Conceived, Directed, & Choreographed by Darlene Zoller
We all carry around baggage but when stop/time dance theater does it leads to some interesting adventures. See what they unpack as the show unfolds and the music begins. Dancing, singing and all around fun have become the trademark of the resident dance company of Playhouse on Park, now in its 21st year.
“REEL TO REAL by stop/time dance theater is something you simply have to see. After 16 years, this troupe continues to thrill, bringing the highest quality production to life on the Playhouse on Park stage. You can tell each and every performer is having a blast and not a single performance disappoints. If you are wondering whether a show like REEL TO REAL is for you, the short answer is yes. Don't miss your chance to see this amazing production before it is too late!” -BroadwayWorld
CT Critics Circle Nominee for ROCKIN' THE FOREST
Outstanding Choreogrphy
Darlene Zoller
Previews (March 13 & 14)
Wednesday at 7:30pm
Thursday at 7:30pm
Regular Performances (March 15-24, 2024)
Friday at 8:00pm
Saturday at 8:00pm (Saturday matinee March 23 at 2:00)
Sunday at 2:00pm*
Wednesday at 7:30pm
Thursday at 7:30pm
*TALK BACKS
With the cast after the Sunday matinee performances.
See digital program for UNPACKING
Learn more about stop/time dance theater at their website here.
Suitable for the whole family!
Fox Channel 61: See TV interview about stop/time UNPACKING
WFSB-TV 3: Interview on Better Yet Connecticut
Photos by Stephanie Scarcella Photography
LISA CAFFYN has been dancing ever since she can remember and is an original member of stop/time! By day, Lisa is a local middle school teacher and mother to three energetic children. During the winter months, when not dancing, teaching, cooking, grocery shopping, or cleaning, Lisa is busy shuffling her children around to various mountains so they can ski race! She would like to thank her husband of 21 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. When not teaching or dancing, she enjoys crafting, including scrapbooking, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She would like to thank Darlene for the opportunity to be a part of the stop/time family and Dan for all his support!
AMANDA FORKER is thrilled to be performing with stop/time dance theater for a 6th time! Favorite POP credits include: 'Stop Time Dance Machine' & 'Reel to Real' with stop/time Dance Theater, Mother Superior (NUNSENSE), SAY THINGS FUNNY: A Loving Tribute to Carol Burnett, Host (MAMA D'S OUTRAGEOUS ROMPs), Heidi [TITLE OF SHOW], Mrs. Pinkerton (PINKALICIOUS) and Miss Nelson/Viola Swamp (MISS NELSON IS MISSING). Amanda is a Workplace Partner in Hartford by day, and got her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from WCSU. Thanks to Darlene for always having me back!
ALI FORMAN is back for her 8th season with stop/time and couldn't be happier! When she's not dancing, you'll find her working with adorable tiny humans as a speech-language pathologist in Birth to Three and being a loving mom to her two fur babies, Hardy and Millie. Huge thanks to her family and friends for their endless love and support, and a special shoutout to Darlene for being an incredible mentor and giving her the chance to keep dancing year after year. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
RICK FOUNTAIN is back for his 19th stop/time show. He credits Darlene Zoller with the inspiration to keep kicking up his heels after all this time. He has performed on this stage in 24 productions, including Playhouse on Park’s PIPPIN, CHICAGO, and IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. Some favorite roles in the CT community theater world: Man in Chair in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, Bert in DISNEY’S MARY POPPINS, Bobby in A CHORUS LINE, Cosmo Brown in SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, Billy Lawlor in 42ND STREET, Stine in CITY OF ANGELS, Panch in THE 25th ANNUAL… SPELLING BEE. Thanks to the entire stop/time family who makes these shows a joy to produce. Pack up all your cares and woes, cuz here we go! Love always to CC and Julia.
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 2024; follow along on Instagram @mereinanutshell. Visit https://meredithlongo.wixsite.com/mereinanutshell. Special thanks to Darlene, my family & friends.
