Will CWB keyboardist Josh forgive WCWM DJ Caleb Souter for participating, or is it splitsville for Calosh? And why did Caleb go to the séance in the first place? He must have had a good reason.

Meghan the Psychic

So, the séance of William & Mary’s resident student psychic Meghan Marshall didn’t go that well. But she’s finally vindicated, right? She actually did commune with the dead. Didn’t she? Will her encounter with the alleged spirit of Hexabeth Blackhard leave her traumatized or enlightened? I’ve got five dollars riding on the answer.

Hexabeth Blackhard

Will the 18th century sorceress Hexabeth finally crawl her way out of two hundred years of darkness? Those crazy kids huddled in the attic of the Equator club certainly got much more than they bargained for when they started talking with the no longer living. Whatever happens, I’ll bet it will add an interesting new chapter to Hex’s diary.

The Dunhills

A visit to the old family homestead, breaking and entering, a police escort...aged patriarch John Dunhill hasn’t seen this much excitement in years! It would have been even more exciting, but old friend Roger P. Shiffle was not receptive. When he recounts the family-friendly version of the night’s adventures to his comatose daughter Julie, will she so much as flutter an eyelid? A pro-tip for first time listeners: If you hear a ventilator, that means your in Julie’s room. And she still hasn’t revived.

The Souters

I’m starting to think that B&B owner Margaret Souter is never going to leave her bed. When you’re as old as she is the slightest upset can derail your whole damn life. Maybe it was the hip operation. Maybe it’s the weight of knowing so many of Williamsburg’s secrets. Or maybe she’s tougher (and more manipulative) than we think. Her son Dale probably has an opinion on that. And now that he’s learned some the town’s secrets (via Hexabeth’s diary) what will he do with the knowledge?

 

Produced, directed, written and scored by Phillip Merritt

Thank you to Freesound.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects.

©Phillip Merritt, 2018

Yes, it’s still Halloween night and yes, the seance is still going on. But before we hear how that turns out, why don’t we take a 250 year detour back to an earlier, chillier October evening in Williamsburg? Just for a bit though. Once the stars have aligned and all the owls have hooted their last hoots, it’s back to those crazy kids at the Equator. Will they finally make a supernatural connection with Aaron?

Over at the Williamsburg Police Station, Tracy Daggett’s exhausting all-nighter is coming to an eager end. But to her chagrin, just as she’s about to head out the door, she bumps elbows with an old Lafayette High classmate. Someone our long-time listeners might recognize. Oh, and this episode contains a special bonus—not one, but two mysterious bags!

This podcast contains swearing

Frederick Corney as Professor Jobriath

Mark Hutchens as Thomas Jefferson

Cal Shuey as Richard Holcombe

Pete Lutz as Gideon Blackhard

Reid Perkins as Caleb Souter

Calvin Glaspie as Ted

Breanne Long as Bree

Claire Penix as Meghan Marshall

Colleen Kennedy as Hexabeth Blackhard

Jacob Wilson as Josh Ryder

Claudia Swain As Jordan Bales

Christa Mouser as Tracy Daggett

Debbi Burcham as Tanner

Dennis Leonituck Jr. as Perry

Michael Turner as Ed Jackson

And Timothy Costelloe as Francis Fauquier

Produced, directed, written and scored by Phillip Merritt

Thank you to Freesound.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects.

©Phillip Merritt, 2017

 

It’s just about midnight on Halloween night! It’s also intermission time at the party and the member’s of our favorite rock band, Cat’s With Benefits (Josh, Lauren, Zeph and newest member Olivia), need a bit of alone time to decompress from the usual rock band stresses. Options include kicking back with a cold beverage or a secret rendezvous out back behind the bushes.

Meanwhile, the show’s MC Caleb heads upstairs to Meghan’s seance because... you know...he’s open-minded. Concurrently, John and Roger have to deal with an interruption to their late night excursion to the abandoned homestead at Dunhill Farm. Things could get dicey. Simultaneously, over at the Williamsburg cemetery, some familiar faces make a reappearance.

