When their fearless leader disappears, the stop/time dancers set off on a time traveling journey to find her. Join the group as they explore exciting music and dance styles along their way. Do they ever find Darlene? You'll need to come to the show to see how it all turns out!
stop/time dance theater is gearing up to take the stage for their next annual production. This will be the 18th original stop/time show and their 14th show as the Resident Dance Company of Playhouse on Park. Our cast of 15 promises to entertain you with original choreography and memorable music. Singing, dancing, and lots of heart make stop/time an audience favorite.
Previews (March 22 & 23)
Wednesday at 7:30pm
Thursday at 7:30pm
Regular Performances (March 24 - April 2)
Friday at 8:00pm
Saturday at 8:00pm (also Saturday April 1 at 2:00pm)
Sunday at 2:00pm
Wednesday at 7:30pm
Thursday at 7:30pm
Talk Back with the cast after the Sunday matinee performances.
Click to access our digital program.
Learn more about stop/time dance theater by visiting their site.
Listen to a radio interview with Darlene Zoller
Photo credit: Zee Rubin Phototography
LISA CAFFYN has been dancing ever since she can remember! An original member of stop/time, this is her 19th season. By day, Lisa is a local middle school teacher and mother to three energetic children. She would like to thank her husband of 19 years, Sean, who is extremely supportive of her and her pursuit of dance. Hugs, kisses and thanks are also sent out to Lisa's mother and in-laws who allow her to be involved with this supportive company! Also, many thanks to Darlene for the opportunity to perform on stage!!
JENNIFER CHECOVETES is grateful to perform with such a talented group of people. She began dancing at the age of three and hasn’t stopped! A special education preschool teacher by day, Jen also manages Mid Connecticut Dance Company with her mother, Cindy Bunger, and directs their competitive dance team with her sister, Erica O'Keefe. In addition, Jen has been involved in a number of community theatre productions throughout Connecticut, both as a featured dancer as well as a choreographer. She would like to thank Darlene for the opportunity to be a part of the stop/time family and Dan for all of his support!
AMELIA FLATER is thrilled to be performing with her stop/time family once again! She has been dancing for 27 years and made her stop/time debut in 2007. You can also find her onstage during MAMA D’s OUTRAGEOUS ROMP. When she’s not dancing, Amelia spends her time working as a Physician Assistant, and at home with her wonderful husband, Niko, and their two pups. She would like to thank Darlene and her fellow stop/time dancers for another amazing opportunity to do what she loves most. She dedicates this show to her little brother- her favorite Army soldier.
AMANDA FORKER is thrilled to perform with these amazing stop/TIME Travelers again! Favorite POP credits include: DIVAS with stop/time Dance Theatre, Mother Superior (NUNSENSE), SAY THINGS FUNNY: A Loving Tribute to Carol Burnett, Host (MAMA D'S OUTRAGEOUS ROMPs), Heidi [TITLE OF SHOW], Mrs. Pinkerton (PINK-ALICIOUS) and Miss Nelson/Viola Swamp (MISS NELSON IS MISSING). Amanda is a facilities manager and voice teacher by day. She got her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from WCSU. Thanks to Darlene!
ALI FORMAN is thrilled to be back performing for an 8th season with her stop/time family! When she’s not dancing, you can find her working at Intensive Education Academy in West Hartford as a speech-language pathologist, and being a mom to her two fur babies, Hardy and Millie! She is thankful for her family and friends for their constant love and support. A special thanks to Darlene for her years of guidance and for the incredible opportunity to live her passion for dance year after year. Enjoy the show!
RICK FOUNTAIN is an original member of stop/time dance theater and grateful for his 30+ year association with Darlene Zoller. He has performed on this stage in 23 productions, including Playhouse on Park’s award-winning CHICAGO as Amos Hart as well as SAY THINGS FUNNY: A LOVING TRIBUTE TO CAROL BURNETT, MAMA D’s OUTRAGEOUS ROMP, and IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. Some favorite roles: Bert in DISNEY’S MARY POPPINS, Bobby in A CHORUS LINE, Jimmy Winter in NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, Cosmo Brown in SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, Billy Lawlor in 42ND STREET, Stine in CITY OF ANGELS, Panch in THE 25th ANNUAL… SPELLING BEE. Love always to CC and Julia. #wbwwd
SHANNON L'HEUREUX is thrilled to be performing in her 11th stop/time show and is so happy to have been a member of this amazing company for 16 years. Shannon is so thankful that her family introduced her to dance at the age of 3, which began her lifelong passion for dance leading to becoming a part of the stop/time family. Shannon is the chief executive of domestic business, aka she is a homemaker. She lives in Broad Brook with her husband Nick and is so thankful for his unwavering love and support. She also appreciates her friends and family for never missing a show, she loves seeing their smiling faces in the audience. And last but not least, a huge thank you to Darlene for believing in her year after year.
MEREDITH LONGO started dance training when she was 4 years old at Burton Dance Studio in Manchester. She joined stop/time in 2016. Meredith has been seen on the Playhouse stage in MAMA D's OUTRAGEOUS ROMP. When she’s not at rehearsal or taking dance classes, Meredith works in marketing & is a freelance photographer. She’s still booking for 2023; scan the code or visit https://meredithlongo.wixsite.com/mereinanutshell. Special thanks to Darlene, my family & friends.
ERICA MISENTI is ecstatic to be back on stage again with their stop/time family! She is the proud owner of the Fitness and Dancer Center, Higher Ground Core for kids and adults in Evergreen Walk, South Windsor. She is grateful to work alongside her mother Laurie at HGC, and to also be sharing the stage again at POP! Stage credits include, but are not limited to: CHICAGO (Liz), Carnival Cruise Lines, MTV 2, Good Morning America, The Purge Election Year, Hallmark Channel, Connecticut Lottery Commercial and The Peabody Awards. Erica also has a love for her family, pets, traveling, Italian food, and jet skiing!
