Winnie Flynn Productions

Judi Hindes

Judi Hindes has worked for Flynn Productions for 14 years; from assistant stage manager of Flynn’s Good Times revue at the Legacy Theater in 2011 to working as an actor, dresser, PR and Production Assistant for Winnie’s Breakfast with Santa shows at Kaufmann’s downtown. A past member of BREAKTHROUGH, a Pittsburgh-based troupe that performed music in sign language around the country, she added to the Kaufmann’s holiday shows by teaching sign language to the cast.  Those beautifully interpreted songs were audience favorites. In 2013 Judi added her sign language artistry to Winnie Flynn and Friends’ Love is in the Air.

Dean Patterson

Dean Patterson is pleased to be reunited with John Roell, Jeannie Wattras and Winnie for Love is in the Air. He appeared in 10 Flynn dinner theater revues at the Holiday Inn and joined Flynn and Company for countless concerts, road shows, corporate and convention entertainment. Dean has also appeared on regional theatre stages in productions of Guys and Dolls, Camelot, Kiss Me Kate, 1776, Baby, Ghost Sonata, Equus, Annie, Light in the Piazza, Cole, Man of La Mancha, Fortinbras and Love Letters. Dean performs his one man musical show, “They’re Playing My Song,” for country clubs and community organizations around the Pittsburgh area. He joined Joyce Sterling to present “Broadway Tonight” and has pleased cruise ship audiences with his beautiful singing. Dean is the voice of the National Aviary and narrator for the Frick Antique Auto Museum. He also appears in commercials, industrial films and print ads. Movie credits include roles in Rogue Force and Only You.

John Roell

John Roell is happy to return to the Flynn group for Love Is in the Air. He joined Winnie in 1976 for a production of Oklahoma and continued to share the stage with her in 32 critically acclaimed Flynn musical revues at the Holiday Inn in the North Hills. Beginning with Four for the Road at the East West Restaurant in 1979 his comedic skills lit up Winnie’s shows; from dinner theater and convention shows to benefits, corporate events and children’s entertainment. John’s character work, praised by theater critics, included crowd pleasing portrayals of Fred Rogers, Tom Bodett, Elmer Fudd, General George Patton, Jose Eber, W.C. Fields, Richard Simmons and many others.

John is one of the busiest actors in Pittsburgh with credits that include the Pittsburgh Playhouse, West Virginia Public Theatre, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, Robert Morris University, University of Pittsburgh, Open Stage Theater, Mc Keesport Little Theatre, and the John Heinz Regional Museum. He can be seen in feature films and commercials, and has used his acting skills for decades as a patient simulator. John also delighted audiences as Mr. Widget for 17 year in Kaufmann’s annual Christmas Shows produced by Flynn.

Andrea Zientara

Andrea Zientara is happy to reunite with Winnie Flynn for the first time in more than a quarter-century! Since the “good ol’ days” when she accompanied Flynn’s musical revues, Pizazz and Second Bananas at Minutello’s Dinner Theater, Andrea has accumulated an eclectic mix of theatrical experience, not only acting, writing and performing comedy improv, but also musically directing local productions of Camelot, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, Annie, Get Your Gun, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Jesus Christ, Superstar and, most recently, Godspell and Once Upon a Mattress for Assumption Theatre Guild and Not Another Nun Show at South Park Theatre, as well as musically designing and creating original parodies for a wide variety of cabaret-style musical comedy revues for venues like the Cabaret Room at Crowne Plaza, The Late-Nite Cabaret at Theatre Square and even the North Side Elk’s Lodge!

Mary Ann Mangini

Mary Ann Mangini is delighted to join Winnie Flynn and Friends’ 2013 Concert Series. She has performed professionally throughout the Pittsburgh region, sharing the stage with such notable TV and Broadway stars such as Paige Davis, Brad Little, Terri Bibb, Yvette Lawrence, Leslie Alexander, and John Shull. Her professional, one-woman show, Mary Ann Mangini: Torch Songs, at the Strand Theater in Zelienople played to sell-out crowds for two nights in September 2010. Throughout the spring and summer of 2011, Mary Ann judged and performed in Froggy 95’s Rocket to the Stars competition. She has also charmed audiences as featured vocalist with the Grove City College Jazz Ensemble, the Dante De Thomas Dance Band, and the Richard Mansfield Tuesday Night Big Band.