This podcast contains swearing

Sivan Tobias as Casey

Elizabeth Flatt as Lisa

Nora Knight as Olivia Bryson

Kat Turk as Lauren Tasky

Philip Burcher as John Dunhill

Robert Mosby as Roger P. Shiffle

Christa Mouser as Tracy Dagget

Rebecca Suerdieck as Tanner

Reid Perkins as Caleb Souter

Calvin Glaspie as Ted

Breanne Long as Bree

Claire Penix as Meghan Marshall

Colleen Kennedy as Hexabeth Blackhard

Jacob Wilson as Josh Ryder

Claudia Swain as Jordan Bales

Daniel Turner as Zeph Metcalf

Alex Laney as Trevor

Frederick Corney as Professor Jobriath

And Djuna Knight as Julie Dunhill

Additional voices provided by Jalen Mouser, Melissa May, Paul Hellyer and Mia Council

Produced, directed, written and scored by Phillip Merritt

Thank you to Freesound.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects.

©Phillip Merritt, 2016

It’s time for an intermission at the big Halloween party in downtown Williamsburg. Cat’s with Benefits’ first set went great and boy are those kids stoked! But could all that excitement be masking something? After all, their lead singer is still missing. Oh, and guess who picked tonight to finally make a reappearance. It’s Jordan, Aaron’s girlfriend (from way back in episode 3). Out on the Old Country Road, John and Roger’s quest to see the moon over the James is sidetracked when something odd happens. This podcast contains swearing.   Tonight’s cast includes: Reid Perkins as Caleb Souter Jacob Wilson as Josh Ryder Kat Turk as Lauren Tasky Daniel Turner as Zeph Metcalf Nora Knight as Olivia Bryson Claudia Swain As Jordan Bales Claire Penix as Meghan Marshall Philip Burcher as John Dunhill Robert Mosby as Roger P. Shiffle Albert Heatwole as Pa Dunhill Alison Valenti Peabody as Ma Dunhill Caroline Corney as your host And Caroline Peabody as the young Valerie Dunhill Additional voices by Jalen Mouser and Paul Hellyer   Produced, directed, written and scored by Phillip Merritt Thank you to Freesound.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects. ©Phillip Merritt, 2016

It’s finally (!!!) time for the big Halloween show at the Equator, Williamsburg’s favorite college hangout, and the rowdy crowd of William & Mary students is about to find out if Cats with Benefits will perform or not. Will they get to hear the last song Aaron Seager wrote before his disappearance? Do they care? Show organizer and MC Caleb Souter is stressed out, but doing his best. Down the street, still anguishing over his daughter Valerie, John Dunhill hides out from the trick or treaters in the upstairs bedroom of his comatose daughter Julie. And after a strange, unexpected guest makes an appearance on the Dunhill’s porch, John tries to release some tension at the end of this windy and eerie night.

Written, directed, scored and produced by Phillip Merritt

The Girl Who Messed Me Up produced by Mike Puccio, vocals by John Demarzo

It’s Not a Party (Until Someone Breaks Your Heart) vocals provided by Nathaniel Clemmons, Nora Knight and Julia Mosby

Thank you to freesound.org and freemusicarchive.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects and music samples including:

Lamprey - Through You

Kellee Maize - The Fact Is

Isidore Soucy - Quadrille Laurier

Alliance - All

Jason Shaw - Parting Glass

PC-One - Division

Also included are short snippets of songs under the Fair Use Doctrine.

©Phillip Merritt, 2016

Dale, spending the afternoon at the Historic Williamsburg Library looks to Valerie for some answers about that diary he’s been reading. He won’t like what he finds, but certain other townsfolk definitely will. And though Margaret knows more than anyone about the weird things going on in town, even she has a thing or two to learn about Hexabeth. Meanwhile, the three remaining members of Cats with Benefits, try to fill the open spot in the group’s roster (though never in their hearts). If you didn’t already send in your demo, it’s too late now.

