TISHA TINSMAN   (Laura Bonafacci)

Tisha Tinsman was born in Brooklyn, NY and now resides in Lumberville, PA with her husband, Jimmy, of 31 years.  They are the proud parents of two lovely and talented daughters, Tisha Marie and Victoria.

Tisha began her career at age nine, singing at the Metropolitan Opera in the children's chorus for 6 years.  She worked with Leonard Bernstein and was directed by Franco Zeffirelli.

Tisha studied dance at age fifteen and after attending Kingsborough Community College as a Theater Major, just three months shy of graduation, left school and joined Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus as a dancer and aerialist. Tisha then traveled for two years, married a clown, and returned to NY. She and her husband joined The Big Apple Circus where they performed many acts; stilts, various aerial performances, and bare back riding on horses and elephants.  She left the show in 1989, due to a fall her husband incurred, moved to Bucks County, PA, and returned to her career as an actor.  Her special skills enabled her to land several spots in commercials hanging in the air from a trapeze.  Mrs. Tinsman also appeared as a circus performer in The Annie Movie, directed by John Houston.

Tisha has appeared in Tony N' Tina's Wedding for three years in the Philadelphia cast, as the mother of the bride, and also performed four other roles.  She works as a professional look-a-like and in comedy shows. Tisha worked with Sylvester Stallone in the last Rocky Balboa film. She also appeared in several television commercials; one with Lebron James, for Sprite. In 2009 Tisha produced and appeared in A Sicilian Tale, directed by Frank Lisi, which won best short film at the 2009 NYII Film Festival. 

Tisha's skills are not limited to acting; you may see her on set as a Hair and Makeup Artist, a Set Designer, or as a Wardrobe Specialist.  Mrs. Tinsman is also a Writer and Director, and has worked with IronWorth Productions in the area of script development, marketing/promotions, and sales. Currently, she is the Assistant Director of Frank Lisi's, The Red Corvette, in which she also holds a co-starring role.  Tisha is in the process of developing a screenplay, titled Ruby Red Shoes, and also a "one-woman-show" to be performed on stage titled I Wanted to be on Broadway but I married a Clown. 

Tisha's newest passion is Photography, you may see her either in front or behind the camera, but she will clearly state. "as long as a creative and artistic shooting is in process, Tisha Tinsman is a very happy woman"!

EMELISE ALEANDRI   (The Mother)

Emelise Aleandri is currently starring in the title role of Sister Italy (Paisan Films). She recently created the role of Georgia in Hushhh the Musical, which had a sold out run at the Arias Arts Center Payan Theatre and will soon go into the Triad Theatre on 72nd Street in New York City.

Emelise has performed in numerous feature films, television shows and theatrical productions, including Spike Lee’s films Crooklyn and Summer of Sam, the Walnut Street Theatre production of Italian Funerals and Other Festive Occasions and the television production, Penguins and Peacocks as Eleonora Duse.

She is a frequent featured guest as an author and expert on Italian-American culture on TV and radio programs, as well as documentaries such as, Little Italy: Past Present and Future (NBC TV) and The Italian Passion for Life (PBS).

Emelise is the Artistic Director of Frizzi & Lazzi The Olde Time Italian-American Musical Theatre Company, which recreates 19th century immigrant entertainments. She has produced three documentaries, Teatro: The Legacy of Italian American Theatre, Festa: Italian Festival Traditions and Circo Rois - Che Bella Vita! (The Rois Circus - What a Wonderful Life). Emelise also created and hosted the first nationally syndicated cable program about Italian-Americans, Italics: The Italian-American Magazine.

"I really enjoyed playing the iconic role of the strong Italian mother, the classic symbol of a dutiful Italian son's consciousness, which in this film influences the direction taken by the title role, Vito. Playing a character who wields so much power was terrific for me."

WILLIAM DEMEO   (Father La Golbo)

William DeMeo has extensive credits not only as an actor, but also as a producer and screenwriter.

William's first taste in the business was a small role in A Bronx Tale. His first feature film as a writer and producer was One Deadly Road, which he also played a leading role in. The film was distributed on home video, pay-per-view television and overseas. Next he wrote, produced, co-directed and played a leading role in the feature film Wannabes. The film was picked up by Artisan Entertainment and was released in theatres before its DVD release in 2002. William won the Best Actor Award for his performance in Wannabes at the New York Independent International Film Festival.

William then co-wrote, produced and starred in the indie film Searching for Bobby D along with Carmen Electra, Sandra Bernhardt, Mario Cantone, Tyson Beckford, and Tony Darrow. The film went on to win numerous Audience Favorite and Best Comedy Feature Awards at film festivals internationally and was picked up for DVD distribution by Monarch Entertainment after a successful theatrical release.

William has appeared in numerous other feature films, television shows and in mini-series. He portrayed a young Carlo Gambino in Boss of Bosses and the character Al Pacino in Analyze That. He was featured in Hackers, played a role in the award winning short I Am Woody and appeared numerous times in the last three seasons of The Sopranos as one of Paulie Walnuts' crew members, Jason Molinaro.

Recently he played a supporting role in the independent feature film For Whom The Drum Beats, actor Frank Vincent’s son in the feature film American Woman, a pick up artist in the television reality show pilot of Geek To Guido and a regular mob crew prankster member in the television reality show pilot You Got Whacked: Gangsters and Pranksters.

William will play the leading role and rather complicated character of Jackie Matero in the soon to be produced feature film boxing drama Southpaw, which will be directed by Paul Borghese.

William is also the co-screenwriter and lead actor in the feature film Goat with Armand Assante and Ice T and directed by Paul Borghese. The film is due to come out next winter.

