Sofia Landon Geier
Sofia founded Unity Stage Company to bring the wonder of live theater to her Western Queens hometown. She launched her own storied theater career as a stage actor, studying drama at Northwestern University where she performed everything from Greek tragedy, Shakespeare and restoration comedy to Second City Improv. Sofia acted with several of America’s leading repertory companies, including Connecticut’s Long Wharf and Stamford Theatres, Baltimore Center Stage, Albany’s Capital Rep (which she co-founded), and Actors’ Theatre of Louisville. Sofia received a Drama Desk nomination for her Off-Broadway performance of the title role in Peg O’ My Heart. On Broadway, Sofia played Clelia in Larry Shue’s comedy The Nerd.
Sofia is honored to be one of that bunch of New York actors lucky enough to play a featured role on TV’s Law and Order (Benevolence). She has the unique distinction of having “died” while co-starring in three daytime dramas — accidentally with a fireplace poker on Guiding Light, driving her car off a cliff on Another World, and being stabbed to death on As the World Turns! She then spent fifteen years as an Emmy award-winning dialogue writer for numerous television “soaps.”
As a playwright Sofia adapted the novels “The Railway Children” and “Mysterious Mansions” into works for the stage. She directed Yellow Face by David Henry at Queens Theater in the Park (Outrageous Fortune Co.) With Unity Stage Company Sofia directed her own adaptation of Moliere’s Pretentious Young Ladies (with original songs by Tom Ashton), Six Cylinder Love, Loyalties, Spreading the News, many of the pieces in 2011’s and 2012’s Figgy Pudding Short Play Fest and all of Unity Stage’s Children’s Musicals from 2009 through 2012. Her directing work with teens includes Urinetown, the Musical!, A History of the American Film by Christopher Durang, and Like You Like It, a rock musical version of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Sofia’s proudest accomplishment is that of mom to her two brilliant, creative, and kind daughters, Martha Joan (M.J.) Geier – President of Ticking Clock Productions, and Hallie K. Geier.
M.J. Geier
An accomplished actor and singer, M.J. was an Interdisciplinary Studies major at Marymount Manhattan College, focusing on Social Change and Creative Writing. A graduate of Professional Performing Arts School’s four-year Musical Theatre program, M.J. is proficient in the acting techniques of Uta Hagen and Stanislavsky. M.J.’s directing expertise also reflects her improv study at The PIT, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Second City, and with Jordan Peele of the TV sketch comedy group “Key and Peele.”
Some of M.J.’s favorite performances have been as Phylis in Six Cylinder Love, M’Press in Pretentious Young Ladies (adapted from Moliere with music by Tom Ashton), and several featured roles in 2011’s and 2012’s Figgy Pudding Short Play Fest, all with Unity Stage. Other memorable roles include the title character in The House of Bernarda Alba and Loretta in Christopher Durang’s A History of the American Film.
M.J. shared her considerable theater skills as a teaching artist during Unity Stage’s six years of presenting summer theater camps. She developed Unity Stage’s teen and tween programs with co-director Daniel Weiner, staging productions including Arsenic and Old Lace, The Odd Couple (female version), Urinetown, Into the Woods, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Laramie Project. During this time, M.J. also served as Unity Stage’s Supervising Director for two years. M.J. is Co-Founder and President of Ticking Clock Productions.
Danny Weiner
Daniel is an experienced performer, director, and visual artist who has been teaching and directing with Unity Stage’s youth programs since the company’s early days. He acted with Unity Stage in 2011’s Figgy Pudding Short Play Fest (Dir. Sofia Landon Geier) as well as in Shades of Light as part of the American Globe Theater’s 15 minute Short Play Festival. He appeared Off-Broadway in a production of “Funeral!” (Dir. Wayne Yeager) with Reality Aside Theatre. Daniel has performed in several film shorts and music videos including “The Closet Door” (Dir. Niccolo Brocato, Ticking Clock Productions). Daniel studied improv at The Peoples Improv theater and taught theatre and writing in Brooklyn for three years at the Neighborhood Improvement Association. A visual artist Daniel exhibits his paintings at venues in Manhattan, and is a branding event artist for Jo Malone, Aerin, and others. His co-directing work with teens for Unity Stage includes productions of Arsenic and Old Lace, The Odd Couple (female version), Urinetown, Into the Woods, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Laramie Project.
Brandon Logan
Brandon Logan co-starred to acclaim as The Doctor in the 1st and 2nd National Tours of The Book of Mormon. Brandon> has shared his talents with young people as an artistic director and teaching artist with Applause NY, Hello Broadway, and the Broadway Collective. Brandon is strongly dedicated to artistic programming that is inclusive, engaging, and that reflects all members of today’s society.
Brandon directed our Sunnyside/Woodside cast’s production of Shrek Jr, and is excited to return to Unity Stage to direct 2022/2023’s production of Oliver! Jr.
Stella Kim
Stella Kim (Music Director) recently starred as Helene in “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” at Capital City Theater. Stella co-starred as Lucinda in “Into the Woods” at The Hollywood Bowl with Sutton Foster. Before joining Unity Stage, she taught musical theater to youth in L.A. through YADA.
Stella was music director for both casts of last year’s Shrek Jr and is thrilled to return to music direct Oliver! Jr.