LAURIE MISENTI is, as always, beyond thrilled and incredibly grateful to be back on this stage, along with the amazing stop/time family that includes her daughter Erica. As an original member from when our first show hit this very stage April of 2004, she is proud to say she has never missed a single show and pours her heart & soul into every direction given! Laurie has taught jazz, tap and musical theater for various studios in her past, as well as choreographed for high school musicals. She has won numerous dance competitions and performed in various musicals, including “Grease’ as Cha-Cha DiGregorio. Over the past four years Laurie has started teaching dance again, teaching adult tap classes at Higher Ground Core at Evergreen Walk, cardio/fitness/dance company, a family business that began in 2017 proudly run by her daughter Erica where “Your Best Body Awaits”. (highergroundcore.com). By day, Laurie is Comptroller & GM of two businesses. Along with her stop/time and Higher Ground families, Laurie feels forever blessed for the special relationship she shares with her children, Erica & Phillip, as well as with her amazing family and friends. I love you all! Enjoy the show!
VICTORIA MOONEY was born and raised on Hilton Head, SC! After Tori moved to CT in 2009, she’s performed at theaters across the state. Tori is a teaching artist for Education at Hartford Stage. During the holiday season Tori can be seen entertaining on the North Pole Express as Pixie Poinsettia. She also babysits and dog sits for wonderful families! Otherwise, you'll probably find her at the Playhouse: house managing, teaching, or performing in MAMA D’s OUTRAGEOUS ROMP & stop/time! This marks her 8th stop/time show; she feels incredibly blessed to be part of this family!
SHERI RIGHI loves to dance - plain and simple. She is extremely thankful for fortuitously meeting Darlene at Hartt School dance classes, and being invited to join the stop/time family 19 years ago! Sheri is a Director in a platform services company where she leads Community Health Product development at SMC Partners in Hartford. She enjoys working from home where she has time to dance every morning before her first zoom meeting! She is extremely grateful for the countless blessings in her life, and her loving extended family and friends are at the top of this list. Sheri extends a special thanks for all the love and support she receives in order to perform with stop/time - especially from her mom "Grams", husband Tom and their "way-too-grown-up" children, Madison (20) and Camden (16).
MELISSA B. SHANNON lives in Ellington, CT. She started taking dance lessons at the age of three and is one of the original members of stop/time dance theater. She has been dancing with Darlene for over 35 years. Melissa is a fourth grade teacher and has worked at Somers Elementary School since 2001. She and her husband have four children: Manon (16), Nolan (14), Shealyn (12), and Bryson (8). She appreciates her family’s support in allowing her to make time for dance rehearsals every week. Melissa is always very grateful to be able to experience the glamour and excitement that goes along with performing in costume, under the lights, and on stage at Playhouse On Park.
ALICIA VOUKIDES has been dancing since the age of 3. Outside of the dance studio, Alicia is a general dentist. She is most grateful for the never ending support of her husband, Steve, and to Darlene for the opportunity to share the stage with the incredible men and women of stop/time.
COURTNEY WOODS is an original member of stop/time and is very excited to be on stage with her dance family again. She began dancing at the age of 3 and was part of the nationally ranked ECSU dance team in college. By day, Courtney is a teacher in Enfield and mom to 8-year-old Carter and 6-year-old Chloe. She would like to thank her husband Brian for all his support and Darlene for giving her the opportunity to continue doing what she loves.
DARLENE ZOLLER (Director/Choreographer ) is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Playhouse on Park where she has directed PIPPIN, (Best Director of a Musical/Broadway World,) NUNSENSE, CHICAGO (Best Director of a Musical/Broadway World,) PINKALICIOUS, ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE, SWINGING ON A STAR, THAT HOLIDAY FEELING and SAY THINGS FUNNY, and choreographed; PIPPIN, (Best Choreographer of a Musical/Broadway World,) INTO THEWOODS, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, IN THE HEIGHTS, A CHORUS LINE, HAIR, CABARET, PASSING STRANGE among others. She is the founder, director and choreographer of stop/time dance theater, the resident dance company of Playhouse on Park, now in its twentieth year. She was voted Best Director of a Musical/Broadway World for I’D RATHER BE DANCING. CT Critics Circle nominee for Best Choreographer for HAIR, ROCKIN’ THE FOREST and IN THE HEIGHTS. She IS Mama D of MAMA D’s OUTRAGEOUS ROMP; a grown ups only music, dance and comedy event-exclusive to the Playhouse. Social media followers know her as "the driveway lady" for having taught 450 consecutive days of WE'RE BETTER WHEN WE'RE DANCING dance classes online during the pandemic where she gathered a loyal following. Darlene is an adjunct professor at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School where she directed and choreographed CHICAGO and did the choreography for ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, SMILE, CURTAINS and NUNSENSE. She also teaches dance classes for adults for the Playhouse Theatre Academy and other locations and is a dance/fitness instructor at Big Sky Fitness in Vernon.
MELANIE GUERIN (Vocal Coach) has served as music director for several Playhouse productions including IN THE HEIGHTS, MURDER FOR TWO, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and INTO THE WOODS. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance and music education, as well as a Master of Music Education degree, both from The Hartt School. She is on faculty at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts full-day program, and formerly served as a vocal coach, music director, and musicianship teacher in The Hartt School’s Theatre Division. As a music director and pianist, Melanie has worked with community and professional theater companies throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, including the Young People's Center for Creative Arts, Ivoryton Playhouse, and New Paradigm Theater. She believes strongly in the power of the arts to foster empathy and meaningful connection, and recently wrote a directed an original musical “The Happiness Project."
www.melaniebguerin.com
