PODCAST

Brave and Strong and True

Bob Falkenstein

Interviews with alumni of Upper Darby Summer Stage.

arts performing arts

All Episodes

71:00

97. Brenna Dinon

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/12/15

Brenna Dinon joined Summer Stage as an Apprentice while she was a student at Saint Bernadette's in Drexel Hill. She hung around for several summers performing in Children’s Theatre shows and with The Shooting Stars, eventually joining the staff. She graduated from Saint Joseph’s University and works out of her East Falls home as an author, copywriter, and creator. Please follow the link to Amazon to see the RP Minis that she created. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come along and have s...

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89:03

Meghan Malloy

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/11/10

Highland Park native, Meghan Malloy, had a brief stint as an apprentice in 1991. She triumphantly returned in 1996, appearing in Alice in Wonderland. She later appeared in Main Stage productions, Dance Troupe, and One Acts. After graduating from Point Park College, she joined the staff and taught acting in the outreach program. Meghan led Camp Friendship and directed children’s theatre shows. She currently works as an actor, an accent and dialect coach, a teaching artist, and a playwrig...

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81:52

Mark Cronin

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/10/27

Mark Cronin grew up in Drexel Hill and graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1982. He was Rooster Hannigan in 1984’s Annie and finally made it to East Street. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He cultivated his comedy roots in the Mask and Wig Club. He began his professional career writing jokes for Howard Stern. Mark is known as the King of Reality TV, producing hits for over three decades. His latest creation, Below Deck, has been ru...

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77:15

Donata Cucinotta

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/10/13

Donata Cucinotta joined Summer Stage in 1994. She was a student Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion Station and during her summers enjoyed performing in the casts of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, where she played Scotty the Scottish Dwarf. She remembers the heat and humidity of the Beverly Hills summer of 1995,and 1996’s No One Will Marry a Princess With a Tree Growing Out of Her Head. In 1997, she was in the mainstage cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She attended Ithaca ...

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59:15

Ellie Dermond (Liz Heckman)

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/08/25

Ellie Dormond is an original Summer Stager. She was encouraged to join the inaugural season in 1976 while she was a student of Cathy Pregmon at Upper Darby High School. While claiming to have lived at the Performing Arts Center, she never once appeared on stage. She is a diehard techie who enjoys working off-stage and backstage. As a mother of two boys and a nurse specializing in elder care, Ellie has depended on the principle of being brave, strong, and true throughout her life. I hope...

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60:44

Jess Coulter

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/08/18

Jess Coulter sat in her car parked outside the Performing Arts Center as we recorded this conversation. She grew up in Havertown but now lives in Perkiomen Valley, over an hour away. She is a Summer Stage alumnus and the mother of three children, all of whom are current members. Jess joined the apprentice program in 1990. Her first children’s theatre show was Freedom, directed by Harry Dietzler. She proudly claims that she has seen at least one Summer Stage show every season since...

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37:45

Technical Theatre Students

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/08/11

I visited Summer Stage on Tuesday, July 22. Artistic Director Chris Luner selected small groups of “friends” for me to interview. In this episode, you will hear from four students from the theatre tech program. They are Quinn Williams, Ava Bowser, Remy Lazur, and Han Ahmed. 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 ...

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40:10

Friends from the cast of THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL YOUTH...

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/08/04

I visited Summer Stage on Tuesday, July 22. Artistic Director Chris Luner selected small groups of “friends” for me to interview. In this episode, you will hear from four cast members from The SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition, which opens on August 5. They are Nate Quillen, Kalia Hayman-Brown, Amina Peters, and Malayna McCarthy. 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 a...

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37:00

Friends from the cast of ANNIE Jr.

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/07/28

I visited Summer Stage on Tuesday, July 22. Artistic Director Chris Luner selected small groups of “friends” for me to interview. In this episode, you will hear from four cast members from Annie, Jr.,which opens on July 29. They are Ava Mast, Ariel Weber, Leah Repino, and Myles Boanes. 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 Stag...

