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New York Post
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Staten Island summer theater rises again for first time since COVID: ‘Emotional tie for all of us'
The lights are back up in Staten Island. The borough's summer theater is operating again for the first time since COVID swept through the city half a decade ago — and the stars of the show are celebrating the return like a family reunion. Ten families and countless friend connections make up the cast of this year's 'Fiddler on the Roof' production — relying on their close-knit links to bring the little Russian town of Anatevka to life on the CUNY College of Staten Island stage. 11 Lee Tennenbaum and BJ High rehearsing for their roles as Golde and Tevye in a production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' at the College of Staten Island on July 24, 2025. Rachman 11 High performing in a scene with Claire Scala (Fiddler) at rehearsal. Rachman 'It was really important for me to bring the connections that I had growing up so that it felt like an emotional tie for all of us,' said Bronwyn Fugate, the show's director and choreographer, to The Post. 'Myself and many of the cast members are community theater kids that grew up with our families doing theater,' Fugate said. 'We were the generation that would sit and watch our parents create lighting design or be the directors or be on the stage. 'It was a no-brainer that these were the people that I wanted to be the inhabitants of Anatevka because that is kind of the heartbeat, the pulse of Anatevka.' More than 90 people auditioned for the inaugural community theater production show, with 46 people and an orchestra of 10 musicians making the final cut. 11 'Fiddler on the Roof' is the College of Staten Island's first summer theater production since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachman 11 The cast of 'Fiddler' rehearsing choreography for the show. Rachman The cast and crew have been in intense rehearsals five days a week since the end of May — and have their eyes set on a July 31 opening night. As grueling as the process has been, the players said they treat the experience like a homecoming and an excuse to spend time with one another — especially those who are sharing the stage with their own families. BJ High, 46, said he is honored to play the leading man, the impoverished milkman Tevye, with his wife and son at his side. 11 BJ High, a retired NYPD officer, is performing alongside his wife Christie and son Liam. Rachman 11 The cast of 'Fiddler on the Roof' listening to notes from director Bronwyn Fugate during a rehearsal. Rachman 'We run lines at homes, in the kitchen, wherever we are, in the pool, in bed, and the basement, any room, we can,' said High, a retired NYPD officer, adding that he met wife, Christie, on stage during a 1998 performance of 'The Most Happy Fella.' 'If the kids aren't bothering us too much, I grab a script,' he said. 'We took a trip recently, and while I was driving, I'd have the two of them acting out scenes with me. It was great.' 11 High singing a song as Tevye with Amelia Gordon (Tzietel), left, and Adam Simancas (Motel the tailor). Rachman The experience has been made even more special because of the message behind the play — which explores clinging to tradition during a time of political and social upheaval. ' 'The Fiddler' is about family, it's about tradition, and it's the perfect show for this cast with these people in this space, because it basically goes back to the ideas of the show,' said Peter Ascolese, 41, the play's costume designer. 'It's tradition, it's generations, it's being all together to do something special,' he said. 'Once I saw the cast list, I was like, how do I get involved?' 11 Katie Callahan, center poses with her daughter Claire, and father Ed during a rehearsal. Rachman 11 High in a scene with Katie Micha (Chava). Rachman This year's show is dedicated to the memory of Jennifer Straniere, who ran the performing arts program at the College of Staten Island for 18 years before passing away in June 2021. 'Fiddler on the Roof' was chosen as this year's performance because Straniere fondly referred to it as her favorite — and one she, her husband and newborn daughter performed in together in 1984. The father-daughter pair are back this summer to carry on Straniere's legacy on the stage, and this time with Strainiere's granddaughter in tow. 11 Judge Philip Staniere (Rabbi), left, poses with his daughter Amanda (Village Mama) and granddaughter Abby Hart (Bielke) during a rehearsal. Rachman 11 Katie Micha, right, poses with her aunt Lee Tennenbaum, second left, and cousins, Lucy Schnall, left, and Molly Schnall, second right, at a rehearsal for 'Fiddler on the Roof.' Rachman Katie Micha, 30, who plays Chava, the youngest daughter of Tevye, also is taking the stage this year with her aunt and two cousins, a mission they call a 'family affair.' 'It's one of my favorite musicals ever. Besides the music being fabulous … it's just a really fabulous show, and I am so excited to be doing this,' Micha said. 'It's really cool to see the whole Staten Island theater community come together. It's very special. We all have known each other forever. All of our families know each other.'
Chicago Tribune
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Arlington Heights native, a lifelong musical theater performer, appearing in production of Amélie
Joe Giovannetti was three years old when he inadvertently began preparing for his career as a musical theater performer. It happened when the Arlington Heights native had seen 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.' 'We have this video of me when I was three pretending to play the piano and sing all the songs from 'Joseph,'' he said. He had the booklet of lyrics that came with the CD in front of him. 'I was paging through that pretending I was reading piano music and banging on the piano even though I couldn't read or play piano,' Giovannetti recalled. He got his chance to be in 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' for real when he was around nine, playing Benjamin in his first production at Setting the Stage in Arlington Heights, where he performed in a number of shows. Giovannetti continued performing in both musicals and plays while attending Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights. He also performed with community theaters, including at Saint James Parish and Up and Coming Theatre. When he attended Indiana University, however, he pursued a music education degree at its Jacobs School of Music. 'I became a high school choir teacher,' he reported. 'After teaching for a few years, I decided that I wanted to see what would happen if I started auditioning as a performer.' That's when he booked his first show in Chicago, 'The Most Happy Fella,' with Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. He continued doing musicals. 'I figured out that it was something that I wanted to pursue professionally,' he said. Since then, he has performed with Porchlight Music Theatre, Paramount Theatre, and Music Theater Works, among other companies. Last summer, he appeared in 'Alice by Heart' with Kokandy Productions. He is back at Kokandy, performing in their Chicago premiere of 'Amélie,' by Craig Lucas (book), Daniel Messé (music), and Nathan Tysen and Daniel Messé (lyrics), which runs from July 17-September 28 at Chopin Theatre in Chicago. Giovannetti plays Nino Quincampoix. 'Nino is this loner artist living in the same city that Amélie is in,' the actor related. 'He is really motivated by this project he's doing, where he is always at photo booths in the Metro Station, finding photos that have been discarded and torn to pieces. He's trying to reconstruct the photos. He runs into Amélie a couple of times while he's doing this.' When he leaves his photo book at the station, Amélie finds it. 'That starts this cat-mouse game that Amélie plays where she gets him to do all these things to try to find her and get the book back,' he said. The actor has two solos in the show, 'When the Booth Goes Bright' and 'Thin Air.' 'Also, I have a good amount of duets with Amélie,' he said. 'Everybody in the cast is also playing an instrument,' Giovannetti reported. He plays piano (for real, this time), sometimes while singing, other times as an accompanist. In addition to performing in musicals, Giovannetti works part-time at the University of Chicago Laboratory School, where he is Associate Director of Development and Communications. 'I support the team that is both encouraging philanthropy and alumni and parent engagement at the school,' he explained. In terms of future goals, Giovannetti said, 'I would love to continue being a professional. There's a lot of theaters in the city that I still want to work with.'
