Jess Coulter sat in her car parked outside the Performing Arts Center as we recorded this conversation. She grew up in Havertown but now lives in Perkiomen Valley, over an hour away. She is a Summer Stage alumnus and the mother of three children, all of whom are current members. Jess joined the apprentice program in 1990. Her first children’s theatre show was Freedom, directed by Harry Dietzler. She proudly claims that she has seen at least one Summer Stage show every season since 1985. She works as a high school English teacher, which is my former career, so we do “geek out” about literature during this. After participating in the 50th Anniversary Gala Performance, Jess stepped up as one of the leaders of the soon-to-be-formed alumni organization. I hope you enjoy our conversation, so come along and have some fun . . .
We all have stories to tell, and they can be heard here.
Welcome to Brave and Strong and True, a podcast that engages Summer Stage alumni of all ages. I’m Bob Falkenstein.
Our music is composed and performed by Neil McGettigan https://neilmcgettiganandtheeleventhhour.bandcamp.com/releases. Please click on the link to visit Neil’s BandCamp website to listen to songs from his album, including cut number 7, “Harry Dietzler.” Please support Neil’s work by buying downloads of your favorites.
Please follow Brave and Strong and True on Apple Podcasts. While you’re there, please rate the show and leave a comment.
If you want to be a guest on Brave and Strong and True, please contact me at braveandstrongandtrue@gmail.com. I can record five guests simultaneously, so reach out to your friends for an online mini-reunion.
You must have the latest version of the Google Chrome browser on your desktop or laptop computer. I can now record interviews with guests who have iPads or iPhones. It helps if you have an external microphone and headphones, but Apple earbuds work too; however, Bluetooth ones are not 100% reliable, so see if you can borrow wired ones.
Upper Darby Summer Stage is now part of the non-profit organization known as the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation. Justin Heimbecker is the Executive Director of the UDAEF.
If you can support Summer Stage financially, please visit udsummerstage.org to find out more.
Calling all alumni. You are invited to join the newly forming Upper Darby Summer Stage Alumni Association. Please follow their journey on Facebook and let them know who you are and how you would like to participate by completing their survey. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhsawqmXCP_xvBgaAp-p_Qx7mFdEGSrXGr7tvcBByIbrRolg/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawLnHi9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFad2dYVE9vUktCck15c0ZkAR74qth55MAixuxK4-9kkdlZblik6wc0iEVKMfzX80IlXprMdAUQRAyJUn5LxA_aem_mPsQyGx6X5TFyTGxXKVd9A