TJ Balady is making his initial appearance before Summit Playhouse audiences. His favorite performances include Jack in Into the Woods, Danny in Baby, Buddy Baker in Come Blow Your Horn, Peter Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank, and Danny Zuko in Grease. He is employed as a Recruiting Manager for a staffing company in Clifton, NJ. TJ dedicates his performance to his friends (especially the guys from Syracuse, NY) and his co-workers at the Assurance Group - "This ones for you..."

David Claypoole recently moved to Summit from Staten Island where he was a mainstay of the island theatre scene for 15 years appearing in roles ranging from Amos Hart in Chicago to Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun. Some of his favorite roles include Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, Buddy in Follies, Man #1 in Jacque Brel ..., Lancelot in Camelot and El Gallo in The Fantasticks. In real life, David is a husband, father, legal recruiter and Elvis impersonator. Is There Life After High School? marks his debut with the Summit Playhouse.

Moggie Davis is thrilled to make her Summit Playhouse debut. No stranger to theatre here in NJ, Moggie is one of the founding partners and the original Managing Director of the Forum Theatre Company in Metuchen, NJ, now enjoying its 20th season. Over the past 20 years, Moggie has assumed many roles both on and off-stage, having most recently been seen as Domina in this season's production of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Other favorite shows include Nine, Mr. Cinders, Company, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Nunsense, and Merrily We Roll Along. Moggie also enjoys directing and has recently been at the helm of KIDS' Forum productions of Babes in Toyland and Schoolhouse Rock - LIVE! Jr. Moggie serves on the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission and can often be found running theatre workshops for kids or consulting for area arts organizations. Love to Steve, Mallory and Logan - the true stars in her life!

Margareth de Jesus is honored to be returning to the Summit Playhouse where she played Leah in Two By Two. She first appeared on stage as Maria in The Sound of Music at the Rising Star Theater Co. in Elizabeth, NJ. She has also performed in the King & I at Plays-in-the-Park in Edison, NJ. As a member of the New Jersey State Opera, Ms. De Jesus has performed in Don Carlo, Turandot, Andrea Chenier, Carmen, Aida, Tosca, Madama Butterfly (Butterfly's mother), Cavalleria Rusticana, and Pagliacci. She made her operatic debut as the Lady in Waiting in Macbeth at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ and has performed at various clubs in New Jersey and Florida. Ms de Jesus dedicates her performance to her late voice coach, Theresa Minocci, who was coach, mentor and friend. She would like to thank her friends for their support and her family for their understanding, patience and strength. Thank you & xoxo to all!

Stephanie Fisk is happy to return to the Playhouse stage after an eight-year hiatus. She has acted and sung in the Playhouse productions of She Loves Me, Tribute, Play On and Light Up The Sky. In addition to her almost 20 year membership at the Playhouse, she has worked at the Bickford Theater as an assistant Director for On Golden Pond. Steph says she'll "always remember" her high school and will "never forget" her loving family and friends.

Joseph LaFalce has sung with various groups in the New Jersey area including La Bella Voce, The Mel-O-Chords, The Dapper Dan's of Harmony, The Bloomfield Civic Chorus, and The All Saints Church Choir of Orange. He has also sung backup for big band singer Keaton Douglas with the Somer's Dream Orchestra at functions all around the tri-state area. Most recently Joseph participated in a "Salute to Sinatra" at the Al Di La Restaurant in Montclair, NJ and is a co-founder of the Magnum Opus Musicals in Concert Series. He has also appeared in seven NYU student films, three of which included singing roles. Joseph studies voice with Dr. Stephen Oosting of Upper Montclair, NJ.

Kyle D. SanGiovanni recently performed the roles of Frank in Mack & Mabel and Alan in Baby with Magnum Opus in Livingston, NJ. He originated the role of Dad in The Who's Quadrophenia with Theatre Under the Stars, West Orange, NJ. Other roles include Nanki Poo in The Mikado and Taddeo in Italian Girl in Algiers with La Bella Voce, West Caldwell, NJ; Julio in Paint Your Wagon, Tom Marlowe in Good News, Dexter in High Society, and Ladislaw in Roberta with Retro Music Theatre, Montclair, NJ; Daddy Warbucks in Annie and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast with After School Musical Theatre, Midland Park, NJ. He has also performed with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Pro Arte Choral at NJPAC, Newark, NJ; Philomusica, Brooklyn, NY; The Mel-O-Chords, Montclair, NJ and The Oratorio Society of New Jersey.

