Meet the Performers
THE VENUE
Katz JCC
1301 Springdale Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Loni Ackerman has been a longtime favorite of Broadway theatergoers. She captivated New York audiences in such coveted roles as Eva in Evita and Grizabella in Cats. Other Broadway credits include leading roles in The Magic Show, So Long, 174th
Street, No, No, Nanette, and George M! She was in the original cast of Starting
Here, Starting Now and appeared Off-Broadway in Diamonds, The Petrified Prince (both under the direction of Hal Prince), Brownstone and Dames At Sea.
She is married to TONY AWARD winning Sound Designer Steve Canyon Kennedy. They
have two terrific sons, Jack and George, two beautiful daughters-in law, Mary and
Jami, and four granddaughters, Maggie, Josie, Lola, and Stella!
Loni Ackerman
Rebecca Robbins' New York credits include the original Broadway cast of A Tale of Two Cities, and 5 years with The Phantom of The Opera (3 years on Broadway and 2 years on the North American Tour). Off-Broadway: 5 shows with City Center Encores!; My Fair Lady (NY Philharmonic); and Wallace Shawn’s The Music Teacher (The New Group). Regional highlights include Marie in R&H’s Cinderella (Broadway Sacramento & Walnut Street Theatre); Paulette in Legally Blonde (Arrow Rock Lyceum, Riverside Theatre & Walnut Street Theatre); Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Florence Foster Jenkins in Souvenir, and Louise Seger in Always Patsy Cline (Walnut Street Theatre). Dedicated to our friend, Ben Lipitz.
For more information, visit rebeccarobbins.com and follow @rebrobbins.
Rebecca Robbins
Loni Ackerman has been a longtime favorite of Broadway theatergoers. She captivated New York audiences in such coveted roles as Eva in Evita and Grizabella in Cats. Other Broadway credits include leading roles in The Magic Show, So Long, 174th
Street, No, No, Nanette, and George M! She was in the original cast of Starting
Here, Starting Now and appeared Off-Broadway in Diamonds, The Petrified Prince (both under the direction of Hal Prince), Brownstone and Dames At Sea.
She is married to TONY AWARD winning Sound Designer Steve Canyon Kennedy. They
have two terrific sons, Jack and George, two beautiful daughters-in law, Mary and
Jami, and four granddaughters, Maggie, Josie, Lola, and Stella!
Rebecca Robbins' New York credits include the original Broadway cast of A Tale of Two Cities, and 5 years with The Phantom of The Opera (3 years on Broadway and 2 years on the North American Tour). Off-Broadway: 5 shows with City Center Encores!; My Fair Lady (NY Philharmonic); and Wallace Shawn’s The Music Teacher (The New Group). Regional highlights include Marie in R&H’s Cinderella (Broadway Sacramento & Walnut Street Theatre); Paulette in Legally Blonde (Arrow Rock Lyceum, Riverside Theatre & Walnut Street Theatre); Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Florence Foster Jenkins in Souvenir, and Louise Seger in Always Patsy Cline (Walnut Street Theatre). Dedicated to our friend, Ben Lipitz.
For more information, visit rebeccarobbins.com and follow @rebrobbins.
Michael St. John is a seasoned performer with over 25 years on stages across the United States and Canada. He spent five years on the Broadway National Tour of Les Misérables, portraying both Thénardier and the Bishop of Digne. JCC audiences may remember him as Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof. His credits include Off-Broadway, New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, and leading roles in Phantom, Evita, Jekyll and Hyde, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He is thrilled to return and grateful to be welcomed back.
Michael St. John
Michael St. John is a seasoned performer with over 25 years on stages across the United States and Canada. He spent five years on the Broadway National Tour of Les Misérables, portraying both Thénardier and the Bishop of Digne. JCC audiences may remember him as Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof. His credits include Off-Broadway, New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, and leading roles in Phantom, Evita, Jekyll and Hyde, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He is thrilled to return and grateful to be welcomed back.
So proud to be able to participate in Broadway Live again this year. Some credits include: The Lion King, AIDA, RENT, Ain't Misbehavin, various television shows such as FBI and Organized Crime.
Jacqueline Tate
So proud to be able to participate in Broadway Live again this year. Some credits include: The Lion King, AIDA, RENT, Ain't Misbehavin, various television shows such as FBI and Organized Crime.
