Brave and Strong and True

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!

We all have stories to tell, and they can be heard here. Welcome to Brave and Strong an...

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 upcoming reunion and gala, which she will discuss some details about. I hope you enjoy o...

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 shares amazing stories and performs some awesome impressions along the way. I hope you e...

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 of 46.  He works as an insurance agent and owns and operates Turkey Trivia, a compan...

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 professionally until he felt called into th...

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), and Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka an...

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 at Wolf Performing Arts Center. I ...

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 from Overbrook School for the Blind,...

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 Center, she returns every summer to sup...

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 enjoy our conversation, so come alo...

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 Wendy in a non-flying production o...

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 every week  I need your help. Please...

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, performing with authenticity from ear...

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 conversation, so come along and hav...

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 all have stories to tell, and ...

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 west, raising three children who have ...

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 enjoy our conversation, so come al...

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

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 is on the administrative staff of ...