Brave and Strong and True

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. David lived in New York City and performed professi...

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) , Woodstock in Charlie Brown and Friends (1980) ,...

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 on staff at Hedgerow Theatre and a teaching artist...

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 funny moment in dress rehearsal. After graduating...

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 resides over 90 minutes from the Performing Arts Cent...

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 enjoys a life of leisure in South Jersey. I hope you...

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 she forgets to mention that she played...

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 new episode. To continue to bring you new content e...

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 already incredible-sounding band raise the bar, p...

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 Arts and Education Foundation. I hope you enjoy our...

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 conversation, so come along and have some fun. . . We...

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 in various careers and eventually ended up out wes...

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 where she always runs into Summer Stagers. I hope you...

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 William Shakespeare. I hope you enjoy our conversatio...

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, administrator, theatre artist, and writer. Currently, Emily...

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 before earning Master's Degrees from Villanov...

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 and off, developing such qualities as teamwork, com...

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 earned his Masters at American University. He now te...

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 comedienne. She now resides in Chester County and is ac...

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 found work in daytime soap operas and films.  I hop...

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 community theatres. I hope you enjoy our conversati...

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 claims that a lot of his instincts are anchored in...

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 are glitches, times when either I or they dropped...

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 information about epilepsy, please visit the Epilepsy Found...

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 some fun. . . Ed’s links’s: http://www.thecount...