I am honored to carry on the legacy of my dear friend Ben Lipitz as host and producer of BROADWAY LIVE! The hallmarks of my friendship with Ben were laughter and joy. And I hope I continue that joy and laughter in my work with the JCC, Open Hearts/Open Doors, and the Camps at Medford. Each year we strive to give you a joyful, uplifting evening of music and song in the spirit in which Ben founded this extraordinary program. We hope you have a wonderful evening full of joy, laughter and that we inspire you to continue to support this truly loving endeavor. May Ben's memory always be a blessing, and may his work continue to touch us all.
Producer/Director
I am honored to carry on the legacy of my dear friend Ben Lipitz as host and producer of BROADWAY LIVE! The hallmarks of my friendship with Ben were laughter and joy. And I hope I continue that joy and laughter in my work with the JCC, Open Hearts/Open Doors, and the Camps at Medford. Each year we strive to give you a joyful, uplifting evening of music and song in the spirit in which Ben founded this extraordinary program. We hope you have a wonderful evening full of joy, laughter and that we inspire you to continue to support this truly loving endeavor. May Ben's memory always be a blessing, and may his work continue to touch us all.
Ben Dibble, a proud Philadelphia actor and teacher, has appeared in nearly 100 professional theatrical productions locally and nationally. Favorite roles include The Baker in Into the Woods, Bruce in Fun Home, Toad in A Year with Frog and Toad and Leo Frank (Barrymore Award) in Parade (Arden Theatre Company), Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, Lord Farquaad in Shrek, Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Garry in Noises Off! and Leo Bloom in The Producers (Walnut Street Theatre), the title role in Henry V (Lantern Theatre), and the title role in Herringbone (Barrymore Award) with Flashpoint. As a soloist, Ben has appeared onstage with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Philadelphia Boys Choir in Verizon Hall, and also with the Philly Pops. As a cabaret artist, Ben has performed at such venues as Odette’s in New Hope, The Kimmel Center, Act II Playhouse, World Cafe Live and Arden Theatre Company. Ben is proud to run the Drama Program at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr. Currently appearing in his dream role of John Adams in 1776 at the Walnut Street Theatre through the end of May!
Ben Dibble
Ben Dibble, a proud Philadelphia actor and teacher, has appeared in nearly 100 professional theatrical productions locally and nationally. Favorite roles include The Baker in Into the Woods, Bruce in Fun Home, Toad in A Year with Frog and Toad and Leo Frank (Barrymore Award) in Parade (Arden Theatre Company), Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, Lord Farquaad in Shrek, Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Garry in Noises Off! and Leo Bloom in The Producers (Walnut Street Theatre), the title role in Henry V (Lantern Theatre), and the title role in Herringbone (Barrymore Award) with Flashpoint. As a soloist, Ben has appeared onstage with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Philadelphia Boys Choir in Verizon Hall, and also with the Philly Pops. As a cabaret artist, Ben has performed at such venues as Odette’s in New Hope, The Kimmel Center, Act II Playhouse, World Cafe Live and Arden Theatre Company. Ben is proud to run the Drama Program at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr. Currently appearing in his dream role of John Adams in 1776 at the Walnut Street Theatre through the end of May!
Stephanie Lynne Mason is honored to be a part of Broadway Live and to honor Ben by supporting this incredible cause he cared so deeply about. She was most recently seen in the new musical Mythic directed by Kathleen Marshall. Stephanie originated the role of Hodl in Fiddler on the Roof directed by Joel Grey and is featured on the cast recording. She was also in the 2016 Broadway revival directed by Bartlett Sher. Other favorite credits include touring the country as Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet, playing Carole King in Beautiful, Guinevere in Camelot, Louise in Gypsy and making her Carnegie Hall Debut in Lera Auerbach’s Symphony No. 6. She is so grateful to be a part of this incredible evening.
Stephanie Lynne Mason
Stephanie Lynne Mason is honored to be a part of Broadway Live and to honor Ben by supporting this incredible cause he cared so deeply about. She was most recently seen in the new musical Mythic directed by Kathleen Marshall. Stephanie originated the role of Hodl in Fiddler on the Roof directed by Joel Grey and is featured on the cast recording. She was also in the 2016 Broadway revival directed by Bartlett Sher. Other favorite credits include touring the country as Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet, playing Carole King in Beautiful, Guinevere in Camelot, Louise in Gypsy and making her Carnegie Hall Debut in Lera Auerbach’s Symphony No. 6. She is so grateful to be a part of this incredible evening.
James Brown-Orleans has been been performing in The Lion King on Broadway for 23 amazing years. JBO is thrilled to be back once again performing for Broadway Live!
James Brown-Orleans
James Brown-Orleans has been been performing in The Lion King on Broadway for 23 amazing years. JBO is thrilled to be back once again performing for Broadway Live!
John Plumpis