Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Every summer we feature new comedies, new directors and original scripts from our talented members. Join us for a fast-paced evening of short plays designed to put a smile on your face.
(Note: The One-Act Bonanza is a special additional production each year, and not part of the season subscription package.)
Meet the Cast
Lex Archer as The Maid
Lex is twenty-three, born in Brooklyn, NY and reared after joining her after school drama club. Since playing Snoopy in the musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, she found her love of theater. After High School, she appeared off Broadway in Pippin. Steadily trying to find her footing in a new city, Lex is super excited to star in her first Old Academy production, Audience of One directed by Sarah Labov.
Douglas Tague as Harvey
Well, it all began on a wintry night, back in 19…Oh, right — keep it short! Doug is beyond overjoyed to be in the Summer Shorts for a fourth time. Thanks to Randy and Joan, family and friends, and all our OAP volunteers who make community theater possible!
Eric Rupp as The Vendor
Eric Rupp (Vendor) has appeared in many productions at Old Academy, most recently as The Bell Man in Wedding Band. Other recent productions he has been in include The Outsider (Dave) at Spotlight Theatre, Alabama Story (Garth) at South Camden Theater, and The Game’s Afoot (Felix) at Playcrafters of Skippack. Eric received his BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Haley Dunning as Antedia
Haley Dunning is so excited to be returning to Old Academy for the fourth time! She played Emily in Our Town this year, Susan in Company last year, and the Mute in The Fantasticks the year before that, and loves working with the talented and fascinating people here at Old Academy. She has been acting since the ripe age of five and hopes to continue to do so here and elsewhere for a long time to come. She is super grateful for the opportunity!
Hannah Leifheit as Cilia
After a 20-year hiatus from the stage, Hannah is thrilled to return and pleased to find she still enjoys it! She is very grateful to community theater and the people who make it possible. Offstage, she misses her hometown of Seattle, works at a non-profit, and is the queen of errands. Love and gratitude to Brahm.
Helga Krauss as Mother
Helga Krauss has been involved in at least one show at Old Academy Players each season since 1997, either as an actor, director or producer. As an actor, she is fondest of her roles in The Price, Marvin’s Room, You Can’t Take it With You, and For Goodness Sake. Favorites as a director are Murdering Marlowe, Relative Values, The Countess, The Constant Wife, and Wedding Belles. Of the many plays she has produced, she is proudest of her work on The Miracle Worker, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Lion in Winter. Recently, she has been focusing on costuming shows, such as Shakespeara-Palooza, Arsenic and Old Lace, And Then There Were None,and Our Town. She has been the Treasurer for OAP for over a decade.
Isaura Sanguinetti as Christa
Isaura is delighted to return to OAP for Summer One-Act Bonanza. She is a graduate of Temple University, earning a B.S. in Architecture with a minor in theater. Isaura has appeared on three seasons of TUTV’s #1 sketch comedy show TempleSMASH. When she’s not performing, Isaura indulges in her love of photography.
LaPorscha Rodgers as The Jogger
LaPorscha is a Philadelphia native and is performing on the Old Academy stage for the first time. She has done several stage plays and a few film projects. Her stage debut was as one of the “townspeople” in her alma mater’s (Penn State Abington) Spring production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Her acting debut was the following year (at her alma mater) as an ensemble member in a tribute production titled Women’s Voices, where she performed play scenes, speeches and songs by trailblazing women in history. More recently she was featured in The Great Gatsby Radio Play as the voice of Daisy Buchanan.
Marc Johnson as Joseph & The Customer
Marc has been doing regional theater for many years. Marc’s last few plays: Raziel in After Play at Player Club of Swathmore; Dr. Aster in Life Sucks at Allens Lane Theater; Evan/Brucie in Sweat at Old Academy Players.
Micah Wagman as Jef & Danny
Micah is excited to return to the stage after years of not performing, although he casually sings daily. His last on stage performance was in 2014 in The Laramie Project. He’s hoping to continue acting more in the future and is excited to see what lies ahead.
Nicole Gerenyi as Mom
Nicole Gerenyi is pleased to be back with Old Academy Players for her 3rd summer with the One-Act Bonanza. During the school year, she teaches and runs a high-school Theatre Department with an incredible group of young artists and awesome production staff. Many thanks to her supportive friends and family for the encouragement to make time to perform for herself again.
Nolan Maher as The Hero
Nolan is returning to the Old Academy stage, having previously appeared in the 2017 One-Acts, Barefoot in the Park (Paul), and Sweat (Jason). Other area credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio), Spinning into Butter (Greg), and Doubt (Father Flynn) at the Stagecrafters. Nolan is also a musician who writes original music and performs with a few different acts in the tri-state area.
