Multimedia Interview: Bee's Todd Buonopane Goes 'Home' to Stagedoor Manor

Stagedoor alum, Todd Buonopane (who is currently making his Broadway debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) recently went back to camp as a guest speaker and BroadwayWorld.com went along for the ride!

In this exclusive multimedia interview, you'll hear Todd conducting a roundtable discussion with some of the campers, photos from his speaking engagement in front of the entire camp and an in depth interview with Stagedoor executive staff members Cynthia Samuelson (Owner and Producer) and Konnie Kittrell (Production Director).

Buonopane, who went to the infamous Stagedoor Manor Camp for 7 years couldn't wait to get back and talk to the campers this season during their 30th anniversary season. Earlier this summer, Todd also participated in a gala event which brought such notable alumni back to its Loch Sheldrake location as Mandy Moore, Zach Braff, Jon Cryer and more.  

Todd is currently the understudy for Barfee, Coneybear, Mitch and Mr. Panch on Broadway. He has previously been seen off-Broadway in The Butter and Egg Man (Atlantic) and Regionally in Gemini The Musical (where he was nominated for a Barrymore Award) (Prince Theater), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Goodspeed), and 2001 national tour of Godspell. Elsewhere in New York he has appeared in In My Life, Jacob Sterling: For Crying Out Loud and Once Upon a Time in New Jersey. Todd will appear as Mr. Panch August 26-31. In addition, Todd will appear in the concert of Stephen Weiner's music in the NYMTF. He's tentatively schedule to take part in the Actor's Fund Benefit Concert of "On The Twentieth Century"

About Stagedoor Manor
Located in the heart of the famous "Catskills on Broadway" vacation area, Stagedoor Manor is in a woodland setting just 95 miles northwest of New York City. Twenty-nine years ago, the Samuelson family bought and converted a small resort hotel into a multispace theater complex. 

Stagedoor Manor is the only camp of its kind in the world, a complete community where all of the kids and staff members are in love with the theater, dance, and the performing arts. Stagedoor believes that each boy and girl should be guided to choose his or her own schedule, with a flexibility that encourages them to stretch and grow and discover new capabilities. 

Stagedoor alumni include film star Natalie Portman, singer/actress Mandy Moore, Scrubs star Zach Braff, Robert Downey Jr., 2? Men star Josh Charles, Jon Cryer, Helen Slater, Mary Stuart Masterson, The Village star Bryce Dallas Howard, and writer/director Todd Graff, who created the movie CAMP based on his memories of Stagedoor Manor and filmed it at the camp in 2003. Many famous alumni return each summer to share their experiences with current campers. 

Guest workshop and Master Class visitors include Broadway, movie, and television stars, along with agents, casting directors, and behind-the-scene creative talent. Recent guests include Broadway duo Richard Maltby and David Shire, CBS series star Yancy Arias, Rockette dance captain Kim Calore, commercial actor and author Aaron Marcus, Broadway musical director and conductor Kim Grigsby, Tony-nominated actor Gavin Creel, Tony award-winning Broadway composer Jeanine Tesori, Wicked star Michelle Federer, and multiple Tony costume designer Ann Hould-Ward. Representatives from Nickelodeon, Disney, Wilhelmina, Brookside Artists, Carson Adler, Warner Brothers, MTV, and many others visit looking for tomorrow's stars. Former Stagedoor alumni, now working on film, TV, and stage join the camp on show weekends to share their experiences and give advice to current campers.

Todd rehearses before the camp files into the theater.

Todd shares Stagedoor memories and his
journey to Broadway.

Todd performing "I'm Not That Smart"
(and the crowd "likes it a lot!")

A few lucky campers went back to their rooms with
prizes courtesy of Spelling Bee

After the Q&A, Todd happily posed for pictures and signed
autographs.

/>

/>A select group of campers then got to participate in a more
intimate setting during a roundtable discussion with Todd.

Listen to all segments
(46 minutes)

or in the following parts

Todd conducts a Q&A with the campers
(18min 30sec)

Stagedoor campers talk about their experiences
(7min)

The group discusses the movie "CAMP"
filmed at Stagedoor Manor
(3min 30sec)

Cynthia Samuelson and Konnie Kittrell
discuss Stagedoor's mission
(37 sec)

Cynthia and Konnie talk about the visiting
artist program and 30th Anniversary
(4min 43sec)

Cynthia and Konnie share memories from
the past few decades
(4min 22sec)

Cynthia and Konnie talk about how changes and
trends on Broadway affect Stagedoor
(also their impressive alumni.)
(7min 11sec)

 />/>/>/>