Act II Playhouse Programs

An all NEW comedy cabaret from the wildly popular, sell-out team of Tony Braithwaite and Jen Childs.

This NEW comedy cabaret features classic double-act routines from the best of the best — The Carol Burnett Show, Nichols and May, Burns and Allen and, of course, Tony and Jen’s hilarious cruise ship lounge act, “T.B. and Jenny.” Featuring Owen Robbins at the piano.

ACT II PLAYHOUSE

Artistic Director

Tony Braithwaite*

Directed by Tony Braithwaite*

Written by and Starring

Tony Braithwaite,* Renee McFillin and Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton*

Daniel Matarazzo Music Director

Paul Dake*

Production Stage Manager

James Leitner

Lighting Designer

Alex Dakoglou Sound Designer

Abby Sturgis Production Assistant, COVID Safety Officer

* Member of Actors’ Equity.

Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 Actors and Stage Managers. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions.

THE CREATIVE TEAM THE CREATIVE TEAM

Tony Braithwaite (Director, Ensemble) is in his 10th season as Artistic Director at Act II Playhouse, having most recently appeared in Together Again for the First Time pre-pandemic. Tony has worked in and around Philly since 1995 - as an actor, director, writer, teacher and comic - at 1812 Productions, Arden Theatre Company, People’s Light and Theatre, Mauckingbird Theatre Company, The Kimmel Center, Delaware Theatre Company, Hedgerow Theatre Company, Montgomery Theatre, Bucks County Regional Performing Arts Center, and both the PA and Philadelphia Shakespeare Festivals, among others. Tony is a 13-time Barrymore Award nominee, a 4-time Barrymore M.C. and a 3-time Barrymore winner, including wins for The Big Bang and The Story of My Life (both at Act II). For 27 years, Tony has also served as Director of Dramatics at his beloved alma mater, St. Joseph’s Prep.

Renee McFillin

(Ensemble) is a Philadelphia based performer and is so excited to be making her Act II debut!

Recent shows: South Pacific (BCCPA), Nuncrackers & Dames at Sea, (Montgomery Theater.) Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Ragtime, King Richard II, (PA Shakespeare Festival.) All the thanks to her mom, dad, brothers, friends, and Liam for always supporting her dreams & many thanks to Tony and Liz!! Renee is so ecstatic to be sharing the stage with Tony, her beloved high school director AND with Kevin who she went to grade school with :) Enjoy the show!

IG @naefil

Kevin Toniazzo

-Naughton (Ensemble) returns to Act II for the holidays. Kevin was previously seen at BCCPA as Lieutenant Cable in South Pacific this past summer.

Regional credits Include: Wolf/ Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods, Spamalot as Dennis/Galahad, et al. (Resident Theatre Company), Lancelot in Camelot (Farmers Alley Theatre), Cinderella’s Prince/ The Wolf in Into the Woods (Barrington Stage Company *Berkie Nom*), Franz Liebkind in The Producers (BCCPA), Matilda, & A Christmas Story (Walnut Street Theatre), Anatoly in Chess, & Enjolras in Les Misérables (Fuse Productions), Lancelot in Camelot, & Hortensio in Kiss Me Kate (Act II Playhouse), Gaston in Beauty & the Beast (New Stage Theatre), Mr. Cooger/ Mr. Electrico in the world Premiere of Something Wicked This Way Comes (Delaware Theatre Co.), Marty in It Shoulda Been You, Simon in The Game’s Afoot, Clayton in Tarzan, Paul in Moon Over Buffalo, & Sagramore/ u/s Lancelot in Camelot (Gretna Theatre), Working (Bristol Riverside Theatre), Spamalot (Lancaster Opera House), Stevie in Good People, & Sweeney in Sweeney Todd (Pennsylvania Centre Stage). Kevin is a NYC based actor, and a member of Actors Equity. Kevin received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Penn State, and is also a NASM certified PT. Thank you to Tony and Act II, Mikey at The Collective, and love always to Mom & Dad! Ig

Daniel Matarazzo (Music Director, Ensemble) is a Philadelphia based Music Director and collaborative pianist. Favorites at Act II include Camelot; Which Reminds Me; and both iterations of Electile Dysfunction. Dan works frequently with local high schools, universities, and regional theaters, including Cabrini Univeristy, Temple University, Upper Darby Summer Stage, and 11th Hour Theater Company. He’s thrilled to be back to live playing, and can be seen later this year as the Music Director for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; and Merman & Martin.