Bobby Weitzenhofer is thrilled to perform onstage at the Summit Playhouse. Some of his favorite roles have included Roger in Grease and Milton in Laughter On The 23rd Floor at Theatre Under The Stars, and ensemble roles at 4th Wall Musical Theatre in shows such as Little Shop of Horrors, Violet, and Is There Life After High School? His reoccurring role as "Daddy" has produced Jennie, 22 months, and Amanda, one month. Bobby is hoping Jennie, who is already singing "Tomorrow" from Annie, will follow in his theatrical footsteps. Bobby thanks the cast and crew of "Life" as well as his wife, Ellen, who just happens to be attending her 20th high school reunion this month.

Jeslyn Wheeless is delighted to be twirling her baton once again in her Summit Playhouse debut. She thanks John, Nina, and Bill for the opportunity, and the talented cast for making her laugh. In addition to singing for the Larks and the Calvary Chorale, Jeslyn is a storyteller and folksinger with an award-winning CD, "Hoot Owl Blues," recorded with her son Ben on guitar. Special thanks goes to her sister Alice who taught her to twirl in high school.

Production Staff

John Vicich (Director) has directed several productions off-off Broadway and throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New York. He has staged nightclub revues for resort hotels, cruise ship lines, and the USO in Vietnam. As an actor he has toured in England and Paris and has appeared in several productions in NYC. Last year he was one of the Russian soldiers in War and Peace at the Metropolitan Opera. He has been a member of the Summit Playhouse since playing Shem in Two By Two.

Bill Houpt (Musical Director) teaches piano lessons in the Summit area and has been Musical Director for many musicals performed in theaters in New Jersey and Staten Island. Recent productions include Into the Woods and Falsettos at Drew University and Nunsense at Florham Park. His productions at the Summit Playhouse include A Grand Night For Singing, Gypsy, Side by Side by Sondheim, and Two By Two. Bill helps with the music program at the Summit Speech School and is Musical Director for The Larks, a women's singing group sponsored by the Junior League of Summit.

Frank M. Hawrusik (Producer) usually contributes backstage as stage manager but has developed a taste for the glamour of producing. Besides producing Two By Two and Labor Day. Frank's backstage credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Heiress, and Moon Over Buffalo.

Nina Deutz (Assistant Director) is the treasurer at the Playhouse and has assisted directors on several Playhouse productions, most recently Two By Two. She served as assistant to John Stringer at the Bickford Theatre on several shows, including Ah! Wilderness and the award-winning She Loves Me. Among her favorite onstage roles are Ouiser in Steel Magnolias and Yente in Fiddler on the Roof. An active choral singer, Nina sings with the Concord Singers and the Calvary Chorale.

Nancy Gurley (Assistant Director) has previously lent her talents as producer of Brighton Beach Memoirs, A Grand Night For Singing, and Two By Two. Nancy assisted the director for Labor Day. She has also assisted on costumes and props for various shows. A Playhouse board member, Nancy is our entertainment chairperson.

Ed Johnson (Set Construction) is an indispensable member of the rotating set construction crew at the Playhouse, and leads the crew for this production. One of Ed's favorite sets was I Hate Hamlet where he got to work with his son and made the NY Times. Ed serves on the Playhouse board as Business Manager.

Geraldine Zoccoli (Props) is the "Queen of Props" as some people call her. She has been doing props for a long time and finds the challenge beyond compare. Some of the other hats she has worn are set decorator, usher, costumer, and producer of Arsenic and Old Lace. She made her stage debut in Charlotte's Web as one of the town's people. Gerry would like to thank Maureen, John, Dawn, and her grandsons for all their support.