Susan Schwirck – Miss Daisy Susan has been playing mothers since high school and is delighted to play Boolie Werthan’s mother in her debut appearance with Center Players.  Other mothers she has played include Mrs. Beckoff in “Torch Song Trilogy”, Catherine Petkoff in “Arms and the Man”, Laura in “The Second Time Around”, Anne Stanley in “Forty Carats”, Flo Owens in “Picnic” and Mrs. Baker in “Come Blow Your Horn”.  Favorite non-maternal roles include Vita Louise in “Harvey”, Ruth in “Blithe Spirit”,  Billie Dawn in “Born Yesterday” and Betty Meeks in “The Foreigner”.  When not treading the boards, Susan enjoys playing tennis, walking the dog, volunteering for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, dancing and reveling in her real children and grandchildren.

Raymond Dothard (Hoke Coleburn) Ray is very happy to be back on stage at Centers Players for the first time since his first community theater performance in “The Boys Next Door" in 2002. Since then Ray has been seen in; "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" at Navesink Library Theater and Eatontown Playhouse. "Love Always" and "Driving Miss Daisy" at First Avenue Theater in Atlantic Highlands, "A Few Good Men", "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Plaza Suite" at the Shrewsbury Players Dessert Theater in Shrewsbury. Ray is very happy to be with an excellent cast here at Center Players for such a wonderful show. He would like to thank Director, Bernice Garfield-Szita and her staff for this opportunity. He also thanks this wife, Monica, and his friends for their support. Enjoy the show!

Raymond Sammak - Boolie (weeks 1, 2) Raymond Sammak began acting, on a dare from a friend, at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. His first role was as the lead in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” followed by appearances in, “The Three Penny Opera”, Neil Simon’s, “The Odd Couple” and “The Chairs” by Samuel Beckett. In New York City, Raymond studied acting with William Esper at The Neighborhood Playhouse, Weist-Barron Studios, HB Studio and privately with Marion Brasch. He appeared in several Off-Off Broadway productions including, “The Marathon”, “Ward Six”, “Cain and Artyom”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “Shade”. In 1978, Raymond completed an internship at The New Jersey Shakespeare Festival appearing as Bernardo in “Hamlet” opposite Eric Booth of the famous Booth acting family. He also appeared in, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”, “The Country Girl”, “Arms and the Man” and “The Love of Four Colonels”. Raymond, who lives in Manalapan with his three children, is happy to be returning to the stage after a 28 year absence.

Richard Flanagan - Boolie (weeks 3, 4, 5) In this, his first appearance at Center Playhouse, Richard switches roles from an on stage educator for the MHNJ Players (Mental Health Players) to a lighter fare as Boolie. Coming on the heels of a performance for Scotch Plains Academy Police Cadets, the opportunity to provide entertainment as well as insight into another era is greatly rewarding.  Richard feels fortunate to be working with such an accomplished cast and director, and to be in an atmosphere where laughter is the medium for the message.  Many thanks to Annie, his daily light, for introducing him to Center Players!

Bernice Garfield-Szita - Director - Bernice is delighted to have the opportunity to direct "Driving Miss Daisy" with such a marvelous cast and crew. She has been with Center Players Since 1995 and was a member of the original board that opened the doors to Center Playhouse in 2001. She brings over 40 years experience in theater and the arts to her work with Center Players. She co-directed Crossing Delancey, directed the Immigrant, Steel Magnolias, Real Women Have Curves and Lost in Yonkers. She also played “The Director” in Play On. As current President of Center Players, she loves the opportunity to help bring high quality live theater to the community and to be a part of one of the finest theater families in Monmouth County! In her “day job”, Bernice co-directs Contemporary Counseling Center and ActionArtz Training Institute with her husband Bob.

Colleen DeFelice  -  Stage Manager After her first experience as stage manager for last year’s production of “6 Rms Riv Vu”, Colleen is happy to fill that role once again.  Since coming to Center Playhouse  two years ago, she has enjoyed being  on stage as Aunt Gert  in “Lost in Yonkers”,  and The Woman in 4a in  “6 Rms Riv Vu”.  She has also enjoyed the opportunity here to not only learn more about backstage, costumes, props and tech, but is extremely grateful for the atmosphere that encourages her to express ideas and creativity.  She is thankful and excited to be working with Bernice, Bob, and this wonderful, talented cast.  She would like to express special thanks to the backstage crew, especially Mimi.  “I couldn’t do it without you”.