You Can't Take It With You Cast

Emily Bodkin is happy to be back on stage with Ghostlight! This marks her third show with the company, having previously played Mrs. Johnstone in Blood Brothers and Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret. Other favorite roles on Staten Island include Mama Rose in Gypsy, Donna in Mamma Mia, The Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast, Paulette in Legally Blonde, Fantine in Les Miserables, and Babe in The Pajama Game (with In The Wings). She has had the chance to travel the world doing what she loves, most notably as the Wicked Stepmother in a US tour of Cinderella and as Frau Schmidt and the Mother Abbess cover in the Broadway Asia tour of The Sound of Music. Emily was also Helena in Michael Ching's world premiere a cappella opera version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the original cast recording is available on Apple Music and Amazon Music! Emily resides in Great Kills with her husband and two children and works for Sesame Workshop. Thank you to Craig for this opportunity, and the entire cast and crew for their dedication and hard work. www.emilybodkin.com

Victoria is so excited to be in her tenth Ghostlight Players production (first female ten timer!!!) with this insanely talented cast! She is a graduate of Kean University’s Theatre Conservatory and a Disney College Program alumni. Her credits include: And The World Goes Round (Soloist/Dance Captain), Grapes of Wrath (Aggie Wainwright), Urinetown: The Musical (Dance Captain/Ensemble), Ghostlight Player’s Playwright Festival & Christmas Cabaret, Blood Brothers (Donna Marie), Brighton Beach Memoirs (Laurie Morton), Arsenic & Old Lace (Elaine Harper), A Christmas Carol (Fan/Belinda), The Magical Girl (Dakota), Guys & Dolls (Hot Box Dancer), LysistradaS (Girl from Colorado), Sunday in the Park with George (Celeste #2), & Parade (Iola Stover). Her next endeavor will be assistant director/ensemble in The Bridges of Madison County. She would like to say a huge thank you to Craig and the entire cast and crew for their hard work as she couldn’t have asked for a better cast to work with, especially being along side some of her closest pals! She hopes you enjoy our kooky family adventures and make sure to try the candies!

Kayla is super excited to be STEPPING back on the Ghostlight Stage for her 7th show with the company! Previous productions include “And the World Goes ‘Round,” “The Rise and Fall of Falstaff” (Peto/Lady Mortimer), “Urinetown” (Little Becky Two-Shoes), “LysistrataS” (Miriam), “Blood Brothers” (Marilyn Monroe), and “A Christmas Carol” (Martha Cratchitt). Other credits across the island include “The Grown-Ups,” “A Dream Play,” and “Kiss Me, Kate.” Endless thanks to Craig for the opportunity and his support (and patience) throughout the process, as well as the cast for being so amazing to work with and keeping her laughing. Special shoutout to her family and friends who continue to support her in everything she does.

Matt is now officially a Ghostlight five-timer, having appeared in "The World Goes Round", "The Rise and Fall of Falstaff", "The Grapes of Wrath", "Incident at Vichy" and "Brighton Beach Memoirs". Other favorite roles include Seward and Schmidt in "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" with SISTC, Teddy in "Arsenic and Old Lace" and Rothko in "Red", both at the Little Victory Theater. Matt is also a playwright, with six plays featured in Sundog Theater's "Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry" 2019-2024. His new play "Custom Options" premiered at the SOOP to Nuts Short Play Festival in Pelham NY (featuring four of his talented Ghostlight friends!) in October 2024, his short play "One Foot on the Floor" premiered at The Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack NY in July 2024 and he and his son Peter wrote the original musical "A-Bridged History of Staten Island" for Sundog Theater in 2023. YCTIWY is one of Matt's favorite plays; his mother Lila and older brother John played Penny and Ed when Matt was a teenager (and it was part of what interested Matt in pursuing theater) and Matt later played Ed while in college. Matt couldn't have asked for a better cast, crew and director to work with as he portrays the loving but odd father Paul. For Mom and Dad.

