a lad in manhattan

Chad Celini (Lad) (he/him) is honored to be back at Pantochino for A Lad in Manhattan. He has had the pleasure to work with Pantochino previously on both What Now, Voyager and Dorothy’s Christmas in Oz. His most recent credits include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged at Take Part Theater and The Bright Young Things Villain's Night Out Cabaret at Phoenix Stage Company. He would like to thank his family, especially his parents, siblings, and his chosen family, for cheering him on as he continues pursuing his love of theater. And for never dulling his creative spark.

Rachelle Ianniello (Dusty) is thrilled to be part of Pantochino's sixteenth season, having previously been seen in Tiaras Over Teaneck!, Welcome to Santa Claus, Christmas Cookies, The Panto of the Opera, And Away We Go!, Checking in on Charles, As Long As We’re Talking, The Wicked Witch of the West: Kansas or Bust!, The Waffle House Five, and Glitz! Her most recent favorite role is that of "Mom" to Holly and Dominic. Much love and appreciation to her family and friends for their support! 

Jimmy Johansmeyer (The Man) is an award-winning actor, costume designer, educator and co-producer of Pantochino. For sixteen years, he was the ‘resident villain’ with the former Downtown Cabaret Children’s Company. A graduate of Marist College, Jimmy has performed on hundreds of stages including New York Stage & Film/ Powerhouse Theatre, NY, Wallkill River Repertory, NY, The Theatre Barn, NY, Millbrook Playhouse, PA, and on the Main Stage of the Downtown Cabaret Theatre and The Legacy Theatre in Branford  among others. He was nominated for a Connecticut Critics Circle Award for his performance in The Legacy Theatre’s “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.”Most recently at Legacy, he played Gary in Noises Off.   His costume designs and creations have been seen throughout the country and include Cold As Ice starring Oxsana Baiul at Gateway Playhouse on Long Island, the Off-Broadway premiere of Matthew Passion and at The Theatre Barn, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre in North Carolina, Gorilla Theatre Tampa, The Emelin Theatre NY, Allenberry Playhouse, PA, Arundel Barn Playhouse, ME, to name a few. He teaches costume design at the R.J. Kinsella Magnet School of the Performing Arts in Hartford and continues his work as a freelance costume designer.

Valerie Loomis (Mother) (formerly Solli), a Milford resident, has been performing in New England for over 30 years. Valerie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Philosophy from Clark University. Offstage, she enjoys being an ice hockey goaltender, traveling, watching baseball, attending concerts, taking long walks, and spending time with her fantastic daughter, Rhianna and wonderful husband, Fred. Valerie is so grateful for the privilege to work with the ridiculously talented creative team at Pantochino Productions! 

Mary Mannix (Deedee) is so happy to be part of Pantochino’s sixteenth season! A founding member of the company, Mary last appeared as Charlotte Fale in What Now Voyager and Beverly Blithers in Tiaras Over Teaneck. Past Pantochino roles include Dorothy in Dorothy's Christmas in Oz, Christine in The Panto of the Opera, Marjorie in And Away We Go, Bernice Britchard in Checking in on Charles, Jaycee Rae in The Waffle House Five, Ventura in Noni Cimino's Kitchen, and Cinderella in both Cinderella Skeleton and Cinderella Italiano. Other regional credits include Maria in West Side Story, Susy in Wait Until Dark, and Charlotte in A Little Night Music. Roles at Branford's Legacy Theatre include Brandy in the world premiere of Just Desserts, Daisy in the professional premiere of Joe Landry's The Great Gatsby: A Live Radio Play, and Sandra in The Play That Goes Wrong. A recipient of the Goodspeed Guild Music Theater Award, Mary holds a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America. She resides in Killingworth with her husband Scott, and their four children, Sean, Rowan, Nora, and Brennan. Endless gratitude and much love to her family for their support.

Leanne Onofrio (Olivia) is thrilled to be joining Pantochino again in A Lad in Manhattan! She was previously seen in Tiaras Over Teaneck, Dorothy’s Christmas in Oz and Panto of the Opera. Leanne is a graduate of Marywood University earning her B.A. in musical theatre. Other roles include Jesus Christ Superstar (Ensemble, Downtown Cabaret), Sweeney Todd (Ensemble, Downtown Cabaret), The Light in the Piazza (Clara), Children of Eden (Yonah), and Dancing at Lughnasa (Chris). Leanne has performed in various NYC cabarets (The Green Room, Don’t Tell Mama, The Triad) and also works as a stage manager, director, and music director. She thanks her family, friends, and co-workers for their support!

