THE SUGAR WITCH
STUDIO 400 - MATURE THEMES AND LANGUAGE
Directed by Billy Buff // April 24 - May 3, 2026
Step into the haunting world of The Sugar Witch by Nathan Sanders—where Flannery O’Connor meets Marie Laveau in a Southern Gothic tale thick with secrets, spells, and suspense. Deep in Buster’s Swamp on the Watchalahoochee River outside Sugar Bean, Florida, this chilling story unearths the twisted legacy of the town’s founding family. Madness brews, murder simmers, and the past refuses to stay buried. With a blend of eerie magic and raw emotion, The Sugar Witch will leave you spellbound.
*This show is intended for a mature audience.
NO VIDEO OR PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED DURING THE PERFORMANCE.
The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings or streams of this production is strictly prohibited, a violation of applicable copyright law and an actionable offense.
crew
DIRECTORS - Billy Buff
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Eleanore Armani
STAGE MANAGER - Micaiah Parson
Assistant Stage managers - Hailey Clark and Erin Casey
Intimacy coordinator - KG uslan
Fight choreographer - kg uslan
LIGHTING DESIGNER - Erin Casey
SCENIC DESIGN - KAYLA STEPHENSON and bryan chapman
COSTUMER - Jeannette Gibson
costume Crew - Tiffany Nichols and carissa Miller
PROPS - Sarah Smith
BACKSTAGE CREW - Jordyn Ewing
PRODUCTION COORDINATORS - Cris Fenger
Studio 400 Chairperson - Barbara Jacobs
PLT MARKETING DIRECTOR - ASHLEY SIMMONS
SHOP SUPERVISOR - BRYAN CHAPMAN
PLT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR - KAYLA STEPHENSON
PLT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - KATHY HOLSWORTH
SPECIAL THANKS TO Levithan Tactical
Cast
Grace Goldston as Annabelle
Grace is thrilled to be back at PLT, taking on the role of Annabelle in The Sugar Witch. Previous credits include Chris in POTUS and ensemble in Clue On Stage. With a background in college theatre and a lifelong love for the stage, Grace is grateful for the opportunity to continue sharing stories and bringing characters to life.
Robbie Gonzalez as Moses
Robbie is excited to be a part of my first studio 400 show. He looks forward to telling a great story with the rest of the cast. Robbie was previously seen on the Main Stage in Jekyll & Hyde, RENT, and A Chorus Line.
Danielle Williams as Sisser
Danielle was last seen in PLT's productions of POTUS and Short Attention Span Theatre. She also enjoys working backstage and, most recently, served as the costume designer for The Flick.
Jason Crum as Hank Hartley
Jason was last seen in Mamma Mia! at PLT in 2019. Past favorite productions include The Odd Couple, My Fair Lady, The Wedding Singer, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Elizabeth Ashley Tetrault as Ruth Ann Meeks
Elizabeth is a plant lover and avid reader. She is new to acting and excited to make her PLT debut.
Joe Nierle as Granddaddy Meeks
Joe, with a Master's Degree in Theater from Penn State University and extensive actor training in NY, is happy to be in his fourth PLT production. Previous roles include Vanya (Vanya Sonya Masha and Spike), Charles (Incorruptible), and Donny (The Lieutenant of Inishmore). For PLT, he has directed Rumors, The Nebula of Georgia, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.
When I first encountered The Sugar Witch by Nathan Sanders, I felt an immediate pull—something deep, strange, and haunting that lingered long after I finished reading. It reminded me of the first time I discovered Flannery O'Connor. Her stories, filled with grotesque characters, moral tension, and the ever-present shadow of the past, shaped my understanding of what Southern Gothic storytelling can do. O’Connor never looked away from the uncomfortable truths of humanity. The Sugar Witch lives in that same uneasy space—where decay and beauty coexist, where humor and horror sit side by side, and where the past refuses to stay buried.
What pulled me in most was the characters—each one deeply flawed, unsettling, and undeniably human. Sisser Bean, clinging to comfort and routine, even slips on the edge of madness. Ruth Ann Meeks is brash and difficult, shaped by ignorance and inherited hate; Granddaddy Meeks feels like a living reminder that the past isn’t gone. Both are forcing us to confront the ugliness of racism head-on.
And then there is Annabelle—both mystical and grounded, a conjure woman rooted in history and resilience. In many ways, she feels like a bridge between worlds: past and present, pain and healing, the natural and the supernatural. Through her, the play asks whether it is possible to break cycles of violence and hatred—or whether we are doomed to repeat them.
Moses, with his innocence and vulnerability, and Hank, with his quiet intensity and longing, bring a fragile sense of hope into a world that often feels suffocating. Their relationship defies expectations and reveals how love —however complicated— can exist even in the darkest places.
The Sugar Witch asks us to confront what we inherit—family, history, and prejudice—and whether we dare to change it. Much like the works of Flannery O’Connor, this play doesn’t offer easy answers. We hope that this production immerses you fully in the world of Sugar Bean—that you feel its humidity, hear its echoes, and think long after the final moment.
— Billy Buff, Director
