Bob Kelly

Director

A Christmas Carol by Candlelight marks his 35th directorial effort at “the barn.”  Past shows include Best of Candlelight, Clever Little Lies, Cabaret, Lend Me a Tenor, Brigadoon (Barny – Best Show), Boeing Boeing (Barny – Best Director), Camelot, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Man of La Mancha, A Chorus Line, Fiddler on the Roof (Barny – Best Director), Driving Miss Daisy, The Producers (Barny – Best Director), Sweeney Todd, The Secret Garden (Best Show/Director, Broadway World), as well as Christmas by Candlelight (2012, 2013 Barny – Best Show, 2019). As an actor, Bob has been seen locally at the Arden, Walnut Street Theatre, Eagle Theatre, People’s Light, the Arts Bank, and the Annenberg Center. TV credits include: Hack (with David Morse), Homicide: Life on the Street (with Andre Braugher), America’s Most Wanted, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (with Danny DeVito), Unsolved Mysteries, Political Animals (with Sigourney Weaver), the mini-series George Washington (with Barry Bostwick and Patty Duke) and, most recently husband to Sally Field in the AMC series Dispatches from Elsewhere. Film credits include: Jesus’ Son (with Billy Crudup), The Mighty Macs (with Ellen Burstyn and Carla Gugino), Diary of a City Priest (with David Morse), Blair Witch 2, Rocky Balboa (with Sylvester Stallone), Split (with Betty Buckley).

CHRISTOPHER TOLOMEO

Music Director

CHRISTOPHER TOLOMEO (Music Director) It’s been a Candlelight “hat trick” this year for Christopher, having music directed Beehive: The 60’s Musical, the world premiere of Best of Candlelight, and now A Christmas Carol by Candlelight! Past Candlelight credits as MD/conductor: Cabaret (2020, 2005), Follies (2012), My Way (2007), and Jesus Christ Superstar (2006). Christopher has composed/arranged albums of original music (including an album of Christmas favorites- Too Much Christmas), appeared on numerous recordings with Philly-based bands (Mercury Radio Theater, Gringo Motel, and more), produced an original musical (The Jingle Man), and music directed/conducted numerous shows at local venues (Wilmington Drama League, City Theater Company, West Chester University). Thanks to Bob, Max, Jody, Michelle, and the cast and crew for a fun holiday time, and also thanks to his family for support. For Momma T. www.ChristopherTolomeo.weebly.com

Jody Anderson

Choreographer

JODY ANDERSON (Choreographer) is happy to be spending the holidays with her Candlelight family and friends. As a principal dancer with the Kansas City Ballet for 16 years, Jody had the honor of performing some of the greatest works of the 20th Century. She was also handpicked by Alvin Ailey to perform as a guest artist with his company The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Jody is currently the co-Artistic Director at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia.  Locally, Jody has choreographed for The Candlelight Theatre, Wilmington Drama League, Three Little Bakers, The Brandywiners, Broadway Theatre of Pitman, and the Ritz Theatre. She also created original works for The Kansas City Ballet, Mid-Atlantic Ballet, The Rock School, and the Delaware Dance Company.  Jody is a five-time Barny award winner for her choreography for A Chorus Line (2013), Mame (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2017), Brigadoon (2018), Guys and Dolls (2019) and won the Broadway.com award for best choreography in 2016 for The Music Man, also here at Candlelight. She thanks you, our audience, for keeping the arts alive when the world needs them the most.  Her best production, however, is her beautiful daughter Julia…and, as always, PING!

DANN DUNN

Choreographer

DANN DUNN has created and maintained professional works as a Director/Choreographer, Associate, and Dance Captain around the world with Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Winning Artists. Broadway/NYC: Miracle on 34th Street (Madison Square Garden), Sesame Street on Broadway! (MSG), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Symphony Space), First Date (Workshop). National Tour: CATS, The Music Man, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Sesame Street Live!. International: CATS, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, La Traviata. Regional: Walnut Street Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, Arden Theatre, Kennedy Center, Kimmel Center, Gulfshore Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, Cardinal Stage, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Totem Pole Playhouse, Weathervane Rep, Prather Entertainment, Totem Pole Playhouse [delete this – it’s a repeat], Jenny Wiley Theatre, Wohlfahrt Haus Theatre, Society Hill Playhouse, Resident Theatre Company (Barrymore Nomination), Eagle Theatre (Barrymore Nomination), Media Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, Grand Opera House, Ocean City Theatre Company. Contributing Choreographer: Norwegian Cruise Lines, The Red Cross, Modell, Merck, National Liberty Museum, Circus Circus, Sesame Street Workshop, Macy’s, and The X Games. Dancer: Mariah Carey, Mark Kanemura (Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, So You Think You Can Dance?). Resident/Assistant Director/Choreographer on Duncan Sheik’s Pre-Broadway musical Because of Winn-Dixie (Delaware Theatre Company). TV/Film: Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Emmy Award-winning PA Cardiovascular Health Project, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Dann was fortunate to join the Fosse legacy by training in the style under Gary Flannery, a principal Fosse dancer (Pippin, Dancin’, All That Jazz), dancing back-up for Chita Rivera, and working beside Debra McWaters, Gary Chryst, and Ann Reinking in preparation for the National and International companies of Chicago. Proud Member, AEA. www.DannDunn.com