Mary Ann’s musical theater appearances include New Castle Playhouse productions, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator,) Brigadoon (Fiona,) Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitel,) and South Pacific (Nellie.) She also played the roles of Marian the Librarian in the Red Barn Theater’s Music Man, and Woman #1 in the Strand Theater’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Outside of the Pittsburgh region, Mary Ann has performed in several cabaret productions at the Youngstown Playhouse.

After earning her Bachelor’s degree in music education at Grove City College, Mary Ann pursued her passion for teaching choir, music, drama, and private vocal lessons at Shenango High School in New Castle. She also taught high school choir, elementary music, and vocal lessons in the Riverview School District in Oakmont.

Currently, Mary Ann is preparing for the release of her first debut album, featuring jazz standards and several self-written, original songs.

Barbara Griffith has been with Winnie Flynn Productions since the company was founded. Beginning with musical arrangement for Cinderella, Four for the Road and Robin Hood followed by roles as Stage Manager for dozens of dinner theater revues, Barb’s infectious laughter has been the background music of Flynn shows. Barbara and Winnie worked together at the East West Restaurant, Minutello’s, Sheraton North and finally the Holiday Inn, North Hills.

An accomplished musician, Barbara played in the North Pittsburgh Civic Symphony orchestra for Oklahoma and My Fair Lady directed by Flynn for North Star Players. Over the years Barb joined the dinner theater musicians in the pit; sang back up vocals, played clarinet behind a lyrical version of Carnelia’s If I Sing and took the center stage as a punk rocker playing accordion in a Joan Jett send up. A talented seamstress and professional costumer, she assisted Flynn for the Hampton High School production of Kiss Me Kate and then created costumes and props for over 20 dinner theater revues and countless convention shows and special events. With her husband, Randy (a.k.a. Santa Claus,) she was Mrs. Claus for Kaufmann’s Christmas shows and, for over 20 years, was an integral part of the Flynn Road Shows throughout the tri state area.

Winnie Flynn left Pittsburgh after her 1994 season, returning home in 2010.

Her new revue, Good Times, opens in October 2011

In Pittsburgh Winnie wrote, produced, directed and appeared in over 40 critically acclaimed musical revues as well as special events, corporate and convention entertainment throughout Pa. After writing and staging Four for the Road at the East West Restaurant she presented original shows at Minutello’s Restaurant before moving to the Sheraton North in 1982. Winnie produced two original musical revues each year at the Holiday Inn, North Hills until 1994. Critics called the shows “satire at its best” and “wickedly funny” and named her “one of Pittsburgh’s best writers” and “a Pittsburgh entertainment treasure.”

Winnie has written, produced and directed children’s musicals; among them a musical adaptation of Cinderella for the North Star Players’ Children’s Theater and a musical version of Robin Hood, a national playwriting award winner. For seventeen years she wrote and produced original Christmas musical shows for Kaufmann’s and Macy’s in downtown Pittsburgh.

A member of SAG and AFTRA she appeared in television and radio commercials and corporate training films. Favorite roles include appearing in a Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Opera, The Boy Who Loved Trolls for PBS’ Wonderworks and touring schools in the CLO Galleries of Heroes production of the musical, Young Mark Twain. Winnie has appeared in feature films and coordinated Pittsburgh Day Player Casting and appeared in the Roy London film, Diary of a Hitman with Forest Whitaker. Directing credits include Kiss Me Kate, Tomfoolery, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

She produced and performed in shows with long time comedy partner, John Roell and with Jeannie Wattras who joined the Flynn troupe in 1982. She teamed with Joyce Sterling and Dean Patterson for Just Friends and with Pittsburgh’s own Funny Lady, Esther Lapiduss in Two Tall Chicks.

In addition to modeling and providing fashion show commentary, Winnie was the host of Women’s Preview on WQEX TV and was awarded the Fashion Plate Award for Career Excellence in Entertainment by the Fashion Group International.