Alex Dakoglou (Sound Designer) Born and raised in Philadelphia, Alex has been involved in the performing arts since elementary school, starting with 6 yrs of piano, and eventually playing guitar in bands for many years. In 1993, he started working as a live sound mixer while continuing to perform. In 2004, a couple years after receiving a BM in jazz guitar from the University Of The Arts, Alex moved to Los Angeles, and quickly became head sound mixer at the House Of Blues on Sunset Strip. In his 7 years there he worked with many well known musical acts, before shifting his career to the road and full time sound mixing. Today, Alex has mixed in venues such as Madison Square Garden, Sydney Opera House, and Radio City Music Hall, with symphony orchestras, bands, and artists. Currently, Alex once again lives in Philadelphia and tours with Idina Menzel, Herb Alpert, and LIVE, while also sound designing and mixing for musical theater, and guest lecturing in live sound at his alma mater.

Paul Dake (Production Stage Manager) joined Act II in 2021 and has worked in professional theater since 2006 as both an Actor and Stage Manager. Paul can be seen in TV commercials now and then, is an accomplished singer/ songwriter, and has self-produced several albums of original music. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing with his musician friends, reading biographies, and is an avid runner. www.PaulDake.com

James Leitner (Lighting Designer) has worked for many years in Philadelphia with the Arden Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, The Wilma Theater, Act II Playhouse, Theatre Exile, Delaware Theatre Company, Montgomery Theater, Curtis Opera, Pennsylvania Ballet, and various colleges and universities. Further afield, he has worked extensively for Tri-Cities Opera, Sarasota Opera, Milwaukee Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and the Vail International Dance Festival.

Abby Sturgis (Production Assistant, COVID Safety Officer) is a stage manager in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. She is thrilled to be back working in theatre working with Act II Playhouse! She graduated from Temple University in the spring of 2020 with her B.A. in Theatre with a focus on stage management. Most recently she was an Assistant Stage Manager for The Skin of Our Teeth (Quintessence Theatre Group). Pre-pandemic credits include Hedwig and The Angry Inch(reTHEATER); Feel, Art, and Ink (Tongue and Groove Spontaneous Theatre) and Love’s Labour’s Lost: The Musical (Temple Theaters). Go Flyers!

