Mary Leigh Filippone
Theatre Teacher

Mary Leigh Filippone begins her third year in the Center Performing and Fine Arts’ Theatre Department.  Mary teaches introductory through advanced acting classes in the Lower and Upper School.  She also directed the 2008 and 2009 Lower School productions of How To Eat Like A Child and Anne of Green Gables.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Educational Theatre from New York University.  At NYU, Mary was a member of Theatrix!- a student-run organization where she directed Cotton Girls.  She was also seen in Noel Coward’s Hands Across the Sea at the historical Provincetown Playhouse.  While student teaching at the Little Red Schoolhouse/Elisabeth Irwin High School, Mary took on the roles of assistant director and stage manager for their spring production of Kiss Me Kate.

Mary has been performing onstage since the age of ten and credits Young People’s Theatre Workshop for fostering her love and passion for theatre.  After growing up in the YPTW program, she joined the staff and currently teaches Saturday classes in Musical Comedy, Broadway and Tap dance and Improvisation.  In recent years Mary has become an active member of The Players Club of Swarthmore, taking on assistant director, assistant choreographer and producer roles in Seussical, Beauty and the Beast and Romance/Romance among others.  She looks forward to directing Bye Bye Birdie on the Players Club’s Mainstage this winter. Mary spends her summers at Upper Darby Summer Stage in their Rising Stars Program where she recently directed Willy Wonka kids!

Mary has an extensive background in musical theatre where favorite roles include Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!, Mae Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun, and Maggie Jones in 42nd Street.