After 22 years in existence, director Darlene Zoller, along with the members of stop/time dance theater, have decided that show number 20 will be their final full-scale production. We ask you to come and take a trip down memory lane as the company explores their history and projects what the future holds for them. Their first show ever was titled MY SHOW: A Choreographer’s Story. Coming full circle, stop/time dance theater will present OUR SHOW: The Stop/Time Story. stop/time dance theater never fails to entertain their audiences and this year will be no different. Singing, dancing and a storyline to tug at the heartstrings and send you home filled with hope and happiness.
So whether your ‘life is just a bowl of cherries,’ way ‘cool,’ or packed with ‘uptown funk,’ let the stop/time dance theater show off their spectacular moves and grooves, jazz hands… tap feet and all." - CT Insider
"The group [is comprised of] of mutli-generational,
and very talented, dancers…" -West Hartford PatchCT Critics Circle Nominee (stop/time dance theater)
Outstanding Choreography Darlene Zoller (Rockin the Forest)
Previews (January 29 & 30, 2025)
Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm
Regular Performances (January 31 - February 9, 2025)
Fridays at 8:00pm
Saturday, Feb 1st at 8:00pm
Saturday, Feb 8th at 2:00pm & 8:00pm
Sundays at 2:00pm
Wednesdays at 7:30pm
Thursdays at 7:30pm
Run time is approximately 2 hours plus a 15-minute intermission.
Recommended age: All ages
Photos: Meredith Longo
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, Rachel (15), Caitlin (13) and Liam (11). During the winter months, when not dancing, teaching, cooking, grocery shopping, working out 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 22 years, Sean, who is extremely supportive of her and her pursuit of dance. (I love you, Sean!! <3 ) 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! Much love to my stop/time family – you are all caring, fun, beautiful individuals! Dancing and performing on stage with you has been a privilege; I cherish every moment we have together. Also, many thanks to Darlene for the opportunity to perform on stage and for creating this beautiful stop/time family!!
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!
BECKIE CORREALE is thrilled to rejoin her stop/time dance family after 2 years away from the stage and is so excited to revisit all of our favorite dances with you! Off the stage, Beckie spends her days teaching math at South Windsor High School and enjoys baking, kickboxing and crafting. Thanks and love to her parents Jan and Greg, her husband Derek and her beautiful daughters Kylie and Claire for supporting her 40+ year dance habit. And of course, thank you to Darlene for building this very special family and allowing us each to shine. Enjoy the show!
AMANDA FORKER is thrilled to be performing again with stop/time dance theater for this momentous production! Favorite POP credits include: ‘Unpacking,’ '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], and Mrs. Pinkerton (PINKALICIOUS). Thank you to Darlene and every stop/time dancer, performer, musician, designer, technician, volunteer (and more) that I’ve had the pleasure to know and work with through the years. It’s been an honor to be a member of the family since “Ten…and Counting!” and to be part of the 20th show is a memory I will treasure forever. Love to all!
ALI FORMAN is performing her last show with stop/time after thirteen incredible years! When she's not dancing, she works with adorable tiny humans as a speech-language pathologist in Birth to Three and cherishes her role as a loving mom to her two fur babies, Hardy and Millie. She is deeply grateful to her family, friends, and boyfriend Evan for their endless love and support throughout her stop/time journey. She extends a heartfelt thank-you to Darlene for being a remarkable mentor and for filling these years with guidance, inspiration, and cherished memories that will last a lifetime. Sit back, relax, and enjoy our final show!
RICK FOUNTAIN is extremely grateful to have been a part of stop/time since its inception and has performed in all 20 shows. This isn’t just a dance company, it’s a family who has supported each other over the decades through many life events, whether joyous or heartbreaking. Rick has performed on this stage in 25 productions, including Playhouse on Park’s PIPPIN, CHICAGO, MAMA D’S OUTRAGEOUS ROMP, SAY THINGS FUNNY: A TRIBUTE TO CAROL BURNETT, SOMETHING COOL: AN ICY HOT CABARET, THAT HOLIDAY FEELING and IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. Unending thanks and kudos to Darlene for using her talent, drive and passion to create art and providing opportunities for others. Love always to CC and Julia. “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
CONSTANCE GOBEILLE After admiring the stop/time dancers from the audience for the last three shows, Connie is honored to be welcomed back to the stage to perform with her stop/time family for the farewell performance. She sends infinite thanks to Darlene for sharing her passion and talent and giving adult dancers an outlet to dance, perform and connect with friends for 22 years. Connie is an IT Project Manager at The Hartford by day and Mom to an incredible 9 year old son Ethan. Enjoy the show!
HILLARY KATHERINE is excited to be back dancing with stop/time for their final performance! She has performed around the country including in over 20 productions at Playhouse on Park: PIN UP GIRLS, NUNSENSE, SPELLING BEE. Other Favorites include: Broadway National Tour: CABARET(Rosie, cello/violin), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS(Boo Who), Regional: WEST SIDE STORY, LES MIS, GREASE. Hillary is also an accomplished cellist and coaches gymnastics in Glastonbury. Endless gratitude to the stop/time family for welcoming her back with open arms, and her friends and family for their constant support and encouragement. For Darlene; who taught me to dance!