ERICA MISENTI is forever grateful to have the opportunity to dance and perform with her Stop/Time family again this year! Outside of Stop/Time, she is the proud owner of the Fitness and Dancer Center, Higher Ground Core for kids and adults in Evergreen Walk, South Windsor. Erica is a cheerful cat mom to brother and sister cats, Pino and Cabby and loves her dog Rio very much. Can you guess how she came up with those animal names? Erica also has a strong love for her family! She is very thankful to work alongside her mother at HGC, and to share the stage now at POP! Erica wants to give a special shout out to her father, who is the STRONGEST and most resilient person she knows, I love you Dad! Flip- HFADAEI 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.
LAURIE MISENTI is grateful for the day she walked into a dance wear store in Vernon, CT and inquired about adult dance classes in the area, many years ago. She was told about Darlene’s classes (by Darlene’s husband lol) and was so excited because she couldn’t wait to start dancing again. Countless memorable moments in dance filled her heart with joy from that day. Her biggest thrill was being asked to be a part of MY SHOW which began this wonderful group 20 years ago and is now endeared to her as her stop/time family.
Laurie’s love for family began with the one she was blessed to grow up in and continues to cherish with each &every day. Who still holds the traditions of family & Sunday dinners very dearly & that she gets to share with her daughter Erica & son Phillip and will continue for generations to come.
Laurie has taught dance for various studios in her past, as well as danced, and wone numerous competitions with her brother Frank. Laurie is currently teaching tap classes at Higher Ground Core, a cardio/fitness/dance company, owned & run by her daughter Erica where “Your Best Body Awaits”. (highergroundcore.com) Along with her Stop/Time and Higher Ground family, Laurie feels forever blessed for the special relationship she shares with her children Erica & Phillip as well as her amazing family and friends. I love you all! Enjoy the show!
VICTORIA MOONEY has been a consistent stop/time member for 11years… which means you’ve probably already read her “show” bio for the last 10 years! So let’s unpack all of Tori’s favorite things you might not know! She loves hosting parties, listening to country music, chips and salsa dates with friends, & going to the gym to work out and take dance classes! Some of her favorite foods are popcorn, watermelon, red velvet cake *with cream cheese frosting* and lasagna!! Tori absolutely adores her 2 pups, Blue and Birdie. She feels the most joy sitting in the sunshine while watching Nik umpire baseball games!
ERICA O’KEEFE has been dancing and performing since the age of three and is happy to be sharing the stage with such a talented group of dancers. Erica is a mom to her incredible son, Stephen; her beautiful daughter, Evianna; and she would like to welcome her precious baby boy, Ethan, to the stop/time family! Erica is a physical therapist at Advanced Physical Therapy, as well as a dance teacher at Mid-Connecticut Dance Company, where she co-directs the competitive dance team with her sister, Jennifer. In her spare time she also loves to bake! She thanks her husband, Mike, for his constant love and support, as well as Darlene for the opportunity to perform!
SHERI RIGHI is extremely thankful for fortuitously meeting Darlene at Hartt School dance classes, and being invited to join the stop/time family 20 years ago! She is a Director in a platform services company where she leads the Community Health Product Portfolio at Hyphen out of Hartford, CT. She enjoys working from home where she has time to dance every morning before her first zoom meeting and has most recently been inspired by the binge-worthy series, Ted Lasso. Sheri is extremely grateful for the countless blessings in her life, including her extended family and friends and of course, her stop/time family. 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 (21) and Camden (17).
ALICIA VOUKIDES has been dancing since age 3. Outside of the dance studio, Alicia works full time as a general dentist. She and her husband, Steve, welcomed their son, Nathaniel, in June, now 9 months old. Huge thanks 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 once again. She began dancing at the age of 3 and hasn’t stopped since! By day, Courtney can be found teaching in Enfield, cheering for 9-year-old Carter on the sports field, or at the dance studio with 7-year-old Chloe who loves dancing just as much as her mom. When Courtney isn’t playing taxi driver to her kids, she also enjoys spending time with her husband Brian. Their family is especially looking forward to their trip to Cape Town, South Africa this summer! Courtney would like to thank Darlene for giving her the opportunity to continue doing what she loves and to Brian for holding down the fort during his “month of single parenting” while Courtney is at the theatre! Enjoy the show!
