Janet Schreiner's background in professional children's and musical theatre creates The Cat's Pajamas' high-octane blend of music and theatrical hijinks. Janet has worked as an actor, director, producer, and high school theatre teacher, and early childhood music teacher. To answer the question most frequently asked by fifth graders, she's been on stage since she was in ...fifth grade.
Janet sings lead vocals, plays the kazoo, is fluent in pirate, fish, shark, and a number of other puppet languages, and runs the band (which is like herding cats). She also wears a shower cap on stage, packs a 4-foot shark and a plunger, and makes puppets out of Emily's socks!
Pianist/accordionist Heath Allen is the music director and resident composer for The Cat’s Pajamas. He is also a member of the Bearded Ladies Cabaret, and co-composed their 2015 collaboration with Opera Philadelphia, Andy: A Popera. Heath has released seven CDs of his original jazz and leads a French music band, Philly Musette.
Emily Bate started in the mailroom at Cat Headquarters back in 2007! She plays guitar and sings harmonies in the band. She's also a singer, guitarist, composer and avid costume-wearer in many projects in Philly and NYC and teaches music to preschoolers.
Bob Beach has been a working professional musician for more than 40 years, adding blues harmonica, flute and vocals to a broad scope of genres. Bob performs regularly with both local and national touring acts and does sound at World Cafe Live. He's been wailing away with The Cat's Pajamas since 2007.
Ben Diamond is a drummer, percussionist, and composer based in Philadelphia. In addition to The Cat's Pajamas, he is drummer and co-musical director of theatrical funk outfit Red 40 & The Last Groovement. Known for his work making music in the Philadelphia theater scene, Ben has performed with The Wilma Theater (Passing Strange), The Arden Theater Co. (Cabaret), 11th Hour Theater Co. (Company), Lightning Rod Special (Unformed Consent), Pig Iron Theater Co. (99 Breakups), Shakespeare in Clark Park (Henry IV), The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret, and many more. He also plays percussion in fellow Cat Vince Tampio's Sextet. Ben has been a member of the Cat family since 2014. He holds a B.A. in Music from Haverford College.
Martha Stuckey is an artist based in Philadelphia, PA. She leads Red 40 & The Last Groovement. The band was in residency at FringeArts from 2014-16, and in 2016 they released the album "She's Keen To Feed." Stuckey devises and performs with Pig Iron Theater Company (Pay Up, 99 Breakups, I Promised Myself to Live Faster [Workshop], Period of Animate Existence), Team Sunshine (The Sincerity Project, Society of Civil Discourse), Cynthia Hopkins (Requiem for Five Shows), Lightning Rod Special (Hackles), Almanac (Nightfall) and The Bearded Ladies (Mommy Queerest, Get Pegged). In 2014, Stuckey performed with Martha Graham Cracker at Joe's Pub in NYC. She held a solo performance series called "Moonlighting" at FringeArts in 2016. She holds an MFA in Devised Performance from the Pig Iron School and UArts.
Vince Tampio is a trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist (as you can see!), and arranger/composer. He holds a Masters of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of the Arts. Vince is the trumpeter and arranger for Philadelphia's premier 1960's soul tribute band, York Street Hustle. Additional bands Vince works with include the John Byrne Band, You Do You, Red 40 & The Last Groovement, and the Philly Phatness horn section. He leads the Vince Tampio Sextet which includes fellow Cat Ben Diamond on percussion. Vince has recently appeared on more than 30 albums, including his most recent solo album Sound Plan.
Drummer Michael Beeson has played with The Cat's Pajamas for many years, and was responsible for the beat that got YOU dancing on "Just An Old Jalopy". Michael is a freelance musician and plays with a variety of bands in the Philadelphia area. He works with horses, too! Whoa, Nelly!
Rodney directed and co-produced both of The Cat's Pajamas DVDs, subs on guitar and bass and plays all the fancy parts in full band shows! His awesome playing can be heard on Backseat Driver. Rodney is an Emmy award-winner who composes music for film and television. He is the founder of Melodyvision, a full-service music, sound and recording facility providing production services, content, and education for the arts and entertainment communities since 1985.
