Page 17 - The Phil Opening Night program

GUEST ARTISTS

Marianne Leone

Marianne Leone is an actress, screenwriter, and author.
She had a recurring role on HBO’s The Sopranos as Joanne
Moltisanti, Christopher’s (Michael Imperioli’s) mother. She
has also appeared in films by Martin Scorsese, John Sayles,
Nancy Savoca, and the Farrelly brothers. Her essays and op-
ed pieces on a variety of topics have appeared in the Boston
Globe. She is married to Chris Cooper, an Academy Award-
winning actor, and was Jesse Cooper’s mother for seventeen
years. After Jesse’s death in 2005, her essay on grief was published in the Boston
Globe (“He Was Our Touchstone”). Her memoir, Knowing Jesse: A Mother’s Story
of Grief, Grace, and Everyday Bliss , published by Simon & Schuster, grew out of
that essay. A Foundation has been set up in Jesse’s name, which supports inclusion
and adapted sports for disabled people through the Federation for Children with
Special Needs and AccesSportAmerica. The foundation also supports disabled
orphans in Romania through the Romanian Children’s Relief Fund. Ms. Cooper
lives on a tidal river on Boston’s South Shore with her husband and two rescue
dogs, Titi and Sugar.

Ed Hoopman

Ed Hoopman is an accomplished actor whose work can be
heard both locally and nationally. He has appeared at New
Rep Theatre in Ideation, Mister Roberts, Indulgences, and
touring productions of Macbeth and Hamlet. Recent credits
include Camelot (Lyric Stage Company) and Finish Line
(Boston Theater Company/Boch Center). Other regional
credits include Peter and the Starcatcher, City of Angels,
Dear Elizabeth, The Importance of Being Earnest, and
Animal Crackers (Lyric Stage Company); Dog Paddle (Bridge Rep); King Lear,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Taming of the Shrew (Commonwealth
Shakespeare); A Civil War Christmas (Huntington Theatre Company); Assassins,
After Ashley, and A Clockwork Orange (Company One); and Shear Madness
(Charles Playhouse). New York credits include Interior: Panic and World’s Fastest
Hamlet (Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre); Jester’s Dead (The Outfit); and Foreign
War (Random Access Theater). Television credits include See Kate Run (ABC);
and Aftershock (History Channel).

Mr. Hoopman is also an accomplished voiceover actor. He is the voice of Walt
Disney World’s and Disneyland’s descriptive audio programs for the visually
impaired, including rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean, “it’s a small world”,
Spaceship Earth, Universe of Energy, Mickey’s PhilHarMagic, and many others.
Locally, his descriptive audio work extends to the New England Patriot’s Hall of
Fame Museum at Gillette Stadium. Born and raised in Northern California, Ed
now calls Cambridge home after 13 years in the Boston area.

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Season 2023/24
S eason 2 0 2 3 / 2 4 15