Martha Kandler Smith as Linda Elizabeth Barnes as Deborah Will Hausman as Dale Souter Dana Wood as Hannah Louise Menges as Margaret Souter Kat Turk as Lauren Tasky Reid Perkins as Caleb Souter Jacob Wilson as Josh Ryder Daniel Turner as Zeph Metcalf Nora Knight as Olivia Bryson Taylor Fisher as Brett Tucker Sara Corney as Kira Maso Jenny Putzi as Ghost #1 Susan Branch Smith as Ghost #2 Josh Piker as Ghost #3 Francesca Sawaya as Ghost #4 Michael George as Mr. Eubanks Philip Burcher as John Dunhill Joan Turner as Jessie Dunhill Paul Hellyer as musician #3 Anna Katherine and Jack Martin as the library Patrons and Charlie Putzi as the ghost boy

Written, directed, scored and produced by Phillip Merritt Thank you to Freesound.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects.

©Phillip Merritt, 2016

Margaret Souter, still convalescing, is scouring the Virginia Gazette for local weirdness, when she receives a visit from and old...friend. Dale (Margaret's son) is still reading Hexabeth's Diary, and Hexabeth is still plotting her revenge, and young Thomas Jefferson is in for one last (possibly) surprise. Hopefully Valerie will help Dale make sense of everything.

This podcast contains swearing

Colleen Kennedy as Hexabeth Blackhard Mark Hutchens as Thomas Jefferson John Shuey as Richard Holcombe Frederick Corney as Professor Jobriath Will Hausman as Dale Souter Joan Turner as Jessie Dunhill Louise Menges as Margaret Souter and Caroline Corney as your host

Written, directed, scored and produced by Phillip Merritt

Thank you to Freesound.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects.

©Phillip Merritt, 2015

The best and brightest of Williamsburg continue their revelry at the Governor’s Palace. Of course the boys are looking forward to showing off, but they are in for a surprise when Cecelia shows everyone what she’s made of. Hexabeth continues to mess with Thomas Jefferson, but who or what is messing with Hexabeth? The end of the evening concludes with fireworks. Who doesn’t like fireworks? This episodes features the popular 18th century tunes, Sweet Isabelle and Tricky Minuet.

This podcast contains swearing

Colleen Kennedy as Hexabeth Blackhard Cassandra Glaspie as Cecelia Blackhard Erin Roberts as the singing voice of Cecelia Blackhard Mark Hutchens as Thomas Jefferson John Shuey as Richard Holcombe Frederick Corney as Professor Jobriath Timothy Costelloe as Gov. Fauquier Paul Hellyer as a partygoer Charles Bush as Benjamin Waller Amber Spivey as Martha Washington Dylan Morgan as the Orator and Will Hausman as Dale Souter

This audio drama is written, directed, scored and produced by Phillip Merritt

Thank you to Freesound.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects. The violin and flute solos are public domain recordings.

©Phillip Merritt, 2015

Dale digs deeper into Hexabeth’s diary. Hurt and angry over the conversation she has just overheard, Hexabeth prepares a strange brew to exact her revenge on Thomas Jefferson. But what is her plan? At the Governor’s palace, the townspeople gather for a grand ball to celebrate the colony’s latest military victory. And leaping ahead to the present day, Lauren asks Caleb (already stressed from planning the Halloween party) for a favor.

This podcast contains swearing.

Will Hausman as Dale Souter

Colleen Kennedy as Hexabeth Blackhard

John Shuey as Richard Holcombe

Jakob Stalnaker as John Page

Mark Hutchens as Thomas Jefferson

Frederick Corney as Professor Jobriath

Jack Martin as the Carriage Driver

Cassandra Glaspie as Cecelia Blackhard

Timothy Costello as Gov. Fauquier

Simon Joyce as Mr. Benedict

Reid Perkins as Caleb Souter

and Kat Turk as Lauren Tasky

 

©Phillip Merritt, 2015

Thank you to Freesound.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects.

Season 2 premier: Main Course

After a traumatic night of lies, blackmail and murder, life goes on for the residents of Williamsburg. Well, at least for some of them. Josh, Lauren and Zeph try to forget their worries, even if it’s just for one lunch. At the HWC Library, Valerie makes a decision that will change everyone’s lives by opening  a window on the past, where Thomas Jefferson and his college chums let loose after weeks of studying. Meanwhile, poor overworked, underappreciated Hexabeth toils away in the kitchen of the King’s Crown Tavern, cooking up a strange brew.