Shelley Marsh Poggio (Deidra) Shelley caught the acting bug at age 14 when she took the stage as Daisy Mae in Li'l Abner, and she’s been performing ever since. Her work has taken her to theaters throughout Connecticut and abroad, most notably performing at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. She is a proud Company Member of Pantochino Productions, where she has brought more than 40 original characters to life, thanks to the brilliant writing of Bert Bernardi. Many of these productions have been recognized with Connecticut BroadwayWorld Awards. Some of her favorite Pantochino roles include the title characters in The Wicked Witch of the West, Kansas or Bust (2015 CT BroadwayWorld Award – Best Actress in a Musical), The Brothers Grimm & A Showgirl, The Bewitchingly Scrumptious Mister Trick & Mrs. Treat, and Honeysuckle Jones in Checking In On Charles (2022 CT BroadwayWorld Award – Best Supporting Performer in a Musical). Much love and thanks to her family for their unwavering support, and to Bert, Jimmy, and Justin for their endless creativity XO

Victoria Sautee (Della) Know globally as ‘the Quintessence of Effervescence,’ Victoria has made a mark for herself (actually an indelible stain) at Pantochino which she refers to as her ‘second home’ or ‘condominium sur la plage.’ She has appeared here in Dorothy’s Christmas in Oz, Christmas Carol, Panto of the Opera, Christmas Cocktails and It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Cocktails. In addition, her covid-era online show, Let’s Learn Stuff was broadcast worldwide and called “Remarkable” and “Hysterical” by the Hartford Courant (she urges you to watch all the episodes on YouTube.)While in Milford, she often turns heads at the bar at 7 Seas and enjoys shopping at the mall! She hopes you enjoy the show and knows you won’t be able to take your eyes off of her.

T.M. Gadomski (Stage Manager) A rising playwright displaced from Long Island to Connecticut, T. M. Gadomski recently worked at Seven Angels Theatre as an Acting Instructor as well as with the immersive theater troupe Grymm Studios as a performer. Gadomski writes with their heart & soul often with storylines dealing with Mental Stability, Love, and Gender. T. has been involved in theater for over a decade and had the shows, Indulgence, Free Will, The Misery Theatre Guild, Harmony Lake, and The Harsh Reality of Dating a Poet, produced throughout Connecticut, the Midwest and the East Coast. Free Will was also published in Issue #10 of Fleas on the Dog Magazine (Ontario, Canada.) Plot writer at "Sustainable Collapse.”

Justin Rugg (Musical Director) A composer, singer and actor, Rugg has co-authored 35 original musicals with writing partner Bernardi, many of which are published and available for licensing. Other works: five albums of original songs, Predictable Heart (cabaret performed at NYC’s Duplex), music for NYU Steinhardt’s 4@15 Festival, several piano works, dozens of theatre camp scores for young performers, the youth ballet I Dreamed Of A Place. A music and theatre teacher in Connecticut for 14 years, he received top honor in the “40 Under 40” awards from the Milford Chamber of Commerce. Oh, and he’s been in a good many of Pantochino’s performances—maybe even all of them! Thanks to the Pantochino family and all who support them.

Jakob Kelsey (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to continue working with the talented company at Pantochino! Jakob is a freelance theatrical lighting designer and electrician located in Stamford, CT. He graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a BA in Theatre Design/Technology. Previous credits with Pantochino Productions include: Grease, School Spirits, The Rocky Horror Show, We Will Rock You, And Away We Go, Prom, Panto of the Opera, Chicago, Noni Cimino’s Kitchen, Christmas in Oz, Saturday Night Fever and Tiaras Over Teaneck. Additional design credits include: Jester’s Dead, Peter/Wendy (WCSU); Little Women, Seussical (The Canterbury School); Into the Woods, 39 Steps (Castle Craig Players); Our Time: A Musical Showcase (ACT of CT). www.jakobkelseydesign.com

Bert Bernardi (Director) is the co-producer and co-founder of Pantochino Productions Inc and has been bringing ‘ridiculously entertaining’ theatre to the Milford since 2010. He is the former Artistic Director of the Children’s Company in Bridgeport and his work has been seen extensively at Cortland Repertory Theatre (NY), The Theatre Barn (NY), Millbrook Playhouse (PA) and the Surflight Theatre (NJ). His work as also been seen at Legacy Theatre (CT), Fairfield University, New York University, Music Theatre North (NY), the Boston Post Road Stage Company, Arundel Barn (NY) and TheatreWorks New Milford. With composer Justin Rugg, he has penned many, many new musicals, several of which are published, licensed and performed around the country. Bert is a recipient of the Connecticut Critics Circle Tom Killen Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre in Connecticut. www.bertbernardi.com