tiaras over teaneck

Maria Berte (Thomasina) is excited to return to the stage with Pantochino this spring! Her most recent adventure was traveling to Oz in Dorothy’s Christmas in Oz with the company. Maria extends her heartfelt thanks to Bert, Jimmy, and Justin for their incredible creativity. She also sends special love and gratitude to one of her biggest supporters and guardian angel, her dad.

Katie Durham (Ida)

Rachelle Ianniello (Mary Grace) is thrilled to be part of Pantochino's 15th season, having previously been seen in Christmas Cookies, The Panto of the Opera, And Away We Go!, Checking in on Charles, As Long As We’re Talking, The Wicked Witch of the West: Kansas or Bust!, The Waffle House Five, and Glitz! Her most recent favorite role is that of "Mom" to Holly and Dominic. Much love and appreciation to her family and friends for their support! 

Jimmy Johansmeyer (Dickson) 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 Cape Fear Regional Theatre, The Theatre Barn, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Gorilla TheatreTampa, The Emelin Theatre NY, Allenberry Playhouse, PA, Arundel Barn Playhouse, ME, to name a few.

Tracey Marble (Lickety Smith)

Mary Mannix (Beverly Blithers)

Killian Meehan (Bennet) he/him: Loves to be on the stage at Pantochino. Select credits include (Magistrate) The Executioner’s Wife and (Lion/Huey) Dorothy’s Christmas in Oz at Pantochino Productions, (John Thomas) If We Really Were Witches with Scene 24 Productions (Tour). 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 (Connie Von Cleef) is thrilled to be joining Pantochino again in Tiaras Over Teaneck. She was previously seen in Dorothy’s Christmas in Oz and Panto of the Opera as well as stage managing the Pantochino teen production of Saturday Night Fever. Leanne is a graduate of Marywood University earning her B.A. in musical theatre. Other roles include Sweeney Todd (ensemble, Downtown Cabaret), The Light in the Piazza (Clara), Children of Eden (Yonah), and Dancing at Lughnasa (Chris). Leanne has performed in various NYC cabarets (Don’t Tell Mama, The Triad) and also works as a stage manager, director, and music director. She thanks her family and friends for their support!

Shelley Marsh Poggio (Chartreuse Von Cleef) As we wind up our 15th season (wow!), she is thrilled to bring to life yet another Pantochino original character.  Shelley was bitten by the acting bug at the age of 14 performing as Daisy Mae in Li'l Abner and has performed in theaters throughout CT and abroad, most notably at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. 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 with 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, 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

Justin Rugg (Cox) 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 13 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.

Valerie Solli (Ruby Mirage) is delighted to return for her seventeenth production with Pantochino Productions. A proud Milford resident for many years, Valerie has been captivating audiences across Connecticut for over three decades. Offstage, she treasures her time with her daughter, Rhianna Rose, her fiancé, Fred, and her adorable dachshund, Penny Lane. When not performing, Valerie channels her energy as a spirited ice hockey goalie with the Milford Foundry.  Valerie extends her heartfelt congratulations to Pantochino Productions on their incredible fifteenth season and is thrilled to be part of the celebration! ❤"

Sydney Yargeau (Bunianne Blithers)

T. M. Gadomski (Stage Manager) A rising playwright displaced from Long Island to Connecticut, T. M. Gadomski currently works Seven Angels Theatre as an Acting Instructor as well as with the immersive theater troupe Grymm Studios as a performer. Gadomski writes with their heart & soul often with storylines dealing with Mental Stability, Love, and Gender. T. has been involved in theater for over a decade and had the shows, Indulgence, Free Will, The Misery Theatre Guild, Harmony Lake, and The Harsh Reality of Dating a Poet, produced throughout Connecticut, the Midwest and the East Coast. Free Will was also published in Issue #10 of Fleas on the Dog Magazine (Ontario, Canada.) Plot writer at "Sustainable Collapse.”

Jakob Kelsey (Lighting Designer) is a freelance theatrical lighting designer located in Stamford, CT. He graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a BA in Theatre Design/Technology. He is thrilled to continue working with the talented company at Pantochino! Previous credits with Pantochino Productions include: Grease, School Spirits, The Rocky Horror Show, We Will Rock You, And Away We Go, Prom, Panto of the Opera, Chicago, Noni Cimino’s Kitchen, Christmas in Oz, and Saturday Night Fever. Additional design credits include Jester’s Dead, Peter/Wendy (WCSU); Little Women, Seussical (The Canterbury School); Into the Woods, 39 Steps (Castle Craig Players); Our Time: A Musical Showcase (ACT of CT). www.jakobkelseydesign.com.

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.