New City Stage Company: Productions

Robert DaPonte (Stephen) has worked as an actor in Philadelphia for over five years, appearing in numerous productions. Favorite roles include: Anthony in The House of Yes (Flashpoint Theatre), Melchior in Spring Awakening (EgoPo Classic Theatre, Barrymore nomination for Best Ensemble), Larry in Mr. Marmalade (Theatre Exile, Barrymore nomination for Best Ensemble), Lloyd in Mud (2007 Philly Fringe), Prof. Broom in The Giant Squid (2008 Philly Fringe) and Bobby in American Buffalo (Theatre Exile). Robert studied acting at Bradford College in Haverhill, MA and the National Theater Institute in Waterford, CT. Later this season he will appear as Estragon in EgoPo's production of Waiting for Godot. Many thanks to Mike and the extremely talented cast & crew.

Maria Panvini (Angel) is thrilled to be making her Philadelphia debut with such a talented cast and crew! Maria is a Rider University graduate with a BA in theatre. A Camden County resident, Maria teaches acting classes for children in various schools in South Jersey and also works as a theatre camp director at Haddonfield's Plays & Players. Favorite past credits include Trojan Women (Hecuba), Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (Queen Victoria), Nunsense (Reverend Mother), Little Shop of Horrors (Chiffon), & Sweeney Todd (Pirelli). She thanks all those involved in the production for a great opportunity and also a big thank you to her family and friends for their continued love and support.

Buck Schirner (Lyle) was seen on stage in Waiting for Godot for Amaryllis Theatre here at the Adrienne, and will play eccentric British Aunt Augusta and other roles in Travels With My Aunt at Studio 3 at the Walnut Street Theatre after the new year. He kept himself busy doing three independent films and numerous audio books during the past year (go to AudioBookStand.com for titles). He has also worked with the Phila. Shakespeare Theatre many times, including the title role in King Lear. Other notables: In the Heart of America (InterAct Theatre, Barrymore nomination for best supporting actor), Taming of the Shrew (Lantern Theater), and in Equus (Mum Puppettheatre) and The Laramie Project (Phila. Theatre Co.), both of which received Barrymore Awards for Best Overall Production. Some recent indie films are Mayor Cupcake with Lea Thompson and Judd Nelson and The Fields with Cloris Leachman.

Bill Rahill (Clark) has appeared in many roles in the region. Favorites include Philly Cullen in Playboy of the Western World (with Lantern Theater, directed by Artistic Director Charles McMahon), and Clarence Kleindienstd in Tunnel (with Iron Age Theatre, performed at Eastern State Penitentiary). He also played Erie in Eugene O'Neill's Hughie at the Theatre Studio in NYC and later at Fergie's Pub as part of the 2007 Philly Fringe Festival. Bill was in the cast of Theatre Exile's production of Glengarry Glen Ross, which won the Barrymore Award for Best Ensemble. Thanks to Sharon. For my mother.

Karen Peakes (Clarisse) has performed with many Philadelphia theatres, including the Walnut Street Theatre, where she played Curley's wife in the Barrymore Award-winning production Of Mice and Men. Other theatres she's worked at include the Arden Theatre, 1812 Productions, People's Light & Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre, Act II Playhouse, Lantern Theater, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, and Bristol Riverside. Regionally, she has worked with The Peterborough Players (in NH), The Boarshead Theatre (in MI), and The Folger Theatre (in DC). Love to Owen and Ian.

Brian McCann (Richard) is delighted to be working with this fantastic group of people. He has most recently played Willy in Lantern Theater's production of Happy Days. Before that he played Malvolio in Twelfth Night at Delaware Shakespeare Festival. Brian finished yet another production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre. Other shows at PST include The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Hamlet and Julius Caesar. He has done Othello and King Lear with Lantern Theater, The Tempest with Villanova Theatre, Love's Labor Lost at Hedgerow Theatre, Henry IV: Part One with Phila. Shakespeare: In The Park, and Macbeth with Curio Theater. Other favorite roles include Cyrano in Cyrano DeBergerac, Thomas Mendip in The Lady's Not For Burning and Henry in Travels With My Aunt. He is a company member with ComedySportz Philadelphia. All my love to Mom.

Melissa Lynch (Cheryl) has many notable local credits, including boom! (Flashpoint Theatre), Skin Deep (Inis Nua Theatre), Getting Out (Simpatico Theatre Project), Sweetie Pie (Azuka Theatre), and Agnes of God, Breathing Corpses, Monster, and Hot N' Throbbing all with Luna Theater. Other recent favorites include: Phila. Shakespeare Theatre's Two Gentlemen of Verona, BCKSEET's 8 Reindeer Monologues, and SET Stage's Nuda Veritas at the 2009 Philly Fringe Festival. For D.J.W., forever etched in memory. Love & gratitude to the amazing cast and crew.

Russ Widdall (Teddy) marks his third appearance with New City Stage, having played Raff in A Stone Carver last season, and Robert in Unidentified Human Remains… this past fall. A New York based actor now, he started his career in Philadelphia and was frequently seen with Lantern Theater, InterAct Theatre, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre and Walnut Street Theatre many times, most recently in the Barrymore Award-winning Of Mice and Men. Some other favorite roles include Herbie in Theatre Exile's Big Blonde, Chris in All My Sons at Villanova Theatre, and Frederick in Black Palace, Pink Party for the Live Arts Festival. He appeared on the television series Hack, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and as Ron Lowenthal on HBO's The Wire. He can also be seen with Renee Zellweger in the film My One and Only, coming soon to DVD. Special thanks to Michael Brophy and this wonderful cast & crew. Russ is especially grateful to New City Stage for offering him the role of Teddy. "I've waited a long time for a part like this. I hope you enjoy the results." This one's for Ginger.