Lansdowne native, Steve Eberle, attended Saint Philomena’s grade school, Monsignor Bonner High School, and DeSales University. He joined Summer Stage in 1990 and participated as an apprentice for two seasons. His first show was 1992’s Alice in Wonderland, directed by Tara Urban. One of Steve’s memorable roles was Gandalf in The Hobbit. He was in th…

Vicky Mahoney is a second-generation Summer Stager. That doesn’t mean she’s from the second decade; it means her father was a member of Summer Stage. She is also the first post-Gala guest I interviewed, and we both are riding high on the crest of that wave from last weekend. Vicky started Summer Stage in 1999 and participated in the Apprentices and…

Marie Eife, a native of Drexel Hill, joined Summer Stage in 2003. After graduating from Archbishop Prendergast, she attended Syracuse University. Eife moved to New York City and has been a part of Wicked professionally since 2019, leading to her understudying and performing the role of Elphaba. This episode was recorded two days before the 50th Ann…

Drexel Hill native Lauren Hoffman joined Summer Stage in 2006 and participated in Children’s Theatre for four summers. A graduate of Upper Darby High School, she attended Delaware County Community College and Rosemont College. She is now Lauren Glover, a mother, wife, and an Autistic support teacher at Drexel Hill Middle School. We recorded our dis…

Part 2 of my interview with Julianna Schauerman and Ed Robins continues with a conversation with Ed. Ed Robins came to Summer Stage in 1981 and worked there until 2015. Ed is a jack-of-all-trades tech wizard, working in designing, lighting, electrical, carpentry, painting - you name it; Ed does it. He directs and stage manages as well. I hope you e…

Julianna Schauerman spent every minute of her adult life working in theatre. She came to Summer Stage in 1977 and continued to work there until 1995. She is producing the 50th Anniversary show, just like she did for reunions 25, 30, and 40. Julianna also produces special events for Summer Stage, such as Harry’s Retirement Surprise Event. She runs h…

Lizzy Lunardi and Anna Rudegeair first met each other while auditioning for Annie, Jr. in 2012. They were cast as Molly and Annie and began a lifelong friendship; they collectively became known as “Lizzanna.” These amazing young women speak so fondly of each other and what Summer Stage means to them. I enjoyed my time with them. I even learned abou…

Gina Giachero is the musical director of the 50th Anniversary Gala. She joined Summer Stage in 2007 as an accompanist. She was the musical director for Ragtime, My Favorite Year, The SpongeBob Musical, and many other mainstage classics. Her vibrant personality shines through in her hilarious Summer Stage stories. So, come along and have some fun! W…

Allie Steele comes from Radnor. She joined Summer Stage in 2000. She worked her way up the ranks from Rising Stars, Children Theatre, Mainstage, and staff, before settling into the role of Stage Manager. She is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University and works as a teaching artist. Currently, Allie is the 50th Anniversary Administrator for our upco…

Jack McDonnell is a Springfield native who began as a Rising Star in 2009. In 2010, he started his Children’s Theatre career. This summer, he will continue along with the Mainstage program. Jack embodies the spirit of Summer Stage as he shares his enthusiasm for the arts, his appreciation for his mentors, and his life on the Autism spectrum. He sha…

Tim Sweeney remembers riding bikes to Summer Stage with his brothers and sisters from the Aronomink section of Drexel Hill. At one time there were four Sweeney’s at Summer Stage: Kate, Joe, Mike, and Tim. Tim fondly remembers meeting folks who became his lifelong friends friends while creating magic on the stage. Tim just became a father at the age…

David Cregan came to Summer Stage in 1982 after his freshman year at Bonner. He fondly remembers Nancy Santamaria influencing his love of dancing, claiming that West Side Story was a remarkable experience. He went on to major in Musical Theatre at Villanova University. David received advanced degrees from Catholic University and Trinity College. Da…

Danny Bradley joined Summer Stage just before his eleventh birthday. He remembers taking Nancy Sanatmaria’s dance class and joining the cast of Nancy’s Children’s Theatre production of The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore in 1978. He performed in many Children’s Theatre shows and took on many roles such as Michael Banks in Mary Poppins (1979)…

Sarah Mackus came to Summer Stage after her first year at Temple University. Since then she has performed in Mainstage shows while working on the staff. Sarah has spent the last eight summers on the marketing team and became the Media Manager in 2022, producing over 40 videos showcasing the program, its productions, and its students. Sarah is also …

Jeff Boadwin joined Summer Stage when he was 13 years old. The opportunity to perform onstage was a dream for a blind person. The artistic staff adapted their methods so Jeff could act, sing, and dance in several Children’s Theatre productions. When Jeff was a pirate in Peter Pan, the costume designer created two eye patches for him to wear for a f…

Bridget Fitzgerald commuted to Summer Stage from Boothwyn. Her Children’s Theatre credits include the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz and the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. She appeared in several of the ensembles of the Main Stage program. Bridget moved on to performing at dinner theatres along the East Coast. Though she resi…

Jim McIlhenney joined Summer Stage in 1978 and found a home as a techie. He loved working backstage creating scenery and working up in the booth during live shows. He credits his good friend Joe Bader for convincing him to try out for shows. This led Jim to performances in Children’s Theater and Main Stage. Retired from his teaching career, he enjo…

