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…

My guest is Marita McCormick McCarthy. Marita is a 20-year veteran of Lower Merion School District, Maria has been the music teacher at Merion Elementary School for the past 17 years. She is also an adjunct professor of music education at Eastern University. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so, come along and have some fun. . . We all have storie…

My guest is Angela Pomo Wertner. Angela was a Summer Stage member from 1995 until 2003, during the Golden Age of Dietzler children. She did everything: apprentice, children’s theatre, MainStage, dance troupe, one acts, cabaret, and courtyard shows. Many would call her a “lifer” as she also worked there as a choreographer and helped Harry with writi…

My guest is Erin McGowan Panek. Erin was a member of Summer Stage from 1988 until 1994. She claims they were the best seven summers of her life. She was an Apprentice in 1988, performed in Children’s Theatre from 1989 to 1992, and Mainstage in the Summers of 1990, 1993, and 1994. For over 20 years she has been an elementary school teacher in the Ri…

My guest is Cate Paxson Kaufmann. Cate is a unique guest as she was not a Summer Stage performer. She is a Summer Stage mom. She began in the eighties seeing performances with her children, and by the nineties, she was dropping off her children as members. Around the time that the Outreach program began, she volunteered with the parents' group. She…

My guest is Alison King. Alison is a lifelong resident of Drexel Hill. She was a Summer Stage member from 1999 to 2007. She began as an apprentice and worked her way up to children’s theatre and then mainstage. She now owns her own business and sits on the Board of Directors of a local theatre company. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so, come al…

My guest is Stephen Fala, a member from 2003 to 2008. He has a ten-year career in professional theatre for young audiences. He recently concluded a run of Sesame Street: The Musical Off-Broadway playing the human among Muppets, and he is currently the Membership and Communications Associate for the national organization Theatre For Young Audiences/…

My guest is Flynn Nolen, and we are joined by a mystery guest, making this episode my first with more than one guest. Flynn was literally born into theatre. His parents, Terry and Amy, met each other during Summer Stage’s first decade. They launched Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre Company in 1988. Flynn is a sophomore at Penn State University where he…

My guest is Bill Buddendorf. I am surprised to learn that Bill was in the last show I did at Summer Stage in 1985. Bill took the enthusiasm and talents he developed at Summer Stage with him to a performing arts high school and college. He shares his skills as a professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Using the name Bill Budd, he wr…

My guest is Jared Paxson. Jared claims he was born into Summer Stage. As the son of a staff member and the little brother of a high-profile performer, lauded with Summer Stager of the Year honors, he forged his early identity as an out-of-control brat; however, he grew out of that phase and grew up during what he coins, “The Marcus Years.” I hope y…

My guest is Dawn Morningstar. In 1989, Dawn auditioned for and was cast in Guys and Dolls as a Hot Box dancer. She stayed around for 25 years as a dancer, choreographer, and director. She values the creative and collaborative spirits that permeate everything at Summer Stage. As an educator, Dawn values her role as a mentor for others. I hope you en…

My guest is Sean Meenan. Sean graduated from Springfield High School and now attends Widener University where he studies Mechanical Engineering and Physics. He is a Summer Stager of the Year Award recipient and is still a member eagerly anticipating next summer. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so, come along and have some fun. . . We all have st…

My guest is Chris Monaco. Chris graduated from Strath Haven High School, Temple University, and Villanova University. He’s an incredible performer, and his burgeoning love for theater began in middle school and continues to this day. Chris is a teacher at Gladwyne Montessori and he also directs the theatre program at Upper Darby High School. I hope…

My guest is Marcu Stevens. Marcus does it all, tremendously. He’s an incredible performer, a wonderful writer, and an amazing director. Not only is he a musical theatre powerhouse, but he is also a genuinely nice person. Simply stated, Marcus Stevens is impressive. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so, come along and have some fun. . . We all have…

My guest is Andy Brown. When I interviewed Andy, he was in his dorm room at George Mason University in Fairfax County, Virginia. Andy is my 25th guest and also my youngest one. His enthusiasm and love for Summer Stage will amaze you. Not only is Andy still a member of Summer Stage, but also he is the reigning Summer Stager of the Year. I hope you e…

My guest is Garry Lennon. Garry joined Summer Stage in 1978 and contributed 13 years of service, first as a performer, and then as a designer, and a director. His love of theatre and his accumulated experiences led to a career in theatre designing, directing, and teaching at California State University, North Ridge for the past two decades. I hope …

My guest is Ann Pinto McCarney. Ann spent a solid decade as a Summer Stager from 1981-1990. She self-proclaims that she was boy crazy, had many crushes, was a picky dater, and eventually settled down with the love of her life, getting married in a royal Summer Stage wedding to Dean McCarney. Ann kept performing her whole life and is best known for …

My guest is Brian Mahoney. Brian found out about Summer Stage from a classmate at Scranton University. He was hired in 1978 as a tech director. He is remembered for his inspiring leadership, work ethic, and sense of humor. He became a big brother as many of us looked up to him. Well, he is very tall. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so, come alon…

My guest is Monica Horan Rosenthal. Monica joined Summer Stage when she was a dancer at Prendie. She is remembered for playing Veta in Harvey, Mrs. McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, and Miss Hanigan in Annie. Monica has also appeared in 66 episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond as Amy McDougall Barone. I hope you enjoy our conversa…

My guest is Erich Glasbrenner. Erich started doing plays at Drexel Hill Junior High and joined the inaugural season of Summer Stage. During our conversation, he bravely recalls how Summer Stage began as his life was at a crossroads. By the end, we are both laughing our heads off. This episode is rated “mature audience” due to a few expletives. I ho…

My guest is Grace Kocsko Vouvalis. Grace was a member from 1977 to 1984. Trained as a dancer, Summer Stage developed her vocal and dramatic skills. She is remembered for her portrayals of Cinderella, Tuptim in The King and I, Fiona in Brigadoon, and of course, Maria in West Side Story. She relocated to Florida where she worked as an ATF agent. I ho…

My guest is Donna Kelly Romero. Donna grew up in Upper Darby and enjoyed watching children’s theatre at Summer Stage as a child. In 1987, she started as an Apprentice and worked her way up to staff in the late 90s where she developed a deep appreciation for her mentors which led to her pursuit to study theatre along with education. Donna returned a…