Our 553rd Production
Directed by Carla Childs
June 12th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 26th, 27th, 28th, 2026
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
The place is the Deep South, the time 1948, just prior to the civil rights movement. Having recently demolished another car, Daisy Werthan, a rich, sharp-tongued Jewish widow of seventy-two, is informed by her son, Boolie, that henceforth she must rely on the services of a chauffeur. The person he hires for the job is a thoughtful, unemployed black man, Hoke, whom Miss Daisy immediately regards with disdain and who, in turn, is not impressed with his employer’s patronizing tone and, he believes, her latent prejudice.
Meet the Cast
Kareem Diallo Carpenter as Hoke Colburn
Kareem is honored to be making his debut at Old Academy Players. He is a longtime theatre artist from Philadelphia. Trained at the legendary Freedom Theatre, he later moved south to Atlanta to pursue a degree in theatre studying at Morehouse College for 4 years under Spelman College Drama and Dance, making his final educational stop at Baltimore’s Coppin State University for Visual and Performing Arts. Some of his favorite roles performed include his Barrymore nominated performance as Charles Grandy in Do Lord Remember Me, as Kreon in Antigone, and as Bynum in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.
Michael Tarringer as Boolie Werthan
Michael is delighted to be returning to Old Academy Players, having previously appeared here in The Dining Room (Client/Charlie/Architect/Ted/Stuart/Tony/Standish); And Then There Were None (Dr. Armstrong); The Elephant Man (Treves) and Eurydice (Father). Michael also has performed at other theaters in the Philadelphia area, including Playcrafters of Skippack in Ripcord (Clown/Lewis/Benjamin); Forge Theatre in Leading Ladies (Reverend Wooley); Barley Sheaf Players in Peter and the Starcatcher (Lord Aster); and Stagecrafters in Something Intangible (Von Meyerhoff). In addition, Michael wrote a two-act play, The Best-Laid Plans for Romance, that premiered at SALT Performing Arts. When not on stage, Michael wors as a class action litigation attorney. He is grateful to be a part of this production and sends hugs to his family.
Susan Blair as Daisy Werthan
Susan has long been active in PA & NJ theaters. She is thrilled to return to OAP in this dream role. Previously at OAP: The Dining Room (2025) and Love, Loss & What I Wore (2024), Calendar Girls (2019), Morning’s at Seven (2017). Recently elsewhere: Abby in Ripcord (Langhorne Players) Hertha Ayrton in The Half-Life of Marie Curie (ActorsNet), Grandma in Billy Elliot (Broadway Theatre of Pitman). Some favorite past roles: ‘Night Mother (Thelma), August: Osage County (Violet), A Little Night Music (Madame Armfeldt), Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider), King Lear (Goneril), Third (Laurie), Beauty Queen of Leenane (Maureen), The Heiress (Aunt Lavinia), 33 Variations (Gertie), Angel Street (Bella), Copenhagen (Margrethe), Merry Wives of Windsor (Mistress Quickly). Susan lives in Mt. Airy. Since retiring in 12/2025 Susan enjoys, in addition to acting, yoga, pickleball, singing and playing guitar. Love to Mort.
Carla Childs (Director)
Carla, a Distinguished Member, has been active at the Old Academy since 1993, when she brought children to audition for a play and got a part of her own. Directing highlights include Our Town, The Winslow Boy, Driving Miss Daisy (2000), Smash, Charley’s Aunt, To Kill a Mockingbird, Enchanted April, The Miracle Worker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Little Women, The Taming of the Shrew, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Lion in Winter, Twelfth Night, A House with No Walls, A Raisin in the Sun, Wedding Band, ShakespearaPalooza!, and Alabama Story. Her most recent onstage appearance was in As It is in Heaven. She works at Germantown Friends School with students who are interested in costumes and technical theater.
Vanessa D. Ballard (Director)
Vanessa is an accomplished actress, writer and vocalist. She is no stranger to the Old Academy stage where she appeared in Purlie (Idella), A Raisin in the Sun (Lena) and The Miracle Worker (Viney). She recently co-directed Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones and Wedding Band by Alice Childress and also directed Finding Help, one of the summer one act productions. Other notable roles include Wiletta in Trouble in Mind and Antonia in Much Ado About Nothing at Stagecrafters, Mrs. Muller in Doubt at Playcrafters of Skippack, Melesse in The Last Daughter at Players Club of Swarthmore, Libby in Bee-luther-hatchee, Rose in Fences, and a host of other roles. She has performed as a featured artist on tour in the historical drama Sister Friend (Phyllis Wheatley) with the Theatre for Transformation. She currently serves as poet in residence for Philomusica Chorale. She is pleased to revisit Old Academy Players as Assistant Director and has enjoyed the opportunity to work behind the stage on this important work.
