Barefoot in the Park, Neil Simon’s classic comedy from 1963, is about a newly married couple, Corie and Paul Bratter, who have just returned from their whirlwind six-day honeymoon at the Plaza Hotel in New York City to a run-down five-floor walk-up. Corie, a free-spirited romantic, is determined to extend the honeymoon while Paul, a strait-laced pragmatist, is focused on his first case as a lawyer. How these two opposites come together and, through love, balance each other out, is the heart of the play.
Olivia Arendt (Corie Bratter)
Before moving to the Jersey Shore, Olivia was fortunate enough to have danced all over the world performing works by George Balanchine, Merce Cunningham, Irate Ansa, Zvi Gotheiner, and Dam Van Huynh, among others. Now, making her theatrical debut with Center Players in this Signature Series production, she looks forward to continuing her stage career as an actor. Many thanks to Anthony for entrusting her with this role, and to Darren for his unwavering support.
Darren Carfano (Paul Bratter)
Darren is excited to be in his first Center Players Signature Series production following his inaugural performance as Bruce in Beyond Therapy for their reading series at the American Hotel. He was last seen on stage at First Avenue Playhouse in The Outrageous Adventures of Sheldon and Mrs Levine. Prior to moving to Monmouth County two years ago, he had performed in many tri-state area productions at Elmwood Playhouse, Leonia Players Guild, Curtain Call, and Bergen County Players. Some notable performances include Barclay in Postcards from a Dead Dog (Perry Award nominee), Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Versati in The Underpants, Passepartout in Around the World in 80 Days, and Kieran in The Irish Curse.
Darren expresses his utmost gratitude to Anthony for giving him this wonderful opportunity, Ben for all the theater connections, Olivia for her friendship and trust, his family and friends for always supporting his passion, and Joe for being the greatest partner and support system a guy could ask for. This one is dedicated to the butterflies.
Thos Shipley* (Victor Velasco)
Thos is thrilled to be performing his first Center Players Signature Series production. Broadway: Miss Saigon (John u/s). Off-Broadway: Broadway Goes Jazz (one-man show). Regional: Mame (North Shore Music Theatre), Avenue X (Pittsburgh City Theatre), Five Guys Named Moe (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), The Threepenny Opera (Alliance Theatre). Film: Best Actor, New Jersey HorrorCon (No More Mr. Nice Guy).
A five-time MAC Award winner for Outstanding Jazz Vocalist, Thos has appeared at the Iridium, Upstairs at Green Street, the Spoleto Festival, and internationally at La Nuit du Jazz (France), Harry’s International (Singapore), and Gregory’s Jazz (Italy). He created Unforgettable: A Tribute to Nat King Cole and is also a voiceover artist and audiobook narrator. Thanks to Anthony for this opportunity. *Appearing courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association.
RoseMarie Franklin (Mother/Mrs. Banks)
RoseMarie is excited to be included in this production and in this role. She was most recently seen as Peggy in "Angels in Boston" at First Avenue Playhouse. Her favorite previous roles include Madame Arcati in Blythe Spirit (Brookdale Performing Arts Center), Mrs. Levine in Sheldon & Mrs. Levine (First Avenue Playhouse) and Miss Watson in House on Haunted Hill (Kismet Performing Arts Center). She is grateful for the director for offering her this opportunity and is thrilled to share the stage with such amazing actors. As always, she is grateful to her wife to supporting her community theater madness.
Vinnie Mazella (Harry Pepper)
Vinnie is thrilled to be working with Center Players of Freehold. His most recent stage roles include Mr. Green in Clue and Clarence and multiple other characters in It's a Wonderful Life at Exit 82 Theater, and The Dad in Fearful in Manhattan at Manhattan Rep.. He is currently part of the national tour of Tony 'n Tina's Wedding. He has appeared in several direct-to-home video features including The Occultist, Party Girl and No Place Like Home (starring in the latter). In television he has had roles on Saturday Night Live, Guiding Light and Another World. Vinnie is the former Vice President of The Staten Island Shakespeare Theater Company, where he directed productions including Cabaret, Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 and As the World Goes Round. Most recently he wrote, produced and directed a short film feature, Staten Island Ghost Story, which has become a film festival favorite, winning multiple awards including Best Comedy Short and Best Cult Film. It is due to be released October 1, 2025.
Scott Stein (Delivery Man)
Scott was an Information Technology professional for over 40 years and retired in 2023. He played Mr. Conductor for three holiday seasons at Barnes and Noble for the readings of Polar Express and recently assisted in the tech crew for the Center Players production of Coyote. He was “discovered” by Anthony Marinelli at a Center Players volunteer’s meeting when the director took one look at him and said, “That’s the Delivery Man.” Scott is happy to have the opportunity to “climb the stairs.”
Anthony Marinelli (Director)
has written and directed for both stage and screen. On stage, he produced and directed Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love and Terrence McNally’s Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, in NYC. His one act plays include Acoustic Space (Winner Best Play, 2014 Strawberry One-Act Festival), Another Famous Dead Artist (semi-finalist, 2015 New York New Works Festival), Max & Domino, and Visitors. His film adaptation of Acoustic Space won Best Short in the 2018 Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival and Best Original Screenplay in the 2016 Richmond International Film Festival in addition to being featured in the Cannes Short Film Corner. Another short he produced and directed, Walt Whitman Never Paid For It, written by Angelo Berkowitz, won the Audience Choice Award at the Richmond International Film Festival in 2014.
At Center Players, Anthony has directed staged readings of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? as well as David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow and Oleanna. Signature Series Presentations include Woody Allen’s Play It Again Sam, Neil Simon’s Chapter Two, Prisoner of Second Avenue, and Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart. He would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to his amazing cast for their talent, hard work, and boundless passion. Anthony would like to dedicate this production to the memory of his dear friend, Rick Schneider, who devoted his life to the acting profession and was taken from us way too soon.
Finally, Anthony would like to thank his family for their patience while he spent long hours away from home, especially his wife, Alice-Ann, for her enduring support, understanding, and love. www.anthonymarinelli.net
Pamela Wilterdink (Producer)
New to New Jersey and to Center Players, Pamela is excited to be getting involved in the area’s community theatre scene. Primarily an actress and writer, Pamela is taking a turn at producing with this lovely production of Barefoot in the Park. She has had some experience in the field with her original shows- Ham & Egg, Myth America, and Poolside, which she wrote, performed and helped with production aspects at numerous venues in NYC, including The Laurie Beechman Theatre, DIA Center for the Arts, Caroline’s Comedy Club, The Kraine Theatre, The Kitchen, and others. Ham & Egg was dubbed ‘an imaginative comedy team…’ by Ben Brantley in the NY Times. Pamela was drawn in part to this project since many moons ago she played Corie in a production of Barefoot and has always loved the sweet, relatable humor of Neil Simon. Anthony has made this initial foray into “behind the scenes” a breeze as he has oodles of experience and energy to offer (for which she is grateful).
Denise Warren (Stage Manager)
has been involved with theatre all her life, on stage, in the pit band, and behind the scenes. She began making costumes for anime conventions and science fiction conventions, then made costumes and props for many community theatre productions including Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Pan, and The Three Musketeers.
At Center Players she was stage manager for Butterflies Are Free, Same Time Next Year, Prelude to a Kiss, California Suite, Crimes of the Heart, Dancing Mad, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Prisoner of Second Avenue. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with Anthony Marinelli and this wonderful cast and crew!
Sophia Rispoli (Assistant Stage Manager)
is a community college student currently training as an EMT. She worked on stage crew for The Prisoner of Second Avenue with Center Players and is excited to continue learning and growing in theater.