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60:54

Steve Eberle

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/07/14

Lansdowne native, Steve Eberle, attended Saint Philomena’s grade school, Monsignor Bonner High School, and DeSales University. He joined Summer Stage in 1990 and participated as an apprentice for two seasons. His first show was 1992’s Alice in Wonderland, directed by Tara Urban. One of Steve’s memorable roles was Gandalf in The Hobbit. He was in the Main Stage production of Me and My Girl in 1996. After living in Baltimore for a few decades, Steve returned home and bought the house he grew up...

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66:56

Vicky Mahoney

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/07/02

Vicky Mahoney is a second-generation Summer Stager. That doesn’t mean she’s from the second decade; it means her father was a member of Summer Stage. She is also the first post-Gala guest I interviewed, and we both are riding high on the crest of that wave from last weekend. Vicky started Summer Stage in 1999 and participated in the Apprentices and Children’s Theatre programs. She is a graduate of Merion Mercer Academy and Catholic University of America. She has performed professi...

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51:04

Marie Eife

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/06/25

Marie Eife, a native of Drexel Hill, joined Summer Stage in 2003. After graduating from Archbishop Prendergast, she attended Syracuse University. Eife moved to New York City and has been a part of Wicked professionally since 2019, leading to her understudying and performing the role of Elphaba. This episode was recorded two days before the 50th Anniversary alumni show and gala on June 27. I just met Eife last week at rehearsal. She is a remarkable person. After listening to her, I’m sure you ...

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53:41

Lauren Glover

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/06/16

Drexel Hill native Lauren Hoffman joined Summer Stage in 2006 and participated in Children’s Theatre for four summers. A graduate of Upper Darby High School, she attended Delaware County Community College and Rosemont College. She is now Lauren Glover, a mother, wife, and an Autistic support teacher at Drexel Hill Middle School. We recorded our discussion the day after the first two rehearsals for the 50th Anniversary show. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come along and have some ...

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76:43

Ed Robins

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/05/26

Part 2 of my interview with Julianna Schauerman and Ed Robins continues with a conversation with Ed. Ed Robins came to Summer Stage in 1981 and worked there until 2015. Ed is a jack-of-all-trades tech wizard, working in designing, lighting, electrical, carpentry, painting - you name it; Ed does it. He directs and stage manages as well. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come along and have some fun . . . Conversations with Miranda a play Produced by Zakarak Productions Directed by Ed Robi...

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68:51

Julianna Schauerman

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/05/19

Julianna Schauerman spent every minute of her adult life working in theatre. She came to Summer Stage in 1977 and continued to work there until 1995. She is producing the 50th Anniversary show, just like she did for reunions 25, 30, and 40. Julianna also produces special events for Summer Stage, such as Harry’s Retirement Surprise Event. She runs her own production company and still finds time to perform. With us is Ed Robins who pitches in from time to time before I interview him for our nex...

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49:57

Lizzy Lunardi and Anna Rudegair

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/04/21

Lizzy Lunardi and Anna Rudegeair first met each other while auditioning for Annie, Jr. in 2012. They were cast as Molly and Annie and began a lifelong friendship; they collectively became known as “Lizzanna.” These amazing young women speak so fondly of each other and what Summer Stage means to them. I enjoyed my time with them. I even learned about Dorkus Dietzler. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come along and have some fun . . . Please follow Anna on Instagram and TikTok at @annare...

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59:22

Gina Giachero

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/04/14

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 and True, a podcast that engages Summer Stage alumni of all age...

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75:21

Allie Steele 50th Anniversary Administrator

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/03/24

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

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70:17

Jack McDonnell

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/02/24

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 enjoy our conversation, so come along and have some fun. . . W...

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55:39

Tim Sweeney

Brave and Strong and True ·

2025/01/20

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 company he created. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come ...

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Brave and Strong and True

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