Dorothy’s Christmas in oz

Justin Amaro (Ensemble) is very excited to be joining Pantochino Productions during the holiday season! Justin is a recent graduate from Long Island University Post with a BFA in Musical Theatre. He was last seen on stage as Boyet in Post Theatre Company's production of Love's Labour's Lost at LIU Post.  Other recent theatre credits include Donovan in Broken Symphony, Detective Kimball in American Psycho (LIU Post), Nature Guide/ Winter in Branching Out and Poseidon in Poseidon, the Mermaids, and the Water Cycle (Tilles Center). Justin would like to thank his family and friends for their support! @justinamaro518

Ella Bedenbaugh (Little Dorothy) is extremely excited to be in her second Pantochino main stage production as having appeared in various summer and school shows. In her free time when not rehearsing, she likes to read and write stories.

Maria Berte (Linda) is excited to be taking the stage once again with Pantochino! Maria was last on stage in Pantochino’s Noni Cimino’s Kitchen Some favorite shows with company have been Cinderella Italiano, Christmas Cookies, The Waffle House Five, and How to Be A Good Witch.  Maria would like to thank Bert, Jimmy and Justin for all their creative talents!! Much love to her beautiful family, especially to her warrior Dad!!

Davis Burke (The Wizard) is very excited to return to Pantochino in Dorothy's Christmas in Oz, his second main stage Panto Production. He’s happiest when he’s performing—whether on a stage or reenacting historical battles in his backyard. Davis also enjoys tennis and golf and relaxes by singing, doing card tricks and playing pool, guitar, and legos. He also loves going on vacation and spending time with his family, friends and dog, Maggie. Davis would like to thank the people at Pantochino for this opportunity and for fostering his love of theater.

Chad Celini (Ensemble) he/him is honored to make his Pantochino debut in Dorothy’s Christmas in Oz. His most recent credits include The Bright Young Things Cabarets at the Phoenix Stage Company as well as the University of New Haven Theater Department’s production of Godspell (Jesus). He would like to thank his family, especially his parents, siblings, and friends he considers family, for supporting his love of theater and never dulling his creative spark.

Katie Durham (Ensemble) Katie is excited to be back on the Pantochino Stage, having last been seen in the original cast of The Executioner’s Wife.  More recently, she starred as William Barfee in Magnolia Theatre Company's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Snoopy in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Connecticut Irish Theatre Troupe's production of Bookworms as Jennifer.  She graduated in 2007 from Assumption College with a degree in English and a minor in Theatre.  Katie would like to thank Bert, Jimmy, Justin, and the rest of the Pantochino team for this opportunity!

Jimmy Johansmeyer (Scarecrow) is an award-winning actor, costume designer, educator and co-producer of Pantochino Productions. For sixteen years, he was the “resident villain” with the former Downtown Cabaret Children’s Company. A graduate of Marist College, Jimmy has performed on hundreds of stages including New York Stage & Film/ Powerhouse Theatre, Cortland RepertoryTheatre NY, Wallkill River Repertory, NY, The Theatre Barn,NY, Millbrook Playhouse, PA, The Legacy Theatre in Branford and on the Main Stage of the Downtown Cabaret Theatre among others. His costume designs and creations have been seen throughout the country and include The Great American Mousical directed by Dame Julie Andrews, Cold As Ice starring Oxsana Baiul at Gateway Playhouse on Long Island, the Off-Broadway premiere of Matthew Passion, Charles Busch’s Native New Yorker and My Kinda Sixties and at TheTheatre Barn, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Gorilla TheatreTampa, The Emelin Theatre NY, Allenberry Playhouse, PA, Arundel Barn Playhouse, ME, to name a few.

Mary Mannix (Dorothy). A founding member of the company, past roles include Christine in The Panto of the Opera, Marjorie in And Away We Go, Bernice Britchard in Checking in on Charles, Jaycee Rae in The Waffle House Five, Dorothy in The Wicked Witch of the West, and Cinderella in both Cinderella Skeleton and Cinderella Italiano. Other regional credits include Maria in West Side Story, Susy in Wait Until Dark, and Charlotte in A Little Night Music. Roles at Branford's Legacy Theatre include Brandy in the world premiere of Just Desserts, Daisy in the professional premiere of Joe Landry's The Great Gatsby: A Live Radio Play, and Sandra in The Play That Goes Wrong. A recipient of the Goodspeed Guild Music Theater Award, Mary holds a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America. She resides in Killingworth with her husband Scott, and their four children, Sean, Rowan, Nora, and Brennan. Endless gratitude and much love to her family for their support.