Jai is once again happy to be back home on the Ghostlight stage where he was last represented as the Director for "And The World Goes 'Round". Favorite roles include Charles in "Blithe Spirit", Rev. Jim in "Grapes of Wrath", Teddy Brewster in "Arsenic and Old Lace", Beverly Carlton in "The Man Who Came To Dinner", and Prince Von Berg in "Incident at Vichy". Jai has an extensive performing background and has appeared in productions all over the country and Europe where he has portrayed iconic characters including Daddy Warbucks in "Annie", Fagin in "Oliver!", and Judas in "Jesus Christ, Superstar". He is the recipient of the Best Actor Award at The Santa Fe Film Festival for his work in the Independent Film, "Hate Street". Jai is beyond grateful that he found his family..his tribe..his support network within the Staten Island Theater Community. He is especially thankful to Charles and Gary for always believing in him and for their invaluable friendship, This marks Jai's third role under the direction of Craig Kwasnicki and he is happy to keepl learning and watching a Master at work. This cast has been an absolute dream..thank you for the laughs and for allowing me to watch you work. You are all astounding! My Crystal..my brightest gem..I love you..thank you for allowing me to be me and everyone else I play on stage! And to you, our audience..many thanks for your unwavering support..we could not do this without you. Enjoy the show!

Nick is delighted to once again be providing charity work by performing in another Ghostlight Production. Nick recently received a Fullbrigt Scholarship in conjunction with his ongoing research of the aquatic bird life of Antarctica, sponsored by the University of Santiago Chile. Nick is fluent in four languages, including Italian, Spanish, French, and Japanese. Nick is on the precipice of receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, however due to some shoddy government paperwork, the status of his receipt of the medal is pending. Nick would like to thank Mina and Gosha for all of their inspiration and motivation throughout the production process. Live long and prosper, do not go quietly into the night, do not vanish without a fight, and help the Sycamores celebrate...our Independence Day.

Gary is the Artistic Director of Ghostlight and has directed/acted in fifteen productions with the company. He wants to thank you all for the indulgence.

Charles Sullivan is the Executive Director of Ghostlight Players. Past Ghostlight experiences include directing "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" as well as "Pride and Prejudice". Past acting credits include the title character in “The Rise and Fall of Falstaff”, Robert in “Proof”, Mister Cladwell in "Urinetown", Benjamin Franklin in "1776", Herr Schultz in "Cabaret" and Sheridan Whiteside in "The Man Who Came to Dinner", all at Ghostlight, as well as Big Daddy in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Sir Thomas More in "A Man for All Seasons", Pandarus in “Troilus and Cressida” and Ebenezer Scrooge in "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol". We are so grateful to our loyal patrons for their unwavering support and we have some very exciting projects in the works for the remainder of this year and for 2026 as well!

Michelle is excited to perform with the lovely Ghostlight Players! Before discovering this amazing community, Michelle’s credits included: Tiny Tim/ Little Fan in the National touring company of A Christmas Carol. Michelle also enjoyed being a part of the Entertainment team aboard Disney Cruise Line from 2021-2023. Michelle’s past Staten Island theatre credits include: Ensemble in And The World Goes Round; Ensemble in A Dream Play with SIST; Anya in The Cherry Orchard with SIST; The Detective in Clue:The Musical with Sundog Theatre; and Little Sally in Urinetown with Ghostlight Players. It has been a pleasure working alongside this talented cast. IG @michelle_pagano

This is Marks fifth performance with Ghostlight having previously appeared in 12 Angry Men, A Few Good Men, Arsenic and Old Lace and the Grapes of Wrath. Other previous credits include California Suite and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. Mark has been a prosecutor at the Richmond County District Attorney's Office for over 25 years and often displays his theatrical skills in the courtroom. Mark would like to thank Craig for his faith leadership and vision and the entire cast and crew for their immense talent and commitment and dedication to what has been a fun and hilarious endeavor Thank you to my family for their patience and indulgence.

