In October 2026, I am performing in Sock & Buskin’s annual fall murder mystery party, an immersive theatre experience where guests mingle with the actors and participate in trying to figure out who committed the murder that happens after the first scene. This year, we’re performing Nate Schierman’s “Claws and Effect,” set at Pinnacle Tech’s Halloween party. All of the upper management is there, and they’ve all been required to dress as their favorite animals. The CEO, Derek Walsh, informs everyone that he’ll be making a big announcement later that evening, which has all of the management level staff worried. But who is worried enough to kill?

I play Ray Vance, the operations manager of Pinnacle Tech, who is wearing a bear costume. Ray is a solid, dependable guy, not super bright, but basically a good person. Though lately he’s been worried about rumors that the operations department will be outsourced, meaning the eleven people in his department will be out, and Ray will be terminated two years before earning his pension. But Ray is trying not to think about that possibility…