DARLENE ZOLLER (Director, Choreographer) is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Playhouse on Park where she has directed THE PIN-UP GIRLS, PIPPIN, NUNSENSE, CHICAGO (Best Director of a Musical/Broadway World,) PINKALICIOUS, ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE, SWINGING ON A STAR and THAT HOLIDAY FEELING, SAY THINGS FUNNY, and choreographed; THE PIN-UP GIRLS, PIPPIN, INTO THE WOODS, 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 twenty-first 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 a former 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 through the Playhouse Theatre Academy Simsmore Square and The 224 ECOSpace and is a dance/fitness instructor at Big Sky Fitness in Vernon.
MELANIE GUERIN (Vocal Coach) is grateful to have been part of the Playhouse on Park family since 2008, serving as music director for productions including “In the Heights,” “The Scottsboro Boys,” and “Bandstand,” and coaching vocals for several stop/time dance theater shows. Melanie 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 a former faculty member in The Hartt School Theatre Division, where she served as a vocal coach, music director, and accompanist, and she currently teaches at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School. 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 has composed a number of works for vocal and instrumental ensembles, including several children's songs and three original musicals. www.melaniebguerin.com
AARON HOCHHEISER (Lighting Designer) Playhouse on Park: STOP/TIME dance theater’s resident lighting designer since 2010, CURIOUS GEORGE AND THE GOLDEN MEATBALL, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, IN THE HEIGHTS, ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE, COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: ABRIDGED, UNNECESSARY FARCE, THE CHOSEN, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, HAIR, PROOF, ANGELS IN AMERICA—MILLENIUM APPROACHES, 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, LEND ME A TENOR, OTHELLO, MAIN ST. KIDS CLUB, MISS NELSON IS MISSING. University of Hartford: HARTT OPERA; THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, THE STREET SCENE, HANSEL AND GRETEL. Dance Department; FALL DANCE CONCERT 2021, Theater Division; FOOTLOOSE, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, LEGALLY BLOND, AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY. Events: Safer Communities Summit with keynote speaker President Biden. Hartford Stage Company: ELAINE STRITCH SINGS SONDHEIM, BETTY BUCKLEY BY REQUEST, STRITCH AT LIBERTY, BREAKDANCING SHAKESPEARE: MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, TWELFTH NIGHT, ALL IN THE TIMING. Lighting Designer at Creative Visions, Inc. for corporate and special events 2006-2007. Master Electrician at Hartford Stage Company 2007- 2020. University of Hartford Lincoln Theater Master Electrician since April, 2021. Favorite color is Rosco 49 - Medium Purple. When not in a dark theater Aaron spends a lot of his time cheering on his children Max and Lucy at youth sporting events.
MIKE ROSENBUSH (Sound Design / Engineer) Playhouse on Park Debut! Glastonbury YFS: Technical Director SPONGE BOB, Sound Designer GODSPELL, JUNGLE BOOK, ARISTOCATS, TUCK EVERLASTING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, CHILDREN OF EDEN, SEUSSICAL; Whitney Players: Lighting Design and Special Effects, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, LITTLE MERMAID. Mike also wears many hats for the drama programs in Glastonbury CT. He is grateful to his wife Emily, and his children, Max, Anabelle and Lucy, and the playhouse team for this opportunity.
LISA STEIER (Costumes) has worked as a costume designer for several theaters, schools, historical societies and museums, and has worked with stop/time dance theater – the resident dance company of Playhouse on Park -- since its inception. Other Playhouse on Park credits include THE CHOSEN, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, A CHORUS LINE, [title of show], MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, NUNSENSE, A SHAYNA MAIDEL, A CHARLES DICKENS CHRISTMAS. Other design credits include THE PRODUCERS, A SECRET GARDEN, THE PRODUCERS, 42nd STREET, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, and numerous original works. Lisa lives in West Hartford with her husband Dan.
EILEEN OCONNOR (Properties and Set Dressing) Playhouse on Park: Eileen has been Props Master and Set Dresser for over 25 shows. Highlights : PIPPIN, FIVE GUYS NAMED MO, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, IN THE HEIGHTS, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. On stage performance - stop/time dance theatre: SUPERSTITION.. Semi-retired, Eileen is thrilled to continue with stop/time dance theatre. Always grateful to Darlene for her support, encouragement and vision.
Photo Credit: Meredith Longo