Brave and Strong and True

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. . . We all have stories to tell, and they can be h...

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 that into this episode. I hope you enjoy our conv...

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. I’m Bob Falkenstein. Our music is composed and...

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 direct Guys and Dolls. The following summer, she chore...

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 Summer Stage and is currently rehearsing The Three Li...

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 Dougherty, Keira Hornung, Kara Schwebb, and Alex...

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 principal one day. I hope you enjoy our conversati...

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 brought him back to Summer Stage to fly Peter Pan, Al...

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.” As a staff member, Danielle was the stage man...

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 careers. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so,...

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 that Summer Stage and his mentors changed his...

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 and real estate agent. Our discussion covers a wi...

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 along and have some fun. . . We all have stories to...

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 successors this season.  I hope you enjoy our conver...

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 stories to tell, and they can be heard here. Welcome to...

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 writing out the original curriculum, including perform...

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 Ridley School District where she wrote, directed, a...

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 brought Candygrams, Flowergrams, and PhotoBu...

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 along and have some fun. . . Alison’s links: Narbert...

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/USA, whose Executive Director is a fellow Summer S...

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 studies theatre and performs with The Statemen,...

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 writes original music, records albums,  and performs...

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 you enjoy our conversation, so, come along and have...

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 enjoy our conversation, so, come along and have so...

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 stories to tell and they can be heard here. Welcome...