James McKeon is happy to back for another round with Ghostlight. Most recently he was featured in And the World Goes Round and Urinetown, The Musical. A litigation attorney by day, James has also been a part of local productions with various theatre companies around the Island, including SIST, Sundog Theatre, Spotlight Theatre, amongst others. James thanks Craig, Gary, Charles, and Katie for all of their work, and the cast for sharing in what has been a hilarious experience. And, as always, he thanks you for coming to #SeeTheShow

Heather O'Neill is delighted to be in her first Ghostlight Players production! Last year she returned to theatre after a very long time away from it, appearing in Oliver!, Kiss Me, Kate, and The Secret Garden with Spotlight Repertory Theatre; in Blessed Sacrament Parish Players' production of Oliver!, and in the workshop of a new musical, The Miracle of Brooklyn (Friscia & Poppe Entertainment). Most recently, she acted in an excerpt from a new play, The Story of Sal B. and Barbranne; A Mob Fantasia at the Theatre for the New City. In September, she will be performing in The Sound of Music with Spotlight Repertory Theatre. Heather is very grateful to Craig for the opportunity to join this talented group, to Katie for all her hard work, and to the cast for being hilarious!

Mitch Maglio has been an actor, director and writer since the 1970's. Some of his most recent work for Ghostlight Players was directing Incident at Vichy in February of 2024. His acting credits for Ghostlight include appearances in The Man Who Came to Dinner, Arsenic and Old Lace. The Word Turns Around and Lysistradas. In 2023 Maglio directed the Ghostlight production of Saint Joan. Among Mitch's directing credits are productions of :Judgement at Nuremberg, Merchant of Venice, Waiting for Lefty, Play it Again Sam, The Odd Couple, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and The Fantasticks. Some of his acting credits include roles in Hamlet, Measure For Measure, Richard the Third, Our Town, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on The Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, the musical version of Two Gentlemen of Verona,, and Troilus and Cressida. His books include "It Rhymes With Lust - Revisited", "Fiction House From Pulp to Panels" , "Jungle Girls, "The Official Star Trek Quiz Book" and "The Noir of Matt Baker". His featured article, a retrospective of the Jungle genre in comic book, literature and film will appear in issue #190 of Roy Thomas' Alter Ego Magazine in October of 2024

Lee Tennenbaum is thrilled to be returning to Ghostlight in this wacky and lovable show. Lee has worked as both an actress and choreographer with theatre companies on and off Staten Island. Some favorite roles include Kate in Brighton Beach Memoirs (Ghostlight), Louise in Gypsy and Josie in Proposals (Neverland Theatre), Sheila in A Chorus Line (Saxtons River Playhouse, VT), and Jenny Hill in Big Fish (Hemlock Theatre.) Lee is also a proud NYCDOE and Staten Island Children’s Theatre teacher. Later this summer, Lee will be performing as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof at CSI. Thanks to the Ghostlight powers-that-be and Craig for this experience and much love to Mike, Lucy, and Molly for all of their support.

JAMES M. POCCHIA, a practicing attorney with thirty four (34) years experience, concentrates his Staten Island and New Jersey law practices on plaintiff’s personal injury litigation and trials. James is a certified New Jersey Civil Trial Attorney. After several "Extra" and "Featured Extra" appearances in both television and film, he is making his second appearance in a community theater production, and first as part of a Ghostlight Players cast. James previously appeared as "William Gillette" in The Little Victory Theater production of "The Game’s Afoot (Or Holmes For the Holidays)" this past December, 2024 for six (6) performances. When not on stage, James plays golf as often as possible and continues to be a lifelong diehard Mets and Knicks fan. He lives in the Richmondtown area of Staten Island with his wife and son. Much gratitude to Craig for offering me the opportunity to play alongside such incredibly gifted individuals. I learned a lot just watching you do your thing. Much thanks to our supremely talented, funny and welcoming cast. I learned even more from your work and effort. Much love to MK and JMP Jr., my two castmates in this play called life. "It’s never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot.

Josh Sottile is a musician on Staten Island. He works at Wagner College doing various work for the Dance and Theatre Department. This is his fourth time on the Ghostligt stage. He'll be returning as MD for Bridges of Madison County in August.

Leanne Surace is delighted to star in her first Ghostlight production alongside this comical cast. She is a Mezzo-Soprano, seen weekly hanging over the choir loft at Trinity Lutheran, an avid Ukuladie, painter, crocheter, obtained her BA in Music from Wagner College and recently received her master’s in education from Hunter College. Recent roles include directing and starring as Inspector Hubbard in Dial M for Murder, Olga Bariosiva in The Pink Panther Returns, Jill in Elvis Has Left the Building. Great big thanks, hugs and admiration to this cast and crew. Can’t wait for Bridges of Madison County!