Nyiema Lunsford as Lora Lee Lipton
Nyiema is thrilled to be returning to Old Academy Players’s stage as Lora Leigh Lipton in The Sweet Smell of Regret. She was last seen as Ivy Pembroke in OAP’s The Broken Hollow Banshee. Other OAP credits include Jillian Jerome in Love Between the Dryer Sheets and Cynthia in Sweat. She performed for R5 Production’s radio play of The Great Gatsby as Jordan Baker. She is an active member of ActorsNet’s Play Reading Committee. Other ActorsNet credits include: The Big Bad Wolf (Girl 2), Dear Brutus (Lady Caroline), Seven Keys to Baldpate (Myra Thornhill), and Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. (Anne de Bourgh). Other stage credits include: Nurse in Langhorne Players’s A Kid Like Jake and various play readings.
Steve Hnatko as Baxter & Dad
Steve is excited to make his OA on stage debut. His previous credits include producing Next to Normal and Company among others at Old Academy.
Susan Cantone as Miss Winnie
Susan is happy to be returning to Old Academy Players having appeared as Masha in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. She’d like to thank Elliott Rotman for casting her as the delightful character Miss Winnie in Miss Winnie.
Terri Bateman as Sue
Terri has been involved in theater since high school. She has performed through the years at North Light Players and Old Academy Players. She has also been involved behind the scenes for many productions as well. Terri is happy to work with such wonderful, talented people in the One Acts. Much love to all the casts and crew.
Victoria Glock-Molloy as Vanessa
Victoria has most recently performed as Claire Ganz in Rumors (Stagecrafters), Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie (Spotlight Theatre), Neasa in Shining City (Spotlight Theatre, and Rachel in Inherit the Wind (Spotlight Theatre). Victoria is also a founding member of The Coil Project, a DC- based arts organization focused on developing new works and radio theater.
Annie Hnatko (Director)
Annie is thrilled to return to Old Academy Players. She studied Music Education at West Chester University and Opera Performance at the Academy of Vocal Arts. She has been active in theater, opera, concert singing, directing, and producing for over 30 years. At OAP, Annie has most recently directed Genesisters for the 2023 Summer One-Act Festival, Company, and The Fantasticks, and produced Next to Normal and The Broken Hollow Banshee.
Elliott Rotman (Director)
This is Elliott’s third time directing for Summer One Acts, always a fun event. It’s great to be involved again with theater. He has performed in a number of OA main season productions as well as music themed shows, and One Acts. Other venues have included Stagecrafters, Allens Lane Theater, Drama Group, Savoy Company, Jenkintown Music Theater, and Concert Operetta Theater.
Joan Shupp (Director)
Joan and Randy Shupp have been involved with Old Academy since 2009 in many different roles including: co-producing, acting, officers, Tech, Hospitality, set-building and Childrens Arts Program. They are delighted to be first time directors at OA, and they couldn’t ask for a more amazing cast. They are thrilled to be working with such talented and delightful directors and actors in the 2024 One Act Bonanza. They thank the Producers for including us and for everything they do.
Kimberly Hess (Director)
Kimberly is excited to be once again directing at Old Academy Players, where she has acted and stage managed before. Previous roles here at Old Academy include Diane in Old Ringers and Ida Bolton in Mornings at Seven. Other major roles performed in local theatres include Sissy in Sordid Lives, Paulina in Winter’s Tale, Fiona Babcock in Out of Sight, Out of Murder, Julia Perry in A Little Muder Never Hurt Anyone, and Lenya Zubritsky in Fools, to names a few. Kimberly sings with Bucks County Choral Society and Cantus Novus choral groups.
Norma Kider (Director)
Norma Kider is thrilled to be directing The Kiss of Death by William Brasse. She is delighted to be working with this outstanding cast: Helga Krauss, Marc Johnson and Victoria Glock Molloy. She hopes that you will enjoy the Summer One Acts.
Randy Shupp (Director)
Joan and Randy Shupp have been involved with Old Academy since 2009 in many different roles including: co-producing, acting, officers, Tech, Hospitality, set-building and Childrens Arts Program. They are delighted to be first time directors at OA, and they couldn’t ask for a more amazing cast. They are thrilled to be working with such talented and delightful directors and actors in the 2024 One Act Bonanza. They thank the Producers for including us and for everything they do.
