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During her 10 years in front of the footlights, Madi Distefano has played a variety of roles, including a delusional alcoholic, a l9-year-old drug addict and a quiet Irish housewife.
Now the South Philadelphia actress has one of her most challenging characters in the Walnut Street Theatre’s production of "Lost in Yonkers," which runs until March 5.
Neil Simon’s play — which won a Pulitzer plus four Tony awards — is a poignant family tale that focuses on two brothers whose mother has recently died. Their father must hit the road to pay expenses, so the boys are sent to live with their grandmother and aunt in Yonkers. In the Walnut Street revival, Distefano is Bella, the loving, childlike 35-year-old aunt who is mentally challenged.
"I’ve played vulnerable characters before, but never someone with a child’s mentality," Distefano said. "But she’s not retarded. She’s a beautiful character — so sweet and with a heart of gold."
Distefano appears in every scene and is a dominating presence. She shows a range of emotions, from childish delight to stubborn determination.
A scene between Bella and her stern mother (Carmen Roman) is especially stormy.
"It’s an intense confrontation and confessional scene," Distefano said.
Her performance is earning high praise. In the Feb. 2 Showtime, Dante J.J. Bevilacqua described Distefano’s take on Bella as "wonderfully fragile and vulnerable … Her unrelenting energy veers from ditzy comic illogic, to mistrustful tantrums, to wistful dreams."
It’s hardly the first time Distefano’s talents have been recognized. She’s been nominated five times for the prestigious Barrymore Awards and, last year, won Best Actress for her portrayal of Breda in "Eden." In the latter she portrayed a housewife in a small town in Ireland.
The same year, Distefano was awarded a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship and a Leeway Window of Opportunity Grant.
AN ALL-AROUND TALENT who is not only an actress but a director, producer and playwright, Distefano is artistic director of Brat Productions, a theater company she founded. It was this company that produced "Eden."
Brat Productions’ name was inspired by its founder’s life as an Army "brat." Born at Fort Leavenworth military base, Distefano’s family soon moved to Germany. She grew up in that country, as well as all over the United States. She settled in Philadelphia to pursue her theater career, majoring in acting at Temple and earning a master’s degree in directing at the university. She now teaches acting and directing as an adjunct faculty member at her alma mater and also teaches at Arcadia University in Glenside.
Whatever her other activities, Brat Productions is a major commitment. Headquartered in Old City, the company presents four plays each season. Its overall total is 32 productions with half directed by Distefano. She has either written or acted in most of the others.
Each season, Distefano chooses the plays, hires the artists and even handles most of the administrative details. And she still manages to take on acting roles, not only at the Walnut, but on other local stages.
Directing her company often means offstage drama. For instance, last season, Brat Productions presented a musical inspired by "Grease." The project, a co-production with Tapestry Theater, was planned as an all-female version. But the day of the final dress rehearsal, the companies were sent a cease and desist order from the musical’s licensing agent who had objected to the all-female casting. A lawyer representing Tapestry and Brat appealed directly to the playwright, who turned down the request.
Undaunted, Distefano and her colleagues sat down and wrote an original musical. Still an all-female
They worked in record time, 24 hours of frenetic activity. It opened two days later at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center, l7th and Fitzwater streets, which happens to be across from Distefano’s home. This new version had a successful three-week run and earned two Barrymore nods. Distefano not only penned the musical, but sat in the director’s chair and even took to the stage in a minor role.
"Playwright" isn’t a recent addition to Distefano’s resume. Some time ago, she spent a month in Ireland where she wrote "Popsicles Departure." The play was based on Irish tall-tale narratives and was made possible when she was awarded an Independence Foundation Fellowship in the Arts.
The result of her trip to the Emerald Isle was a one-woman show performed in Philadelphia two years ago, which also earned her two Barrymore nominations. Distefano even presented the work at an off-Broadway venue for one weekend.
In addition to her multiple hats in the theater world, Distefano has an important offstage role. She is the mother of Frances Cole Distefano, a fifth-grader at Girard Academic Music Program.
Frances’ creative genes come from both sides. Her father is actor William Zielinski making the 11-year-old’s parents both theater professionals. And Frances’ talents come through loud and clear as she sings and writes hip-hop poetry.
Zielinski and Distefano are no longer a couple, but are dedicated co-parents to their daughter. And they are theater colleagues.
"We’re good friends and we work well together," said Distefano, noting Zielinski has been in four Brat Productions.
Last season they played husband and wife in "Eden." Now they are once again onstage together — this time in "Yonkers." Zielinski plays Louie, the brother of Distefano’s Bella.
This meant a big challenge in terms of childcare. "Yonkers" is a co-production of the Walnut and Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami. The cast spent seven weeks in Florida prior to the Philadelphia opening last month.
When she learned Zielinski landed the role of Louie, Distefano admits she had mixed feelings.
"I knew he’d be a great Louie, but I was a bit panicked about how we would arrange childcare." she said.
The solution came when Distefano’s sister, Stephafie, volunteered to come in from Austin to care for Frances. During the holiday break, Frances and her aunt spent a leisurely 10 days under the Miami sun while visiting Distefano and Zielinski.
The performance schedule for "Yonkers" is 12 weeks, first in Miami, then in Philly. By the time the play ends next month, the actors will have performed 90 shows.
Daunting? Not for this dedicated actress.
"Outside of Broadway or a national tour, it’s a rare opportunity to be able to do such a long run," Distefano said.
Definitely high energy, Distefano leaves her Brat Productions office in Old City and dashes into a nearby coffee shop for an interview. Then it’s off to Christ Church to watch the late afternoon rehearsal of a company that will be working with Brat in the spring.
After a quick dinner, Distefano heads to the Walnut to prepare for her role as Bella, where she often plays to a full house of more than 1,000.
Every evening, Distefano leaves the theater on a high.
"This is absolutely one of my most rewarding theater experiences," she said. "It’s a beautiful, heartwarming comedy. And performing in it every night is a privilege and a joy."
Neil Simon’s "Lost in Yonkers" runs through March 5 at the Walnut Street Theatre. For tickets or information, call 215-574-3550 or visit www.wsonline.org.