SHANNON L'HEUREUX is feeling all the feelings about this being the final Stop/Time show. Shannon has been a member of this amazing company since 2007 and this will be her 12th show with Stop/Time. Shannon is so thankful that her family introduced her to dance at the age of 3, which began her lifelong passion for dance. Shannon is now a stay at home mom and couldn't be happier to be, she gets to stay home with her sweet, adorable little boy Ryder who was born in 2024. Shanon lives in Broad Brook with her husband Nick, their son Ryder and kitten Jax. Shannon is thankful for her friends and family unwavering love and support and appreciates them for always coming to the shows. Also a huge, huge thank you to Darlene for taking a chance on her and believing in her year after year, she truly appreciates all Darlene has done and continues to do. Shannon will miss having these shows and rehearsals to look forward to and the camaraderie that comes along with it, but she knows we will always be connected because of our Stop/Time family. Love you all!
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. Meredith is a freelance photographer & is still booking for 2025; follow along on Instagram @mereinanutshell. Visit https://meredithlongo.wixsite.com/mereinanutshell. Love to my family & SGR for their love & patience. To Darlene: thank you for throwing me a rope to grab on to all those years ago.
LAURIE MISENTI is proud to be an original member of Stop/Time. Since 2004, Laurie has been donating her time, in this company, to keep her passion and community theater alive for all these years. And she’s never missed a single show!
Laurie has countless wonderful memories of performing with the Stop/Time family that are embedded in her heart forever. From “Hell Week” in the theater the 1st year: when her kids had to do their homework in the seats and didn’t get home till 1:00AM on a school night! To all the amazing times on stage and backstage with this wonderful group. Culminating in the thrill of her bucket-list item being checked off for performing a duet with her daughter Erica here, as she did last year. She is sad to see this era of her life with Stop/Time come to a close, but she is forever grateful that it happened!
She would like to thank all those who have supported her throughout the years. Thinking back on seeing all your wonderful faces in the audience feeds her soul.
On top of her “day job”, Laurie is currently teaching tap classes, that her students lovingly call “Cardio-Tap”, as well as a “Core Sculpt” fitness class, at Higher Ground Core. A cardio/fitness/dance company, owned & run by her daughter Erica where: “Your Best Body Awaits”. (visit highergroundcore.com for details). 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 our last show! It’s proven to be an emotional ride.
VICTORIA MOONEY has been a devoted stop/time member for the past 12 years. She is also regularly seen in Mama Ds Outrageous Romps on this stage and during the holidays performs on the Essex Steam Train “North Pole Express” as Pixie Poinsettia. After 10+ wonderful years as the Front of House Manager at Playhouse on Park she will be closing this chapter as well at the conclusion of stop/time. She is looking forward to spreading her wings and seeing what her future has in store. She lives in Vernon with her boyfriend, Nik, and their 2 dogs, Blue and Birdie. Sharing the stage with such incredible dancers/friends has been a gift and she will cherish the countless sweet memories created together over the years. Tori is endlessly grateful for Darlene and the invitation to join the company, a moment that truly changed her life!
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 three beautiful children which include her amazing son, Stephen; her beautiful daughter, Evianna; and her sweet little boy, Ethan. 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 Checovetes. In her spare time she also loves to bake and play with her dog, Max!! 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 21 years ago! She is a Director at Hyphen, a healthcare interoperability platform services company, where she leads the Community Health Client Implementation and Growth team out of Hartford, CT. She enjoys working from home most days where she has time to dance every morning before her first zoom meeting. Sheri is extremely grateful for the countless blessings in her life, including her extended family and friends and of course, her stop/time family. Sundays next year just won't be the same, but she's looking forward to what's next for stop/time...you should be, too! 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 (18).
MELISSA B. SHANNON has been dancing since the age of three. She is an original member of Stoptime Dance Theater and has been dancing with Darlene for over 35 years. Outside of the theater, Melissa shares her love of learning as a teacher at Somers Elementary School. A proud resident of Ellington, CT, Melissa lives with her husband Jim, and their four children: Manon a senior, Nolan a junior, Shealyn a freshman, and Bryson a fifth grader. Balancing her roles as a teacher, dancer, and mother, Melissa finds immense joy and fulfillment in each part of her life. One of the highlights of her journey with Stop/Time Dance Theater has been the deep connections she has formed with fellow dancers, a bond that feels like family. Sharing the stage with her younger sister, Courtney Woods, has been an especially meaningful experience. Melissa extends her heartfelt gratitude to Darlene Zoller for creating a space where she can pursue her passion for dance while fostering connections that transcend the stage. These experiences, coupled with the lifetime of memories she has built with the cast, remain treasures she holds close to her heart.
AMELIA TOUROS is thrilled to be performing with her stop/time family once again! She has been dancing for 29 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. She and her husband, Niko, welcomed their first child, Thomas, this past March. She would like to thank Darlene and her fellow stop/time dancers for another amazing opportunity to do what she loves most.
ALICIA VOUKIDES has been dancing since age 3. Outside of the dance studio, Alicia works full time as a general dentist. Alicia's greatest joys are her husband, Steve, and son, Nathaniel (1.5). 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. She began dancing at the age of 3 and hasn’t stopped since! By day, Courtney is a Special Education Preschool teacher in Vernon. When not at work, she can be found cheering for 10-year-old Carter on the sports field, or at the dance studio with 8-year-old Chloe who loves dancing just as much as her mom. Courtney is extra thankful to be sharing the stage once again this year with her sister Melissa. A big thank you to Darlene for giving her the opportunity to be a part of this stop/time family for the past 22 years, and to her husband Brian for holding down the fort while she’s at the theatre! Enjoy the show!
DARLENE ZOLLER is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Playhouse on Park where she has directed 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; 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-second 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 at The 224 ECOSpace and is a dance/fitness instructor at Big Sky Fitness in Vernon.
Photo credit: Meredith Longo
