Lost In Williamsburg

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.