Staff

Gary P. Cohen (Producer/Director) has been associated with PIP since 1980, and has been here full-time since 1989. In addition to producing all of the shows, Gary also directs the season opener each summer, as well as the fall children’s musical.  As an author, he has penned two books on theater, three original children’s musicals (two with Mark Baron and one with Warren Helms) and the original version of the off-B’way musical Frankenstein. He is currently working with singer/songwriter John Sebastian on a musicalization of John’s children book J.B.’S HARMONICA. As a filmmaker, Gary is responsible for the 80’s cult classics Video Violence 1 & 2 and Captives, recently re-released on DVD, and co-directed HALLOWEENVILLE, a documentary playing the film festival circuit.  “Mazel Tov” to his son Zach for his recent engagement to his long-time girlfriend Kelley.

Michelle Massa (Choreographer)  has been choreographing, directing, costuming, and serving as Production Manager at Plays-in-the-Park since 1991...and that’s a lot of bug spray! Michelle has choreographed well over 100 musicals, more than 50 of which were at PIP, including every year of Joseph...Dreamcoat and all of the indoor children's musicals.  Her directorial credits at the Park include Lend Me a Tenor, The Odd Couple, seven versions of Dance-in-the-Park, and fourteen seasons of Joseph. Michelle is a recent recipient of the Paper Mill rising star award for Best Choreography. 

Mike D’Arcy (Scenic Designer/Head Scenic Painter) is in his 13th season at PIP, and his 8th as Head Scenic Painter. Past design credits include High School Musical, The Wedding Singer,  Singin' in the Rain, All Shook Up, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Beauty and the Beast (Set/Co-Costume Design), Once Upon A Mattress, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Scarlet Pimpernel (Co-Set Design), Seussical, Cats (Co-Costume Design), Aida (for both PIP and Phoenix Productions at the Count Basie), and many indoor children's shows at PIP. He has received three Rising Star Nominations for Scenic Design from the Paper Mill Playhouse and a Scenic Achievement Award from Montclair University for his work at Cranford High School. Mike dedicates his efforts on this production to the memory of his friend and mentor Vern Smith. 

Roman Klima (Lighting Designer) is the resident Lighting Designer/Master Electrician for PIP.  Credits include 1776, Singin’ in the Rain, High School Musical, Company, Smokey Joe’s Café, Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, Millie, Mattress, Buddy, Cats, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Dreamgirls, Aida, Miss Saigon, Joseph, Kiss Me, Kate, Footloose, The Fantasticks, Ragtime, Mack & Mabel, Titanic, Jekyll & Hyde and Cabaret as well as several of PIP’s annual children’s shows and Dance-in-the-Park  productions. He has worked extensively throughout NY, NJ and PA with such organizations as the Bickford Theatre, the Forum Theatre, Young Playwrights Festival, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and industrial / commercial projects.

Gabrielle Komleski (Props Mistress) is currently in her 8th season as Props Artisan. Before working here full time, Gabby volunteered as backstage crew for many years and spent two seasons as microphone tech . Gabby has also staged managed five of PIP’s children’s shows, School House Rock Live, too!, Rapunzel, Cinderella,  High School Monster Musical and most recently, Stuart Little..   Shows elsewhere include Good, Sweeney Todd, The Ballad of Baby Doe, and The Jazz Singer. Prior to PIP, Gabby worked for a production service company fabricating props for NY theaters.

David Griffin (Technical Director) has been the Tech Director at PIP since 1978! His job is to take the set design models and turn them into full-fledged scenery, as he also heads our carpenter shop. David designed the set from model to completion for PIP’s productions of Nunsense in 1993. Additionally, he is President of the Middlesex County Employees' Union, Local 3440, in which all the permanent staff at the theater belongs to.