A graduate of Duquesne University, she has over 30 years teaching experience with groups such as CLO Academy of Musical Theater, Pittsburgh Playhouse Conservatory, Brecksville Theater on the Square and the Pittsburgh Public Schools. From early days as a storyteller at Northland Library and elementary school appearances with Lou Schreiber in Jazz and Art, to the original Patience of Joe with the St. John’s Lutheran youth group, Winnie has continued her work with children and young adults.

In Brecksville Ohio she was the Executive Director of the Brecksville Center for the Arts and Education Director for Brecksville Theater on the Square, where she oversaw the Theatre Academy, Broadway Camp and the appearance of the renowned Missoula Children’s Theater. Winnie also directed Songs For A New World and The Secret Garden for Brecksville Theater on the Square as well as musicals for other theater groups. She also produced and directed She’s a Grand Old Hall, a historical musical co-written with Brecksville Mayor Jerry Hruby.

While in Harrisburg, PA, she worked for the Greater Harrisburg Arts Council and was the Arts and Entertainment Editor and writer for City Beat. She was a Board member of Metroarts and Harrisburg Community Theater and an active volunteer for the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Mt. Gretna Theater, The Art Association of Harrisburg, Wireworks and others. She was the general chair for the first Stars on the Plaza performing arts festival.

Matt Brown joins the Good Times cast at the Legacy Theatre in its premiere season. He was the pianist for Oliver, Titanic, Urinetown, City of Angels and most recently for The Full Monty at Stage 62. Matt is also the accompanist for high school musicals at Mars High School, Avonworth High School, North Catholic and others.

Good Times is Dan’s first Flynn Production. An original member of Tobacco Road he drummed on their full length CD and performed original music for a music video filmed and released by Larson and Company. He also played for the local Pittsburgh blues band The Blues Junkies and the band Total Recall. Dan also drummed for The Casanova Band, Misty Blue, the rock style bands, Minus One and Blaze and was the percussionist for the Don James Band.

Dan was the drummer for the former co-star of the “Drifters”, Betty Williams. During this time, he performed in dinner club shows in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland

Dan provides drum accompaniment for church services at La Roche College under the musical direction of Charles Wilson. He also performed praise and worship music within the tri-state area with the band “WPP” and at North Park Church and St Victor’s Church in Bairdford, Pa.

Dan studied under the direction of Bill Coon, voted the number one jazz drummer in Pittsburgh by the Pittsburgh Musicians Union.

Lisa Cignetti, assistant choreographer, is happy to return to Flynn Productions where she spent 10 years as an assistant producer, choreographer, stage manager and wardrobe coordinator. Onstage Lisa was in the cast of 5 Flynn revues including Cruisin’ USA and Hollywood in Revue, and appeared in North Star Players’ production of My Fair Lady and Flynn’s Cinderella and Robin Hood. In addition Lisa performed onstage and worked as a choreographer, stage manager and associate producer in the annual Christmas Shows at Kaufmann’s in downtown Pittsburgh as well as performing in conventions, road shows and special events with Winnie and Company. She appeared in Anything Goes and Hansel and Gretel at Stage 62 where she was choreographer for Rags and assistant choreographer for Anything Goes. Lisa has a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Pittsburgh and taught theater arts to children for twenty years; at CCAC and Point Park College Conservatory. Lisa currently choreographs the West Allegheny High School Musicals. The recent production of Footloose marked her 11th show at West A.

Erin Holmes was the Stage Manager for 9 Winnie Flynn revues and is pleased to be the Production Assistant for Flynn’s premiere production at the Legacy Theatre.  Erin worked as a producer at MARC USA and Ketchum Advertising and is currently a freelance producer and project manager for a variety of clients.

