Originally from Louisville, Ky., as a teen Cece Dwyer danced three seasons with the Louisville Ballet Company. She performed in community theatre, industrial shows, dinner theatre, TV and as lead dancer and featured performer in The Stephen Foster Story. Dwyer went on to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and HB Studio in New York City. There, serendipity stepped in when she met and married Denis and began her role as a mom to daughter Amanda, who is now an awarding-winning TV producer in New York City. Moving to the New Jersey suburbs, Dwyer again performed in community theatre, learning the art of costume and set design along the way. She served on the board of directors and subsequently as president of the board of trustees at The Barn Theatre in Montville, N.J., spanning 25-plus years. Her favorite roles include Fastrada in Pippin, Tessie Tura in Gypsy, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and Lillian LaFleur in Nine. Dwyer lists An Inspector Calls, The Secret Garden, A Few Good Men, Pippin and Blithe Spirit among her best-loved set designs. Costume design favorites include Sugar, Follies, Camelot, The Heiress, Sylvia, Working, Chicago and Mame. After husband Denis retired as a vice president for Metropolitan Life, they moved to Sarasota, Fla., in 2002. As a breast cancer survivor, Dwyer was performing in a one-minute play competition to raise money for breast cancer research when, on a whim, she entered a few plays and they were winners. In five years, this event raised more than $100,000. Dwyer went on to write much longer plays.