Amanda Snarski joined Summer Stage as an apprentice in 1995 and proudly performed in several "T-shirt shows" (among others) until 2001. Amanda participated in Mainstage, One Acts, Cabaret, Dance Troupe, and Shooting Stars and worked as a staff member in the box office from 2000-2003. She enthusiastically remembers her Summer Stage days, but somehow…

Hello, everybody. I’m Bob Falkenstein. I’m sorry if you thought you would hear a new episode of Brave and Strong and True. The show has been going strong for two years. This marks the second episode of its third season. We have 69 episodes engaging alumni of all ages. People tell me Monday is their favorite day of the week because they can hear a n…

Vince Leonard has a different Summer Stage journey from the rest of us. His genius spans many realms in the world of professional music as an educator, orchestrator, librarian, and arranger. In 1981, he heard Summer Stage was preparing Sentimental Journey, an evening of music from the big band era. Vince possessed many arrangements that helped the …

Jason Boyer is a second-generation Summer Stager. His journey begins with Children’s Theatre from 2007 to 2010. His first Main Stage performance was in 2011’s Titanic. In 2014, he became a staff member. This summer, Jason will be directing the Rising Stars at Summer Stage. He is a Teaching Artist for the Walnut Street Theatre and the Upper Darby Ar…

Kristen Gibson joined the Summer Stage Apprentice program in 1991. She has fond memories of 1994’s Kids on Broadway, working with the legendary Matt Cloran and Dewy Oriente. As a child, she struggled with serious health issues that she still deals with today. Her Summer Stage journey now continues through her son, Michael. I hope you enjoy our conv…

Patrick Gorman became an official member of Summer Stage in 1980 but remembers hanging around earlier summers with his sister, Chris, and her husband, Dennis Bloh. Pat embraced the technical side of theatre and preferred to work backstage and in the control booth. After graduating from Monsignor Bonner High School and Temple University, Pat worked …

Leslie Monaco is a current Upper Darby Summer Stage member looking forward to participating for four more years. She joined the program as a Rising Star and then an Apprentice. Leslie moved into the Children’s Theatre program when she turned 13. She is a graduate of West Chester University and works for the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia whe…

Tyler Trafficante joined Summer Stage in 2009 as a Rising Star. He hung around for five summers, performing in the Children’s Theatre program. As an adult, Tyler plays tenor saxophone with the Polish American String Band, of the Philadelphia Mummers Association. He also is a current member of an online theatre company that produces the works of Wil…

Havertown native Emily Moylan began her Summer Stage journey as an apprentice. She moved her way up through Children’s Theatre and Mainstage productions. As her skills accrued, she held various staff positions. After receiving a degree from Temple University, Emily worked for Philadelphia Young Playwrights. She is a professional educator, administr…

Marcie (Turstlick) Bramucci remembers the initial impact Summer Stage had on her life as she experienced a 1987 performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She joined the program when she was age-eligible, participating in the Apprentice Program, Children’s Theater, and Mainstage. Her academic career took her to Point Park College …

Gerri Smith Weagraff is “Old Guard” Summer Stage. Her wonderful portrayals of classic musical theatre characters remain treasured in our memories. From 1977 to 1980, Summer Stage was the only place where Gerri performed. It was where she spent her summers while home from college, and she says it truly served as the foundation for her life onstage a…

I interviewed Steve Smith during our recent Christmas break since we are both teachers. He grew up in Highland Park and went to Bonner. Steve joined Summer Stage in 1981 when he turned eleven and thrived in the Children’s Theatre program. He fondly remembers the opportunity to be a pirate. He went to Villanova University for his first degree and ea…

Collingdale native Sandi Kinnear’s Summer Stage history began in 1978 when she played clarinet in the pit orchestra for Of Thee I Sing when she was 13. Her reedsmanship also included playing the alto and baritone saxophones for many early eighties musicals and Sentimental Journeys. Sandi toured the country as Sandi Joy, a popular Christian comedien…

Colleen Corbett got the theatre bug while attending Arch Bishop Prendergast High School. She joined Summer Stage in 1982 and made quite a debut playing the Wicked Witch in Snow White. Acting became her strength as she practiced her craft in the children’s theatre program. She worked on the staff and as a director. She moved to New York City and fou…

Deirdre McGettigan joined Summer Stage in 1984 with the cast Annie and Barnum, the following summer, forging her lifelong friendship with her best friend, Ann Pinto. She sacrificed a few summers to work in Wildwood Crest. Deirdre fondly remembers the magic of the 25th, 30th, and 40th Anniversary Galas. She currently performs with several local comm…

Jeff Glasse performed in many Children’s Theatre productions in the eighties, and by the nineties, he was a leading man in Main Stage productions playing Oliver Warbucks in Annie! and the King of Siam in The King and I. Jeff took his Ivy League education west to Silicon Valley and worked as a programming engineer on many successful projects; he cla…