A Toast To Our 23rd Season! Merle Holman

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ACT II PLAYHOUSE DONORS

Judy Rieder

Jessica Riloff

Virginia Risley

Amy Roak

Pat & Marie Rocchi

Linda Rooney

Meryl Rose

Shelley Rosenberg

Sharon Rost

Larry Rubin

Bill & Deborah Rubinsohn

Mary & Charles F. Rueger

Diane Rurode

Anna Russell

Michael & Barbara Rutberg

James & Mary Ellen Ryan

John & Peggy Sabo

Rosemary Samtmann

Karen Sangmeister

Rocco & Catherine

Santoro

Joyce Sapin-Schulman

Frank & Dale Scafuro

Edmund Scanlan

Dale & Marilyn Scannell

Linda Schmidt

Diane Schueler

Seth Schulman

Maxine Schwartz

Carol and Bill Schwartz

Gail Scott

Linda Scott

Fran & Kerry Seiden

Larry Seidman

Rhonda Shapson

Leslie Sheer

Wally & Vera Shembel

Kelly Sherer

Darlene Sherman

Stephanie Shestakow

Kathleen Shoup

Fred Siegel

William & Catherine Siegl

Donna Silberstein

Grover Silcox

Milton & Sylva Silver

Diane & Stephen Silverhardt

Charlotte Silversteen

Richard Simon

Joyce & Peter Skunda

Maria Slavin

Janis Smith

Judy Smith

James & Elaine Smith

Margaret Smith

Mary Sommers

Donna Spangler

Liza Steele

Paulette Steffa

Gilbert & Lois Stein

Philip & Ellen Steinberg

Mark & Jan Stephens

Roberta Stern

Karen & Jack Stimac

Stephanie Stoehs

Mary-Grace Stoehs

Linda Stokes

William Stroud

Emmy Subers

Michael Sultanik

Susan & Glenn Suplee

Darrell Swank

Matthew & Jennifer Sweeney

Michael Tabakin

Robert Tafel

Mike Talarico

Mr. & Mrs. S. Tammara

Irene & John Thompson

Al & Mary Thorell

Bridget Thrash

Virginia Tinner

Stephen Tint

Nelly & Victor Torres

Bernadette Tortorella

Victor Tortorelli

Michael Trainor

Theresa Travis

Thomas Troxell

Peter Troy

Sherri Twer

Manish & Lara Verma

Benjamin & Debra Visnov

Christie Voelker

Martin Vogel

Doris Walper

John Walsh

Clare Walsh Miller

Chandler & Bette Ann

Walton

Evelyn Wanner

Jane Warren

John & Jodie Waters

Carl & Terri Weiner

Ted Weiner

Betty Weiner

Adam & Carolyn Weisman

Betty & Morris Weiss

Buzz & Jill Wemple

Elizabeth Wendelin & Stephen Elkins

Deborah Wesler

RoseAnn Westerfer

Mary Lou & Richard Whitehill

John Whittington

Stan & Jo Wilhelmson

Barry Wilkins

Susan & Peter Wilson

Robert & Maria Windhaus

Scott Wiser

Melissa Wisniewski

Deborah Wolfgang

April Woodall

Joseph & Carolyn Zack

Geri Zima & Jon Osborne

Michael & Barbara Zimmerman

Maria Zmurkewycz

CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Foundations

Louis N. Cassett Foundation

Connelly Foundation

CHG Charitable Trust & Haas

Charitable Trust A

The Robert and Elaine Fitt

Family Fund

The Independence Foundation

The Malfer Foundation

Suzanne Roberts Cultural

Development Fund

William Penn Foundation

The Wyncote Foundation

Government

U.S. Small Business Administration

Montco Strong

National Endowment for the Arts

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

Corporations

Ambler Savings Bank

BLB&B

Lori Carpenter Insurance Group

SEI

501 at Mattison Estate

amos&advisors

New Age Industries

Timoney Knox

Matching Donations

Johnson & Johnson Foundation

ExxonMobile

Bristol Myers Squibb

In Kind Donations

Tony Laguda Formal Wear

ACT II PLAYHOUSE BOARD

OF DIRECTORS

Phil Albright - Board Member Emeritus

Stephen Blumenthal

Founding Artistic Director

Act II Playhouse

Howie Brown Director of Admission

Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School

Jeffrey Coon

Annual Fund & Foundation Manager

Fulton Theatre

Merle Holman CEO & Founder Group Dynamics, Inc.

Frank `Bud` Martin - Board Treasurer Emeritus Executive Director Delaware Theatre Company

Dr. Jay Rosan - Board Chairman Emeritus VP Health Innovation Walgreens

Berne Siergiej, Esq. - President Of Counsel

Timoney Knox, LLP

Valerie Baker Faculty member at MCCC Psychotherapist

Tony Braithwaite Artistic Director Act II Playhouse

Curt Cockenberg Head Coach, Track & Field/Cross County, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School

Susan Galletti - Board Secretary Former Senior VP Gramercy Property Trust

Joseph D. Mancano Founding Partner, Cedrone & Mancano, LLC

Alan Roomberg, CPA - Board Treasurer Shareholder

Strouss Hui Roomberg Ellis, P.C.

James D. Scully Jr. Partner Scully Company Real Estate

Colleen Stratton - Vice President SEI Investments

STAFF

Tony Braithwaite, Producing Artistic Director

Pat Taddei, Director of Finance and Operations

Mary Carpenter, Director of External Relations

Carol Flannery, Director of Marketing and Communications

Liz McDonald, Production and Company Manager

Deb Wesler, Audience Services Manager

Alice Dake, Monica Cole, and Ed Sabato, Box Office Associates/House Managers

Patricia G. Sabato, Resident Stage Manager

Paul Dake, Production Assistant

Rose Marie Kettinger, Education Coordinator and Production Associate Will Dennis, Teaching Artist

Michael Donovan, Stand-Up Comedy Producer

IT’S THE SECOND ACT FOR THE BEST DRAMA SOCIETY IN THE DELAWARE VALLEY!

In 2022, St. Joseph’s Prep will be updating its Theatre with new amenities and technology worthy of their outstanding Cape and Sword Drama Society.

“Theater at the Prep has long been a mission-driven activity incorporating Jesuit values in everything we do, from rehearsals to service, to strong alumni connections. With close to 20% of Prep students participating, the Cape & Sword Drama Society creates an opportunity to impact not only their experience at the Prep but also their lives. I can’t wait to see what we can do with a theater that matches the passion of our students!”

-Tony Braithwaite ‘89, Director of Dramatics St. Joe’s Prep, Artistic Director Act II Playhouse

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRAMATICS AND OTHER CO-CURRICULARS AT THE PREP AT SJPREP.ORG

YOU BELONG HERE

Jesuit Education develops minds, hearts, souls, and characters. Our campus is Philadelphia and our network spans the globe. And the ties of Brotherhood last a lifetime. Learn more at sjprep.org or 215.978.1958.