Pantochino Productions Set To Debut In Connecticut

Producers Bert Bernardi and Jimmy Johansemeyer have announced Connecticut's brand new ridiculously entertaining theatre company, Pantochino Productions. Best-know in Southern Connecticut as "those two kids show guys," they will be bringing their inimitable style to audiences throughout the state, and beyond.

Pantochino Productions will offer original touring productions for elementary schools and groups, off-Broadway style plays and musicals, after-school drama programs, summer theatre camps for young actors and will also serve as a source in licensing Bernardi's vast catalogue of original plays and musicals. According to Bernardi "This is just the beginning of the variety of programming Pantochino will offer."

The name of this distinctively unique company, Pantochino, is also created by the duo. "We needed a name that would be fun, fresh, different and brand new, so we invented a new word," explained Johansmeyer. "'Panto' is short for pantomime which are outlandish comedies and satires for family audiences, and Chino is the name of our lovable, mischievous monkey mascot," Bernardi added. "We're taking the traditions of commedia dell'arte, the spirit of vaudeville and the unexpected fun of sketch comedy and putting it all together," he added. It is a style the two created and perfected, having performed theatre for young audiences in Southern Connecticut for the past twenty-eight years.

According to his biography, Bernardi served as Artistic Director of the Downtown Cabaret Theatre Children's Company for twenty-eight years. He wrote and directed almost two hundred original musicals including "Cinderella Skeleton," "Halloween High School" and "Auntie Claus". For his work there, he was bestowed the Connecticut Critics Circle Tom Killan Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre. His directorial efforts have also been seen at The Theater Barn in the Berkshires (former Artistic Director), Millbrook Playhouse in Pennsylvania (former Associate Artistic Director), The Arundel Barn Playhouse in Maine, Music Theatre North (NY), Cortland Repertory Theatre (NY), Surflight Theatre (NJ), the former Boston Post Road Stage Company, Theatreworks New Milford (CT) and Fairfield University. He is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport.

Jimmy Johansmeyer is a graduate of Marist College, and according to his biography, performed with the Downtown Cabaret Theatre Children's Company for sixteen years and also served there as resident costume designer for the past six seasons. He has performed on hundreds of stages including New York Stage & Film/Powerhouse Theatre (NY), The Theater Barn (NY), Wallkill River Rep (NY), Millbrook Playhouse (PA) and on the mainstage of Downtown Cabaret Theatre. As a costume designer, his work has been seen throughout the country including the world premiere of Matthew Passion (Off-Broadway) and the world premiere of the musical Cold As Ice, starring Oxsana Baiul.

For the past eleven years, he has served as program director/teacher for summer theatre camps and after school theatre programs in Fairfield and New Haven counties. Pantochino's first three touring productions will include original productions written by Bernardi which will be available beginning this fall. "The Bookworms" is billed as a non-stop journey into some of the best-loved stories in children's literature as told by four 'book-happy' friends. "Toby's All-American Vaudeville Soup" is inspired by the traveling tent shows of the early 19th century and is a snappy, homespun 'revusical' into the great stories of American tall tales and legends. "Myth Ellanious: The God's Honest Truth" introduces the fictitious Minimus Maximus Players in a celebration of mythology featuring puppets, masks and more.

In addition, Bernardi is also working with playwright Joe Landry on a new comedy, "Lifeboat, Dahling," a comedy loosely inspired by the Alfred Hitchcock film and will debut some time this fall.

More information about Pantochino Productions is available at www.pantochino.com or
via email to info@pantochino.com

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