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The Queens Senior Safety Theatre Troupe Background: Launched in 1996, the Queens Senior Safety Theatre is sponsored by the Queens Borough President's Office and is run in conjunction with the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety and Magical Stage. The purpose of the Troupe is to impart a traffic safety awareness message to other senior residents of the borough. The material used in performances is drawn from the performers' life-long experiences and observations, and highlights the habits and myths of drivers and pedestrians. The Show: The aim of this production is to help seniors become aware of pedestrian/driver safety issues. The performance deals with basic safety issues that concern pedestrians and drivers. Everything is covered from crossing at the corner and waiting on the curb to using turn signals, driving too slowly, day dreaming behind the wheel and common courtesy. It is the combination of humor and drama that captures the audience's attention and helps reinforce the traffic safety/injury prevention message. For example, in one scene a driver is confronted with the fact that it is time to give up his driver's license. While the audience is able to laugh at his rationalizing in an attempt to keep his license, many will also be able to identify with his dilemma. The show runs 30 minutes. Educational materials are available in English, Korean, Spanish, Chinese and Russian. Productions are performed at senior citizen centers, senior housing, senior citizens organizations and other places where seniors gather. The Troupe: The Troupe performs under the directorship of Steven M. Hollow, who is an actor, puppeteer, performer and storyteller. It is made up of five talented and dedicated senior citizens: Ella Davis, Marie DeNavarro, Sheila Hourigan, Walter Stone and Ernest Wolf.
To Schedule A Performance of the Queens Senior Safety Theatre Troupe, contact; The Queens Inter-Agency Council for the Aging at: 1-718-268-5954. For further information contact; Cynthia
Brown, Executive Director |
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Ella Davis, a recent retiree from the New York City Department
of Social Services, is a resident of Queens. She is married, the mother
of three daughters and the grandmother of one. Her hobbies are drama,
bowling, traveling and shopping at flea markets. She has enjoyed acting
since high school and has appeared in several church productions.
Marie DeNavarro has been a resident of Flushing, Queens,
for the past 13 years. Her working career included jobs in and around
the Wall Street area. She has been involved in numerous volunteer
projects including serving as a tour guide at Bowne House in Flushing;
performing as a puppeteer for a drug program at Langston Hughes Library
and with the Queens Borough President's Safety Puppet Theatre. 
Shelia M. Hourigan was born in Bangor, Maine,
the youngest of five children. Her mother, who had studied theatre
but never had the opportunity to perform, directed her five children
in a production of "The Little Red Hen" as well as other
childhood favorites. Shelia performed in school productions from elementary
to college. In the work place, she helped with the production of various
Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. 
Walter J. Stone is a lifelong resident of Queens
County, where he resides with his wife Christine. They have two daughters,
Jennifer and Kristin and three grandchildren. In World War II, he
served in Europe as a forward observer in the Field Artillery and
met the Russian Army at the Elbe River on VE Day, May 7th, 1945. After
discharge he was appointed to the New York City Police Department.
He retired as a Detective Lieutenant in 1973 to join the staff of
the New York State Special Prosecutor's Office for Corruption. He
remained there until 1985 when he left to work for the Queens County
District Attorney's Office, where he worked until 1991. 
Ernest Wolf was born in Romania approximately
70 years ago. He resided in Israel for a few years and has been a
citizen of the United States for the past 20 years. He served his
military duty in Romania for two years and fought in two wars in Israel.
By training, he is an economist. In New York he worked in the candy
business. He swims every day and is a big fan of classical music and
boxing. He is married and has two children.