Pintello Comedy Theater is a family affair for the Pintellos. The family includes their daughter Whitney and her husband Robert McClelland, along with their two daughters, Shelby and Mary; son Simon and his wife Stephanie, and is only complete with the enthusiasm, support and shared expertise of their dearest friends and near-family.

With daughter Whitney directing, acting, designing and decorating the sets, her husband Rob helping with construction and front of the house service, and son Simon and his wife Stephanie acting on stage and as House Managers you’ll get a full dose of family at all of their shows. Even the grandgirls get in the act when Shelby and Mary paint sets and assist with set-up.

Rod and Marion in Canada to visit their favorite playwright, Norm Foster!

After producing four of his plays and reading many more, Pintellos decided they’d like to meet “Canada’s Neil Simon.”  With some research and a few phone calls, they discovered that Norm occasionally performs in his own plays at professional theaters near Toronto.  They were delighted to find that he would be performing that summer in Pintello Comedy Theater’s latest hit production, “The Long Weekend.”  

Though the Bluewater Summer Theater in Kincardine, Ontario, was a long ways away, it would certainly be a new adventure for the couple, who love to travel.  So they booked flights to Buffalo, New York, and e-mailed Mr. Foster to say they’d be attending.  He suggested they stay after the play to meet.  (Of course!  As often demonstrated at PCT, talking with the actors and other patrons after the show is part of the fun!)

After flying all night, Pintellos drove all day across the beautiful rolling farmland of southern Ontario to the shore of Lake Huron, dressed up and headed for the little theater.  It was very similar to Pintello Comedy Theater, an older building, raised stage, seating at small round tables, and a friendly audience.  What a treat to watch the author perform his own work, and in a play that Rod and Marion had just finished performing in themselves!  While it is not customary for the performers at that theater to greet the patrons afterward, Norm Foster came out to meet his visitors from California who had brought scripts for him to autograph.  And they brought Garlic Festival wine glasses from Gilroy as gifts for their new friend Norm.

It was a whirlwind trip, as Pintellos drove back to Buffalo the next morning, spending a day and night at romantic Niagara Falls before flying back to the Bay Area.  They’ll tell you enthusiastically that they had a great time, a terrific “Long Weekend.”  Norm Foster was gracious and bright, still a favorite playwright at Pintello Comedy Theater – look for his picture and the autographed scripts on the wall there!