I struggled to write an introduction for my session with Krissy Fraelich and Nick Hunchak. They genuinely do not need to be introduced. They rank high among the Summer Stage power couples. I couldn’t wait to interview them together because being around them is always a wonderful experience. As you will hear, the recording did not go smoothly. There…

Ilana Barzel’s Summer Stage experience began in 2007 and lasted three summers. She appreciates her experience and praises the program for its inclusiveness. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come along and have some fun. . . Alana’s links: What is Shabbat? (Jewish Sabbath) https://www.myjewishlearning.com/srticle/shabbat-101/ For more informati…

Ed Sweeney's Summer Stage experience began with the second half of the first generation and ran through the middle of the second generation. He had his share of roles in children’s theatre and main stage. Currently, he performs with the Philadelphia Counterparts, a popular acapella group. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come along and have so…

Mike Hazlett and Chris Lenz credit Of Thee I Sing as their first Summer Stage show in 1978. Mike spent three summers, and Chris stayed around for a while. Both continue to perform to this day. Because of a hardware issue, we had to switch over to a Zoom call which abruptly ended. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come along and have some fun. .…

Ed Robbins has supported my efforts since the very beginning. He suggested that Andrew and his mother, Carolyn, appear together for an interview. I initially interviewed them simultaneously, but, unfortunately, Andrew’s recording got corrupted. I was able to piece together my discussion with Carolyn, and then I interviewed Andrew and incorporated t…

It’s with tremendous pride that I say the next sentence. This is the 50th Episode of the podcast and my guest is Harry Dietzler. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come along and have some fun. . . We all have stories to tell, and they can be heard here. Welcome to Brave and Strong and True, a podcast that engages Summer Stage alumni of all ages…

My guest is Karen Toto-Hockenberry. Karen was a Prendie girl who went to Temple University. She joined the staff in 1977 as a dancing instructor. I was a student of hers in the lobby. She moved to The Big Apple and found work in the chorus, singing and dancing in many Broadway shows and national tours. Karen returned to Summer Stage in 1989 to dire…

My guest is Pat Walsh. Pat joined Summer Stage when he was old enough to perform in the Main Stage productions where he had had a nice run of lead roles. He was Shrek in Shrek the Musical in 2014. In 2017, he played Quasimoto in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. And last summer he was Patrick in The Spongebob Musical. Pat began directing musicals at Sum…

On July 20, I visited Summer Stage and saw Beauty and the Beast, Junior. Later, I witnessed a General Meeting which amazed me. Then I met with three groups of four kids and interviewed them. So today I have 12 guests. They are Raylin Meyers, Marcus Solomon, Cole McIntosh, Addi Pollard, Lonnie Womak, Fareed Leslie, Kiera McCarron, Rose Warren, Aidan…

My guest is Brian Walsh. Brian came to Summer Stage when he was 15. He stayed for 25 years. He performed and then directed shows for Children’s Theater and Main Stage. Brian is a fifth-grade teacher studying to become an administrator. He claims that the organizational and leadership skills he learned at Summer Stage have prepared him to become a p…

My guest is Tim Mackay. Tim came to Summer Stage as a young boy in 1993 and performed for a few summers. He returned in 1999 as a staff member. Tim worked as an electrician and a lighting designer. His professional career took off when he began working for Flying By Foy, traveling up and down the east coast flying actors above the stage. This broug…

My guest is Danielle Tumminelli. She became a Summer Stage Apprentice in 1991. Danielle’s best-loved Children’s Theatre roles were Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and Ariel from The Little Mermaid. And we will find out why Ariel and the Prince never kissed in this production. She attended Point Park College which some folks know as “Summer Stage West…

We all have stories to tell, and they can be heard here. Welcome to Season 2 of Brave and Strong and True, a podcast that engages Summer Stage alumni of all ages. I’m Bob Falkenstein. My guest is Alexander Kacala. Alex attended Strath Haven High School and was Summer Stager of the Year in 2004. Alex lives in New York City and has had many exciting …

We all have stories to tell, and they can be heard here. Welcome to Season 2 of Brave and Strong and True, a podcast that engages Summer Stage alumni of all ages. I’m Bob Falkenstein. My guest is David Pershica. You would remember him as David Smith. David performed in Annie and Barnum, which embarrassed me because I did not recognize him. Claiming…

We all have stories to tell, and they can be heard here. Welcome to Season 2 of Brave and Strong and True, a podcast created to engage Summer Stage alumni of all ages. I’m Bob Falkenstein. My guest is Jackie Langley. Jackie joined Summer Stage in 1995 and performed until 2013. She continued on as a staff member until 2016. She is a voice teacher an…

Welcome to the 40th episode. My special guest is Kathy Moscotti, but most of you know her as Mamma Mo. Mamma began as a volunteer parent before Harry hired her. She remains an essential component of the day-to-day operations of Summer Stage. Her unique skill set has and continues to touch many hearts. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so, come alo…

My guest is Ed Fiscella. Ed is a Summer Stage legend. He directed the first Summer Stage musical, Anything Goes, in 1976. He directed the majority of musicals during the Golden Age of Summer Stage. Thirty-five years ago, he brought the Summer Stage magic to South Jersey as the founder of Mainstage, where he will be handing over the reins to his suc…