Helga Krauss (Producer/Costumes)
A Distinguished Member, Helga Krauss has been active at OAP for 20 years. Some of the plays she has directed are: Two Dozen Red Roses, Return Engagements, Relative Values, The Constant Wife, Murdering Marlowe, The Countess, Doubt, Wedding Belles, and The Pearl. Production credits include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Member of the Wedding, An Ideal Husband, The Miracle Worker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Little Women, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Taming of the Shrew, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Lion in Winter, Twelfth Night, A House with No Walls, A Raisin in the Sun, and Wedding Band. Her memorable performances as an actor include roles in The Price and For Goodness Sake.
Karen Taylor-Young (Producer/Movement)
Karen Taylor-Young is a former professional dancer who continues her teaching and choreographing in the Philadelphia area. A former principle dancer and founding member with Philadanco, (Philadelphia Dance Company), former Musical Theater choreographer at Germantown Friends School, and a former private instructor at Chestnut Hill College. Currently a Teaching Artist at Danse4Nia Conservatory, and Philadelphia community and private Institutions focused on dance. As a choreographer, movement director and producer, she has worked on five other Old Academy productions, including A Raisin in the Sun, Wedding Band, and Alabama Story.
Jesse Friedman (Technical Consultant)
Jesse has been the moving force behind our technical improvements. He is responsible for our computer-controlled sound and light system and our renovated website with online ticketing. He continues to provide support for each show and trains Old Academy members in our new systems.
Judy Van Buskirk (Dramaturg)
Let’s just say that Judy Van Buskirk has been up to things theatrical at theOld Academy Players for more than half a century. She is also a published historian and has provided historical background for several recent Carla Childs’ shows.
Mary Jane Fullam (Prompter)
Mary Jane is happy to be part of the crew behind the scenes, as in past productions at the Old Academy including The Curious Savage, Waiting, The Pearl, Skin Deep, Calendar Girls, Shakespearapalooza!, Our Town and Alabama Story. Her ongoing role at the theater is keeping an eye on safety issues. Mary Jane is a member of the East Falls Town Watch and is involved in many environmental programs.
Mort Paterson (Makeup Consultant)
Mort Paterson has been acting in and around Philadelphia since the 1960’s. His most recent role was Senator Higgins in Alabama Story, at Old Academy in 2024. The year before he appeared as the Caliph in Delaware Valley Opera’s comic Abu Hassan. In 2021 he played Beethoven’s assistant, Anton Schindler, in 33 Variations at Kelsey Theater. He has a particular fondness for Shakespeare, having played, among other roles, Leonato, Orsino, Polonius, Prospero, Claudius, Leontes, and King Lear. Professional appearances include Montague in Romeo and Juliet at Bristol Riverside and several with Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival: the Duke in Othello, Vincentio in Taming of the Shrew, and the Friar in Much Ado. He can currently be seen on YouTube in his video, Mort Paterson Speaks Shakespeare, demonstrating the value of the right rhythm in speaking the bard’s verse. Great to be back at Old Academy! Kisses to supportive Sue.
Sarah Labov (Sound Technician)
Sarah has been participating at Old Academy Players for over twelve years. Trained in the OAP lights and sound system by both Jesse and Carla, working with shows to design, build, run or assist in lights and sound in any way is always a source of joy. Other wonderful opportunities at OAP have included directing It’s Only. A Play by Terrence McNally and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard. Two favorite roles on stage were Sonya in Vanya, Sonya, Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang, and Marty in Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker. Thanks to Carla and Vanessa for bringing me on board. I am deeply impressed by how our remarkably talented cast has moved us to laughter and tears with this beautiful play starting on the very first day of auditions! Congratulations to all!
Sarah Swearer (Set Designer)
A retired architect now living in Austin Texas, is a huge fan of Old Academy. During her five years residing in East Falls, Sarah worked on sets and costumes for a number of OA plays. She has created costumes for Hawgfly Productions and has been involved with City Theater in Austin.