MATTHEW J. KATOR

Lighting Designer

MATTHEW J. KATOR (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to return to Candlelight where his work was previously seen in Best if Candlelight, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Beehive: The 60’s Musical, Cabaret, Something’s Afoot (which didn’t get to open), Catch Me If You Can, South Pacific, Lend Me a Tenor, Curtains, Guys and Dolls, She Loves Me, Brigadoon, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. After receiving his BFA in Technical Theatre and Design from Lycoming College, Matthew went on to serve as Technical Director at the New Jersey Ballet, Quinlan Scenic Studios, Showmotion Inc., and spent nine years as Production Manager/Technical Director for Upper Darby Summer Stage/UDPAC. Currently, Matthew is serving as Department Chair of Theatre at Tower Hill School. He would like to thank his friends, family, students, colleagues and his ’accomplice’ for their continued support but especially his children for understanding what it means when Daddy has a show. “Look, I made a hat!” 

TIMOTHY LAMONT CANNON

Costumer

TIMOTHY LAMONT CANNON (Costumer) is excited to be celebrating the holiday season with such a talented cast and crew. Although he’d prefer to be performing, you can sometimes find Timothy working away to ensure that everyone has clothes to wear… No Oh! Calcutta! here! Past credits have included Best of Candlelight, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Something’s Afoot, Catch Me If You Can, South Pacific, Hairspray, Spamalot, Young Frankenstein, A Christmas Carol, Christmas by Candlelight, Gypsy, Camelot, CATS, Seussical, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, Jesus Christ Superstar, 42^nd Street, West Side Story, Crazy for You, The Drowsy Chaperone, Evita, Bye Bye Birdie, and Steel Magnolias. A huge thank you to WDL and everyone who helped. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year!

Clayton Stacey

Hair, Wigs, and Makeup

 CLAYTON STACEY (Hair, Wigs, and Makeup) has been makeup and hair designer or assistant for many Candlelight shows including Best of Candlelight, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Beehive: The 60’s Musical, Curtains, Beauty and the Beast, Camelot, Crazy for You, Arsenic and Old Lace, Mame, Driving Miss Daisy and Legally Blonde. He has also designed for WDL’s Into the Woods, City Theatre’s Xanadu, and Gypsy, DAST’s Jekyll and Hyde and The Drowsy Chaperone. As a performer, he has been in Candlelight’s productions of Christmas by Candlelight, Grease (Doody), Fiddler on the Roof (2004 and 2014), Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar, and the Barrymore Award-nominated Chicago, to name a few, and was a producer of Candlelight’s Just Drag 14, Queens from the Crypt. He thanks his mother Chlela for her love and support. 

Amanda Gilles

Props and Set Dressing

AMANDA GILLIES (Props and Set Dressing) After 40+ years as stage manager, scenic carpenter, and prop master, Amanda is so thrilled to be back to the treasure hunt, the thinking and creating, and to be back working with the wonderful Candlelight Family. Amanda, owner of Proper Place Organizing, is a professional organizer by day. getorganized@properplacede.com   Her friends and family (and acquaintances) are back to loaning their belongings!

MICHELLE MATTERA

MICHELLE MATTERA (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be returning to Candlelight as PSM for Christmas Carol by Candlelight. Christmas by Candlelight holds a very special place in her heart, and she could not think of a better way to spend the holiday season but in a place that’s a home away from home with family and friends.  Since 2008, Michelle has worked on many productions here, losing count somewhere after 40. She has mostly served as music operator, but has also worked backstage, running lights, as stage manager, and in just about every role in the restaurant. She thanks Bob and friends for having her back for this show. Also, thanks to Maureen, Callie, Milo, and Rusty for allowing her to spend so much time away from home.