John Ruffley (Director)   

At the tender age of 7 John attended the opening week of Hello Dolly. The marvelous production included a train, a trolley car and a dancing horse. Young John had to be restrained from standing on his chair chair and yelling. The star, Carol Channing, made it a point during the curtain call to blow the stage struck kid a kiss. What she never knew was that he was cheering for the horse. I sincerely hope you enjoy the show, no matter who you cheer for ...

Robbi Curtis (Asst. Director)   

Since joining the Playhouse in 1984, Robbi has appeared here in She Loves Me, 84 Charing Cross Road, The Dresser, and Side by Side by Sondheim. She has also directed A Grand Night for Singing, Lend Me a Tenor, Remembrance, and several First Night revues.

Anne McAneny-King (Asst. Director)   

Anne has been involved in local theatre since the early days of Summit's MMT and has directed young people's and community theatre in Westfield, Scotch Plains, and Chatham. She has appeared on our stage last spring in A Grand Night for Singing and several years ago in Remembrance.

Michael Ausiello (Officer Brophy)   

Arsenic marks Mike's debut at the Summit Playhouse. His previous credits include Six Degrees Of Separation at Nutley Little Theatre, Summer & Smoke with Revolving Door Studios, The Music Man and Anything Goes with GBProductions and most recently, Laurel & Hardy Sleep Together at Kean University's Gay Pride theatre.

Alexander P. Devanas (Teddy Brewster)   

Alexander, founder of his own theater company, is a playwright, director, and has performed in over 60 productions. Among his most memorable roles are Norman, The Boys Next Door, Angelo, Measure for Measure, Hershel, Gemini, Bernard, Death of a Salesman, Andrew Makepeace, Love Letters, Teach, An American Buffalo, and Mr. Van Daan, in Diary of Ann Frank.

Patrick Field (Officer O'Hara)   

Patrick, an Assistant Professor at Kean University, is a newcomer to the Playhouse, but has been seen locally in Dial M for Murder and Jeffrey. His favorite roles to date have been Sebastian Lore' and Kanaka in the Charles Busch comedies Coma and Psycho Beach Party.

George Foster (The Rev. Dr. Harper)   

George has appeared in numerous community theater productions including Mame, Our Town, The Curious Savage and The Music Man. He has also sung with the New Jersey State Repertory Opera, several choral societies and Stony Hill Players, most recently as Frantz in Tales of Hoffmann.

George Hayman (Mr. Witherspoon)   

Since playing St. Nicholaus at age 5 in Oberammergau's Old Folk's Home, George has appeared as Howard in Inherit the Wind and Winthrop in The Music Man. Following a 35-year hiatus, he reappeared last year as Rev. Hopkins in Brundage Park Playhouse's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. He has also appeared in plays at various Episcopal churches where is wife serves as a priest.

Thomas Kitson (Jonathan Brewster)   

Arsenic and Old Lace marks Mr. Kitson's third appearance at the Playhouse, previously appearing here as the neurotic playwright in It's Only A Play and the murderous Tony in Dial M for Murder. Mr. Kitson, who lives in New Providence and consults in human resource information systems, is an avid Gilbert and Sullivan fan.

Margaux Logan (Elaine Harper)   

Margaux, a resident of Chatham and a 1999 graduate of Colgate University, has been seen in numerous productions including: Bye Bye Birdie, Brigadoon, Twelfth Night, and Let's Duet Again at the Chatham Players. She has appeared in the choruses of Opera at Florham and the Papermill Playhouse.

John Luckstone (Dr. Einstein)   

John, a past Playhouse president, has performed for the last fourteen years in local community theaters. His favorite roles were FDR in Annie and, at the Playhouse, Charlie in Death of a Salesman. This is the first time he's played a doctor, and a shady one at that!

Chris Messineo ( Mortimer Brewster)   

It's been eight years since Chris stuttered his way across the Summit stage as Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Since that time he met his wife, Elizabeth performing in Come Blow Your Horn and has performed opposite her in Beyond Therapy as well. A computer programmer by day, Chris keeps himself busy playing soccer, teaching screenwriting, and marveling at the antics of his two year old daughter, Joanna.

Sandy Robertson ( Abby Brewster)   

Sandy is pleased to return to the Playhouse in this delightful role having previously appeared as Aunt Ruth in Marvin's Room. Other favorite roles include: Mrs. Medlock in Secret Garden; and most recently, Miss Lynch in Grease at the Montclair Operetta Club; Pauline in No, No, Nanette; May in Eastern Standard; Julia in Lend Me A Tenor. Her role as Bessie in Laura at the Maplewood Strollers won her a Gold Seal Bigbee Award.

Michael Scanlon (Mr. Gibbs and Lieutenant Rooney)   

Michael is a consultant and Managing Director of the Renaissance Consortium, Ltd. He has performed for the Playhouse Association of Summit in The Boys Next Door and for Chatham Players in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. He is delighted to return to the Playhouse in such diverse character roles.

Jan Towers (Martha Brewster)   

Jan appeared on our stage last year at this time, as Julia in It's Only a Play. She also has acted as your ticket lady for three years now and is a member of the Playhouse Association board. Elsewhere in the area she was Ouiser in Steel Magnolias, Julia in Lend Me a Tenor, Elsa in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, and Sister Hubert in Nunsense II. Jan is thoroughly enjoying her turn as Aunt Martha and invites you all to partake of some of her homemade elderberry wine.

Geraldine Zoccoli and Nancy Boucher head the production staff. Linn Smith is stage manager. Ed Johnson is chairing the construction of the set, which was designed by John Ruffley, Roy Pancirov, Ed Johnson and Rhoda Roper. Rhoda is also chairing set decoration. Other chairpersons include: Lyn Mackie, costumes, Nancy Gurley, props, Bill Roome, lights and sound, and Alice Kosowski, make-up. Betty Kaus is enlisting the ushers. And Ken Smith and Ed Johnson are photographing scenes for publicity and our lobby display.

"The Twelve Poinsettias of Christmas" is a display of quilts by Jan Clare Viehman, who is also a computer software developer. Each quilt is named for the traditional quilt block on which its design is based. Jan moved to NJ to attend Princeton University, and has lived here most of her adult life. She has been actively quilting since 1990, and is a member of 5 quilting guilds. Her work is included in the first State Quilt Guild Show at the Raritan Center November 5, 6, and 7. Jan became an active Playhouse member after appearing in the First Night Show in 1999.