Rob Rosiello (Director)
Directing credits include: The Broken Hollow Banshee, Agnes of God, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, The Children’s Hour, A Song I Forgot to Sing, The Laramie Project, Suddenly Last Summer, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe and Love! Valour! Compassion! Rob was a member of the Barrymore Award winning ensemble of Angels in America, teaches theatre and film at Montgomery County Community College and served as a teaching assistant in playwriting at Primary Stage Off-Broadway Theater in NYC. While living in NYC, he also had the great fortune of producing the National Tour for the Winner of the first five seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race on behalf of Logo TV and Absolut Vodka. www.RobRosiello.com
Sarah Labov (Director & Co-Producer)
Sarah Labov has been an OAP member for nine years and enjoys directing, acting, producing, designing and building sets, lights, sound, and running tech in the booth. Sarah enjoys the collaboration of the Summer One Act Bonanza and is delighted to be participating this year working with the production team, director and multiple casts. Sarah has appeared on stage as Myrtle Webb(Our Town), Queen Margaret & Beatrice (Shakespeara Palooza), Marty (Circle Mirror Transformation), Sonya (Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike) and directed “Fast Girls” and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead”. Sarah studied with the Philadelphia Repertory Co., Mike Nichols, Paul Sills, David Mamet and NYU/Stella Adler. Heartfelt thanks to family and friends for their ongoing support and encouragement.
Nancy Frick (Co-Producer)
Nancy is happy to be co-producing the One-Acts again. She’s ever thankful to the Old Academy for all the opportunities it has given her over the years as a director, producer, playwright and actor. She is a former president of the theater and currently enjoys working on grant-writing and other behind-the-scenes functions for Old Academy.
Christopher Tait (Playwright)
Christopher Tait is a Philly-based independent author and writer-director. He has self-published five novels and three short story collections. He has also directed six short films that have played at various festivals across the area. His short plays have been performed as part of festivals in 2019, 2021, and 2022. He was also given the Legacy Award at the 2023 Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival. He currently resides in Northeast Philadelphia with his wife Freda and their retired racing greyhounds Izzy, Hazel, and Truman.
Laurie Allen (Playwright)
Laurie Allen is a West Texas playwright with 9 books of plays and scenes published. Book titles include Power Plays, Acting Duets for Young Women, and Comedy Scenes for Student Actors. Her timely collection of powerful monologues, Quaran-teens, Dramatic Teen Perspectives On The Pandemic was released in 2021 by Pioneer Drama Service. Also, her one-act play, This Ism Not A Drill, was recently published by Next Stage Press. Laurie’s works include a wide spectrum of interests from comedy to intense drama with noted popularity for teens and young adults. For more information, visit www.laurie-allen.com
Marla Porter (Playwright)
Marla Porter is an Austin, Texas, editor by day and playwright by night. She is a proud member of ScriptWorks, the Dramatists Guild, and the Playwright’s Center. Her plays have been performed in Austin, Houston, and Baytown, Texas; San Diego, California; and Willoughby, Ohio.
Michael C O’Day (Playwright)
Michael C. O’Day is delighted for his work to make its first Philadelphia appearance thru the Old Academy Players. His plays have been presented at the Valdez Theatre Conference, Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton, Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, NYC Fringe Fesitval, Core Ensemble Theatre, Kraine Theatre, and the O.C. Playfest. He is a two-time finalist for the American Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare’s New Contemporaries competition, for his plays The Tragedie of King John Falstaff and Wolf Crossing. Since 2019, he has served as Co-Creative Director for the Tuesdays at Nine cold reading series. He lives in Brooklyn.
Miriam Tobin (Playwright)
Miriam BC Tobin (she|her) is a Seattle-based playwright, theatre artist, and arts leader. She has performed on stages and taught drama across the US and Europe. Honors & awards include a Hedgebrook residency, PEN Writing Scholarship, and London Dramatic Academy Fellowship. She is a resident writer with the Seattle Public Library and an associate artist with Parley Productions and The Shattered Glass Project. Miriam also runs SCRiB LAB, a playwriting organization aimed at community and connection. www.mirbct.com
Rob Rosiello (Playwright)
Rob Rosiello lives in historic Bucks County, PA and his 2018 Summer One Act
Bonanza entry, HONKY TONK QUEEN, is set to be published online with
Hominum Journal April 2024. His play, THE BROKEN HOLLOW BANSHEE
was staged at OAP this past fall after debuting as a 4‑part radio thriller in the Fall of 2021 with R5 Productions, where he is The Executive Director. Rob received his Masters’ Degree in Theatre from Villanova University, where he was part of the Barrymore Award winning ensemble of ANGELS IN AMERICA.
William Brasse (Playwright)
William Brasse has forayed fearlessly into a variety of literary forms and genres. Plays, novels, short stories; comedy, drama, history, biography, myth. He has even ventured into essays but freely admits that poetry is beyond him. Like so many people, he lives in California. Like fewer people, he is originally from Tennessee. Like essentially no one, he has been a vegan since 1979.