Jeannie Wattras

Jeannie Wattras is thrilled to return to the stage with Winnie Flynn Productions. Jeannie joined Winnie right out of college and spent 13 seasons happily playing some of her favorite comedic roles! She also appeared in countless special events, convention shows and Christmas productions with Winnie and Company, and was named to the list of outstanding performers by In Pittsburgh’s Ted Hoover for her work in Flynn’s 1993 show, Up the Wall. Over recent years, Jeannie has had the opportunity to perform with various production companies throughout Pittsburgh including: The Pittsburgh Playhouse, Café La Place, Blarney Stone Productions, Latshaw Productions and most recently at the Hazlett Theater. Jeannie has also worked with some of Pittsburgh’s finest Industrial film companies such as Development Dimensions International, Nova Corporation and Hands-On Video. Happily married for 28 years, Jeannie and Ray have raised two sons that have inherited the “music” gene. One writes, records and performs his own music and the other enjoys performing in musicals, cantoring and chorus. Still cantoring at her church, Jeannie has also continued free lance singing and has sung the Star Spangled Banner for groups ranging from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the North Dakota Rodeo. She is not only happy to welcome Winnie Flynn back to Pittsburgh, but excited to be on stage with her again!

Chuck Schu

Chuck Schu was the drummer for 13 Flynn revues at the Holiday Inn, North Hills. He is also the veteran of numerous road shows, concerts, benefits and the annual Kaufmann’s Christmas shows with Winnie and Company.  Chuck provided percussion for a recent production of Little Shop of Horrors at Stage 62 in Carnegie, Pa.
 
 

Terry Woods Mc Guire

Terry has played roles ranging from Lucy in Terry Woods Mc Guire will appear in Good Times, her fourth Winnie Flynn revue.

You’re a good Man Charlie Brown to Aldonza/Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha. Along the way she has sung the roles of Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, Maria in The Sound of Music, Irene Malloy in Hello, Dolly, Margie Mc Dougall in Promises Promises, Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof, Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Amy in Company.

Terry has worked for the Upstairs Theatre, Comtra Theater, Fallen Angel Productions, Kossman Dinner Theater, Carousel Productions, Assumption Theater Guild, Glenshaw Players, Starlight Productions at the Blarney Stone, St. Alexis Playcrafters, Ingomar Players, Connelly’s Hotel, John Furman and CCAC North Campus. Terry also worked at Market Square Theatre in Jerry’s Girls and has enjoyed playing dramatic roles in God’s Favorite, Rehearsal for Murder, The Curious Savage, Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Lend me a Tenor, The Odd Couple (female version) and Three Viewings.

In addition to stage work Terry is a busy wedding soloist and Cantors at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Coraopolis and St. Malachy Church in Kennedy Township.

Randy Griffith provided lights and sound for Winnie Flynn Productions from 1979 until 1994 including musical revues at the Holiday Inn and special events throughout the Tri State area. For 17 seasons he also provided sound and appeared as Santa in Flynn’s original Christmas musicals for Kaufmann’s and Macy’s in downtown Pittsburgh. Randy is employed as a video encoding technician for Vitac-Merrill Communications Co. In addition he has been a video tape operator for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2001. He is the founder and president of R.L.G. Creations, providing video tape services to professional theater companies, high schools and dance companies.

Sam Carmella

Sam is excited to be returning to the stage with Winnie Flynn Productions where he last appeared in “Life’s A Beach” before the turn of the century. He has performed in various venues around Pittsburgh such as Comtra Theatre as Fred/Petruchio in “Kiss Me Kate,” Harry in “Company“, and Bill Ray in “On Golden Pond” at Sherwood Forest Theatre, as Cinderella’s Prince and The Wolf in “Into The Woods” and at Assumption Theatre Guild as Captain Von Trapp in “Sound of Music” and Perchick in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Sam also plays trumpet and does lead vocals in the HZ Jazz Band singing big band favorites. When not performing, he directs high school musicals with Young Actors Christian Kompany (YACK) in Zelienople where he has directed “The Secret Garden,” “Godspell,” “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?” and “Into The Woods.” Sam is a Cantor at Saint Ferdinand’s Church and lives with his 3 daughters in Cranberry.

Billy Hepfinger

Billy Hepfinger is thrilled to be performing at the New Legacy Theatre! Billy spent his spring performing for kids all over Western Pennsylvania as George Washington in the Pittsburgh CLO’s Gallery of Heroes tour of Young Washington, and he also appeared as Corny Collins in Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s production of Hairspray at the Byham. Most recently, he returned to children’s theater as the Map in Dora the Explorer Live! at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh; he’s looking forward to performing for audiences with a median age over 8! Billy is a graduate of Princeton University where he studied literature and theater and sang with the Princeton Nassoons, one of the oldest a capella groups in the country.