Killian Meehan (Lion) he/him: Is thrilled to be back on the stage at Pantochino. Select credits include (Magistrate) The Executioner’s Wife and (Noel) Panto of the Opera at Pantochino Productions, (Bill) Complete History of Theater ABRIDGED at Phoenix Stage. He would like to thank his vocal coach, Paul Elkin, for making this all possible! And his Mom, Dad, and Dani for all the support. www.killianmeehan.com

Leanne Onofrio (Ensemble) is thrilled to be performing with Pantochino again for Dorothy’s Christmas in Oz. She was previously seen in The Panto of the Opera (Solange). Leanne is a graduate of Marywood University earning her BA in musical theatre. Other roles include Sweeney Todd (Downtown Cabaret), The Light in the Piazza (Clara), Children of Eden (Yonah/Snake), Dancing at Lughnasa (Chris). Leanne has performed at NYC cabaret venues (Don’t Tell Mama, The Triad Theatre) and has stage managed multiple productions in CT and PA. She thanks her family and friends for their support and hopes you enjoy the show!

Shelley Marsh Poggio (Wicked Witch of the West) Is thrilled for Pantochino’s fifteenth season and even more thrilled to be playing the Wicked Witch of the West again! Shelley was bitten by the acting bug at the age of 14 as Daisy Mae in Li'l Abner and has performed in theaters throughout CT and abroad, most notably at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is proud to be a Company Member of Pantochino, bringing 40+ (and counting!) new characters to life through the genius creative writing of Bert Bernardi these past fourteen seasons, many productions garnering Connecticut region Broadway World Awards. Some favorite Pantochino shows include the title roles in The Wicked Witch Of The West, Kansas or Bust (2015 CT Broadway World Best Actress in a Musical winner), The Brothers Grimm & A Showgirl and The Bewitchingly Scrumptious Mister Trick & Mrs. Treat and Honeysuckle Jones in Checking In On Charles (2022 CT Broadway World Best Supporting Performer In A Musical).  Much love and thanks to her Family for their unwavering support and to Bert, Jimmy & Justin for their endless creativity XO

Don Poggio is thrilled to return to the stage to take on the iconic role of Santa Claus!  He has appeared in a number of shows with Pantochino over the past fifteen seasons, most recently as Maestro Mistro in Panto of the Opera.  Favorite roles include Richard in The Seven Year Itch (where he met his gorgeous and talented wife, Shelley) and Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show.  A big thank you to my family (including Bert, Jimmy and Justin) for their love and support.

Justin Rugg (Tin Man) A composer, singer and actor, Rugg has co-authored over 30 original musicals with writing partner Bernardi, many of which are published and available for licensing. Other works: five albums of original songs, Predictable Heart (cabaret performed at NYC’s Duplex), music for NYU Steinhardt’s 4@15 Festival, several piano works, 35 camp scores for young performers, the youth ballet I Dreamed Of A Place. A music and theatre teacher in Connecticut for 12 years, he recently received top honor in the “40 Under 40” awards from the Milford Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to the Pantochino family and all who support them.

Victoria Sautee (Glinda) Dubbed the ‘Quintessence of Effervescence,” Ms. Sautee is a native of Cringeworthy, Australia where she began her career as ‘Vicky, the modest go-go dancer’ at Mike’s Ten-Penny Nail Bar & Grille. Taking America by storm in the early 90’s, she came to Pantochino as guest and spokesmodel for Christmas Cocktails and It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Cocktails. Her hit online pandemic era show, Let’s Learn Stuff won rave reviews from the Hartford Courant calling her “Remarkable and Hysterical.” Other roles include Pantochino’s Christmas Carol and Panto of the Opera and the Little Theatre of Cringeworthy’s acclaimed production of The Miracle Worker in which Victoria played both Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan for which one critic said “Why?”

Brennan Simonelli

Valerie Solli (Auntie Em) a long-time resident of Milford, has been performing for audiences in and around Connecticut for over 30 years. She is a proud mother to her wonderful daughter, Rhianna, who is currently a first-year student at Clark University. Valerie cherishes her moments with her fiancé, Fred, and her beloved dachshund, Penny Lane. She is thrilled to be performing in her fifteenth Pantochino Productions show, celebrating their fifteenth season!

Bert Bernardi (Director) is the co-producer and co-founder of Pantochino Productions Inc and has been bringing ‘ridiculously entertaining’ theatre to the Milford since 2010. He is the former Artistic Director of the Children’s Company in Bridgeport and his work has been seen extensively at Cortland Repertory Theatre (NY), The Theatre Barn (NY), Millbrook Playhouse (PA) and the Surflight Theatre (NJ). His work as also been seen at Legacy Theatre (CT), Fairfield University, New York University Steinhardt School, Music Theatre North (NY), the Boston Post Road Stage Company, Arundel Barn (NY) and TheatreWorks New Milford. With composer Justin Rugg, he has penned many, many new musicals, several of which are published, licensed and performed around the country. Bert is a recipient of the Connecticut Critics Circle Tom Killen Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre in Connecticut.