Caregivers in Three Acts

Edward Emmi

Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Actor in 300+ Shows, Professional Soloist (Tenor)

Offstage: “Employee Relations is often a behind-the-scenes type of work. We support our caregivers, both clinical and non-clinical, with their questions and help them resolve any issues.

“This helps them to be the best they can be so that they can serve our neighbors fully with love and excellence.

“Working in the theater has made me very comfortable in front of any audience. It has also helped me to be able to speak to all levels of management here.

“Since you need to listen to other actors onstage in order to be able to react to them, I feel it has helped my ability to listen to others, which is a very important component of my job in Employee Relations.

“I’m inspired by my team. It is great to be part of such a caring and supportive group of caregivers.”

Onstage: “It’s a lot of fun. I learn from every show, from every director what works and what doesn’t, what inspires and what doesn’t,” Emmi told Delaware Live in a feature article. “I like the creative process, going from the written page and, when you’re done creating, you have something come alive.”

Getting his start in community theater at Neumann University, his first role was Cliff in “Cabaret” and some favorite parts include Captain Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” Mr. Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors,”  and Magaldi in “Evita.”

Favorite song: “Love Changes Everything” from “Aspects of Love.”  “I was never in that show, but I’ve sung the song at many events. It emphasizes the profound impact that love has on a person, no matter the circumstances. It is especially relevant to me in light of our values at ChristianaCare.”

Upcoming show: “Sister Act” at Candlelight Dinner Theatre, Arden, Delaware. Role: Monsignor O’Hara.

Jason Tokarski

Senior Web Content Editor, External Affairs

Actor, Photographer, Home Cook and Baker

Offstage: “As soon as I joined ChristianaCare, I was immediately made to feel welcome and as a valued member of the team. These are knowledgeable experts that I’m excited to work with.

“I enjoy feeling like I’m making a difference in my community. I know I’m not on the frontline like our nurses and doctors. But on the days when there is big news to share — when we’re satisfying the community’s need to know how they can be safe and healthy and we’re getting that information out promptly and accurately — those are the days when my job is most satisfying.”

Onstage: “I do a lot of community theater — primarily musicals, but some straight plays recently, too. I consider myself a little shy and reserved, so taking on the persona of another character gives me an outlet to step outside my comfort zone.

“As Buddy the Elf, I learned that spaghetti with maple syrup doesn’t taste so bad.

“It’s a wonderful feeling, to work with the rest of the cast and crew to give the audience an escape for a couple hours.”

Other performances include “Company,” “Into the Woods,” “Mamma Mia,” “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “The Spitfire Grill.”

Inspiring song: “A song that has stuck with me long after doing the show is ‘For Now’ from ‘Avenue Q.’ It’s a great reminder of ‘this too shall pass.’ No matter how bad things may seem, they won’t last forever.

“And that goes for the positives in your life as well. You don’t know how long they’ll be with you, so take a moment to appreciate them while you have them — ‘everything in life is only for now.’”

Upcoming show: “The Laramie Project,” Reedy Point Players, Delaware City, Delaware. Roles: Seven characters in an ensemble cast.

James Wier

Digital Project Manager, External Affairs

Puppeteer and Performer, Workout Buff, Video Gamer

Offstage: “The best part of my job is turning people’s ideas and dreams into reality. I get to listen to how people want to digitally represent themselves and I have the honor of interpreting that and finding solutions for them. It is always a new experience and new challenge.

“I started at ChristianaCare in the middle of the pandemic. I think the biggest challenge was truly understanding how multifaceted this organization is and how critical each arm of the organization has been in combatting a global crisis all while continuing to care for our community.”

Behind the screen and behind the scenes: “Our team is the digital front door to all of ChristianaCare’s services and offerings. The people behind the screen have a vested interest in the care and services that we offer, as well as the people we offer it to.”

Onstage: “I perform in community theatre in my free time. I’m also a regular in the gym and an avid video gamer. Hearing that I’m a singer usually surprises people.

“I love all things Disney, and was really excited to play both Jehan Frollo and St. Aphrodisius in ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ at SALT Performing Arts in Chester Springs in early 2019.”

“In the fall in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ at Steel River Playhouse, I was the puppeteer for Audrey II in all her forms. I operated all three plants onstage so when they talked or moved they matched the timing of the voice actor.” Click here to see the puppets in action.

Favorite lyrics: “Someday life will be kinder, love will be blinder, some new afternoon. Godspeed, this bright millennium. Hope lives on … Let it come someday soon.” — “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

“The sentiment is simply that we hope for a better and kinder future. Every single person you meet is fighting a battle that you know nothing about. It may be figuring out the future, forgiving a past hurt or any of the many hurdles that accompany life.

“The lyrics talk about the hope for peace and love for everyone. It seems aspirational but it is something I hope for, not just for myself but for everyone around me.”

Upcoming show: “I will be auditioning for a few shows this upcoming year, so stay tuned!”