New artistic director Chris Luner opens Upper Darby Summer Stage

UPPER DARBY » Upper Darby Summer Stage, the Philadelphia region’s awardwinning summer youth theatre program, is back for its 47th season and opened its doors with much fanfare this week with both a joyful homecoming for returning Summer Stagers and a warm welcome to new ones. For the first time ever, the iconic opening meeting was run, not by Summer Stage founder and visionary Harry Dietzler, but instead by Chris Luner, its new Artistic Director. In typical Summer Stage fashion, the evening was filled with music, dance, and magic.

Born and raised in Upper Darby, Luner was a frequent Summer Stage participant throughout his youth and then became a regular staff member for nearly a decade. After graduating from Upper Darby High School, Luner studied Arts Administration at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. Since graduating in 2013, he has spent most of his time pursuing his dream of managing Broadway and off-Broadway shows.

In a recent interview, Luner spoke about how Summer Stage founder and former artistic director Harry Dietzler helped him get where he is today.

“I always loved theater, but I didn’t necessarily know what I wanted to do with it. All I knew was that

I loved what Harry did, so I actually went to him and asked, ‘I want to do what you do, so how do I do it?’ He encouraged me to look into Arts Administration and helped to guide me in figuring out which colleges have those programs.”

Luner’s wish has come true, and he is now stepping into the very role which Dietzler held for 46 years.

Dietzler is also stepping into a new position as executive director of the Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation (UDAEF), Summer Stage’s nonprofit sponsor. In this executive position at the Foundation, Dietlzer’s role is to grow Summer Stage and keep his vision for arts education opportunities alive on a larger scale.

With Summer Stage now under the direction of UDAEF, Dietzler will remain highly involved but Luner will be the new face and voice of the program. Luner says that his vision for Summer Stage is “not only to do what we know, but to move into the unknown by making sure our summer program offers as many opportunities as possible and expanding arts programming into the community year-round.”

By moving under UDAEF, Summer Stage is now fully non-profit. The program is now eligible for more local, state, and national-level funding. Luner and his staff are focused on enhancing the mission of Summer Stage to become even more of a beacon of arts education in the community, and bring youthful energy and showmanship to a well-established program on the brink of new growth.

The first Summer Stage show under Luner’s leadership will be a review of both classic and new Disney songs, called Disney Around the World, presented on July 6, 7, and 8 at 10:30 a.m. and July 7 at 7 p.m. The remainder of the Summer Stage season features Disney’s Moana, Jr., Elf, Jr.; How I Became A Pirate; James & the Giant Peach Jr.; and Disney’s Descendants.

The pinnacle of every Summer Stage season is the Mainstage show where the cast and crew of Summer Stage pull out all the stops. With a full professional orchestra and a cast comprised of actors ages 1829, The Spongebob Musical is this year’s highly anticipated Mainstage show and is a family show for everyone from eight years and older to enjoy. Summer Stage is also proud to announce Little Women as part of its new “Summer Stories” series. Tickets are available now and seats are filling up fast.

Luner believes that the arts are at the heart of a community, and that theater is a gift which is invaluable for everyone around it. For more information and tickets to this season’s shows, visit https://summerstage.udfoundation. org/

Amvets Post 118 sells tickets for summer picnic

Harold Paul Saks Amvets Post 118, 211 N. Morton Ave, Morton will hold a family picnic, 1- 5 p.m. Sunday, July 24. Cost is $12 for adult; $6 for kids 11-18 and free for kids under 11. All are invited to bring family and friends. Commander Howard Bilbee stated the menu will be corn, hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, desserts, beer, soda, water and much more. Tickets are available at the post, or call the post at 610-543-9551 any time after 4 pm daily or call Harry at 610-543-2082.

The Wardrobe, formerly named Career Wardrobe, will host an Open Wardrobe event for the reentry community, 11 a.m. — 5 p.m. Thursday, June 23 at both its Philadelphia and Lansdowne stores: 413 N 4th St., Philadelphia and 62 W. Marshall Rd., Lansdowne. This event will focus on servicing formerly justice-involved individuals, the hallmark of the new Returning Wardrobe program. Participants will receive free clothing from The Wardrobe and free haircuts from Lehigh Valley Barber and Beauty Academy as well as the opportunity to visit with an expungement clinic with Philadelphia

Lawyers for Social Equity.

The event is open to anyone who needs clothing or assistance transitioning to work and has been involved in the criminal justice system. Guests are required to RSVP at http://bit.ly/wardrobe0623. This event is part of The Wardrobe’s monthly Open Wardrobe program providing participants the opportunity to receive free clothing without an appointment.

The Wardrobe is currently seeking donations of the following for the Returning Wardrobe program: new undergarments and toiletries and casual menswear in all sizes, but especially small, 28-32 pants, small/medium shirts, footwear for men, especially sneakers in good shape. The Wardrobe is a nonprofit social enterprise that uses clothing to inspire change. After leaving The Wardrobe, clients shine from the inside out with clothing that helps them fit in with their peer group or make a positive impression during their job search. Learn how to donate, shop, or support The Wardrobe at http:// www.wardrobepa.org.

Springfield Lions install new officers

The Springfield Lions’ Club installed new officers at their last dinner meeting. The new officers will take office on July 1. Larry Healy is the new president. Healy was born in Philadelphia and moved to Delaware

County at nine-yearsold and has lived there ever since. He moved to Springfield 31 years ago with wife Paula who passed away in 2020. He has three children and two grandchildren. Healy earned a BA in Politics from Saint Joseph’s University and was elected Chester Township Supervisor at 26- years-old. His career experience includes supermarket management, benefits service advisor, HR director, and he is currently Lead Constituent Service Advisor for PA Representative Jennifer O’Mara.

Healy is a member of the Springfield Cares Coalition. The new president has been a Springfield Lion since 2020 and has served as third vice president, second vice-president and first vice-president.

Other officers installed are: Richard Patterson as first vice-president, Lisa Tiffany as second vice-president, Frank Udicious as secretary, William Lavery as treasurer, Kurt Schaefer as membership chairman, and Larry DeMooy, Michael Mingey, Sarah Gibbons, Tom Mahoney, Kathleen Cannon and Mark Godshalk as directors.

For more information about the Springfield Lions Club visit the Lions contact Tony DeSanto at 610-5431188 or visit www.springfieldlionsclub.org.

Readers can e-mail community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com/.

The Wardrobe holds spring Open Wardrobe Day for Reentry Community