This podcast contains swearing.

Patrick Teague as the Waiter

Jacob Wilson as Josh Ryder

Kat Turk as Lauren Tasky

Daniel Turner as Zeph Metcalf

Linda Hertzler as Valerie Dunhill

Will Hausman as Dale Souter

Cassandra Glaspie as Cecelia

John Shuey as Richard Holcombe

Jakob Stalnaker as John Page

Mark Hutchens as Thomas Jefferson

Joseph R. Joyner the III as Dobbin

Thomas Heacox as Artemis

Paul Spivey as Finney

Binola Mehtaji as Sophia

Pete Lutz as Gideon

and Colleen Kennedy as Hexabeth Blackhard

©Phillip Merritt, 2015

Thank you to Freesound.org for the use of their creative commons sound effects.

 

If you want to skip the first season and jump right in, just peruse the spoiler-filled synopsis below and you’ll be good to go.

The Souters

Dale and Margaret Souter, the last descendants of a once prominent Williamsburg family, are a mother and son who run a colonial B&B close to the Williamsburg historic district. Margaret is obsessed with all the strange goings on in Williamsburg’s past. When she’s not posting news clippings in her scrapbook and waiting for her broken hip to heal, she worries about Dale. She thinks Dale would be a good match for Valerie Dunhill. She also worries about her great nephew Caleb Souter, a student at the College of William & Mary who hosts a show on the college radio station. Poor Caleb’s parents are dead.

The Dunhills

John and Jessie Dunhill are both professors at the College of William & Mary. They have deep tidewater roots and a troubled marriage. They also have two daughters: Valerie and Julie. Both women live with their parents. Valerie works at the Historic Williamsburg Corporation Library, and Julie, who has been in a coma for decades, resides in the upstairs bedroom. One day at the library, Valerie gets a call. Ed, an agent of something only referred to as ‘headquarters’, requests Valerie’s help. They need to dispose of two recently deceased bodies. For an undisclosed reason, they want to make it appear as if the victims were killed by the old country road killer (who happens to be Valerie). Valerie doesn’t want her horrible past revealed, so she must go through with the assignment.

Cats With Benefits

CWB is a college rock band consisting of Aaron Seager, Lauren Tasky, Zeph Metcalf and Josh Ryder. One October afternoon, the band performs live in the studio of the college radio station. They discuss creepy local legends with the show’s host, Caleb Souter. After the performance, Aaron, the lead singer, goes missing! He (and one of his professors) has been attacked in a creepy old house in the Williamsburg historic district by the reawakened spirit of Hexabeth Blackhard. Almost dead, but not quite, the disembodied essence of Aaron Seager leaves his body behind and wanders the city helplessly until he meets the disembodied essence of Julie Dunhill,  who tries to explain the situation.

In shock, Aaron stumbles over to his old dorm where he discovers a vigil being held in his honor. His fellow Cats With Benefits perform an amazing, touching song in his honor. Aaron tries to communicate with his old friends, but can’t get through. The college psychic Meghan does pick up on a few weird vibes though. After the vigil, he follows his roommate Josh back to their dorm room. Caleb stops by, and unaware that they are accompanied by the disembodied essence of Aaron, seek comfort in each others arms.

Later in the day,after a failed attempt by the ghost of Matthew Whaley to take over Aaron’s comatose body, Julie invites Aaron back to her house to sort things out. However, once Aaron’s barely breathing physical body is stabbed by Valerie Souter on the old country road, Aaron disembodied essence fades away. But to where?

The 18th Century Crew

Way back in Williamsburg in 1761, Thomas Jefferson and Professor Jobriath, an instructor at the College of William & Mary, plan a surprise exorcism of Hexabeth Blackhard, an alleged witch and owner of the King’s Crown Kitchen. Thomas is surprised however, when Professor Jobriath reveals that his real mission is to kill Hexabeth for that is the only way to truly end her reign of terror. In the ensuing fire, the professor, Hexabeth, and her indentured servant Sophia are killed. But not before Hexabeth vows revenge. Hexabeth’s daughter Cecelia survives, but she is devastated by her mother’s death and Thomas’ betrayal. What will she do?