LOUIS VANARIA   (The Gardener)

Louis Vanaria is a true "Bronx Tale"- born in the Bronx, New York, Louis has always aspired to be a singer/song writer. After hearing about an "open call" audition for Robert DeNiro’s directorial debut film entitled A Bronx Tale, Louis worked his way in to try to land a singing role, practically on a lark, completely nonchalant. He never anticipated the outcome, and instead he was chosen for the part of "Crazy Mario", a featured role. Soon after that, Louis was cast in the CBS movie of the week Young at Heart, starring Olympia Dukakis and his boyhood idol, Frank Sinatra.

With his singing career put on hold, Louis relocated to Los Angeles after landing a weekly series sitcom on the WB Network in the show entitled Kirk, starring Kirk Cameron. Louis played the weekly "regular", Eddie Balducci, Kirk's best friend. Forty-three shows later, Louis returned to his first love, singing, and continued to sing in many upscale restaurants such as "Nino's" and "Jilly's" in NYC, as well as appearing in Foxwood with Jay Leno and Connie Francis.

Louis continued to book guest spots on such prime time shows as NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Third Watch, and Boardwalk Empire to name a few. He has also appeared in numerous independent films, including Searching for Bobby D, West of Brooklyn starring Joe Montagna, This Thing of Ours starring Frank Vincent, Vincent Pastore and James Caan, and most recently Goat starring William DeMeo, Armand Assante and Ice-T.

Louis currently lives bi-coastally, but his primary residence is New York.

"My personal experiences have taught me that the wisest people I have met were, in many instances, the lowly, humble, simple souls typified by the gardener I played."

MARCANTONIO MEI   (Young Vito)

Marcontonio lives in upstate New York. He is on his school's honor roll and tennis varsity team. He has a passion for skiing, snowboarding and paint balling. Marcantonio is very proud of his Italian heritage and has no problem signing his text messages as "il Migliore", the best. Shooting the movie was a fun experience for him and he hopes for more in the future.

CARIN MEI   (Marie)

Carin C. Mei was born and raised in Northern Italy. She came to the United States in 1982 and graduated from New York University. She lived and worked in Manhattan for 14 years, and about 15 years ago life brought her to the Mohawk Valley, which she now considers home. Being Italian, she loves to cook and entertain family and friends. Carin believes that John wanted her in the role of the maid because of her cooking skills. Little did he know that this maid could have a mind of her own! She loved sharing this experience with her son Marcantonio and with the wonderful cast of the movie.

MARIA COFANO   (Sister Grace Vincent)

Maria Cofano has been involved in various theatrical productions, plays and musical venues in her community in upstate New York. She has pursued her love for the performing arts by being active with her college's drama department, and most recently with local community theatres. Her talent has landed her leading roles in several productions, from comedies to dramas including "Run for Your Wife", "Squabbles", "Blind Date", "The Curious Savage", and "Sure Thing". She has also performed in musical theatre including stage productions of "Scrooge" and "Hello Dolly", and she also sings in a classical choir. Maria had the unique opportunity to play the part of the pious Catholic nun in “Vito Bonafacci” while rehearsing at the same time for the vivacious character 'Rusty' in a local production of "Goodbye Charlie". Although Maria loves the live stage, she was thrilled to be involved in "Vito" and hopes to have future roles on the big screen. In her spare time, she portrays the role of a computer engineer. Her other interests include creative writing, singing, painting, decorating, gardening, and physical fitness.

ERCOLE VENTURA   (Grandfather)

Ercole is a retired mechanical engineer. Born and raised in Italy, graduated from "Teachers College" Catanzaro Italy. He emigrated with his entire family to Utica, N.Y. in 1954. He is a graduate of Utica College, B.S. Mechanical Engineering. He’s been married for 53 years to his wife Patricia, and has seven children and six grandchildren. Over the years he has avidly played soccer. Also, he’s a self-taught accordionist and plays at local functions. Acting experience prior to Vito Bonafacci was in the movie Come Away With Me - a film directed by his brother Carlo Ventura. In the role of Vito's grandfather he identifies with “the honesty, integrity, and wisdom of the character, as well as the grandfather's love of Italian tradition and the willingness of Vito to listen, and the respect Vito shows his grandpa."

MIKE RIZZO   (Car Washer)

Mike Rizzo was born and raised in Utica, N.Y. He’s had odd jobs throughout his life, primarily dishwashing and janitorial work. Mike was in a high school drama club, and always had an affinity for acting.

"I have been dealing with prima donnas like Vito my whole life - I can really relate to the character - it was me."

RALPH SQUILLACE   (Barber)

Hairstylist by profession, and owner of Razor's Edge Haircutting in Utica, NY. Married to Joyce the "love of his life", and has two "wonderful" daughters - Loren Summers of Michigan and Kristin Hattiancadi. The "rainbows" he enjoys are his grandchildren Olivia, Sofia, and Sarina.

"When first asked to do the movie I wasn't sure I wanted to do it. As it turns out it was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. In many respects the character I played share my own sentiments and my own inner struggle with faith."

FATHER RICHARD DELLOS   (as himself)

Father Richard Dellos, a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse for over 40 years, has served the Lord in nine different parishes in each of the four regions of the Diocese and has joyfully and gratefully ministered to God's people. He has served as a chaplain in a jail and in a business school in Syracuse, N.Y. (CCBI) and as the Diocesan liaison to the Bishop for charismatic renewal.

Father Dellos had a short part in a film Quiet Darkness by Abigail Rose Kirk and Alexander J. Wysocki. He has also appeared in Watch With Me, a documentary film by Ryan and Karey Nobles, before his present role as a priest in "Vito Bonafacci". By playing the role of a priest in this film, Father Dellos has a "renewed appreciation of the place of the priest as God's instrument in the conversion of wayward souls."