I think this recollection by well-known writer, Sue Monk Kidd, is so appropriate for Senior Theatre:

"Sue and her mother stood beside a grandmother and her granddaughter at the zoo, waiting for their faces to be painted.

A boy waiting in line told the girl, "You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint."

The grandmother knelt down next to her granddaughter and said, "I love your freckles."
- "Not me," replied the girl.
- "Well, when I was a little girl I always wanted freckles," the grandmother said, "Freckles are beautiful!"
- The girl looked at her and said, "Really?"
- "Of course," said the grandmother. "Name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."
- The girl peered into her grandmother's smiling face and softly said..."Wrinkles grandmother...wrinkles."

Here at ArtAge, we celebrate wrinkles. We celebrate people who have lived long, full lives. We celebrate older performers.

Seasons greetings from all of us at ArtAge!

Bonnie Vorenberg

ArtAge Senior Theatre Resource Center, President

One Act Plays for All Ages

It's rare that a book in our collection gets overlooked but that's what has happened with One Act Plays for All Ages. This book of plays has something for everyone. It includes shows that have been produced Off-Broadway and others that have become Senior Theatre standards. Click below to read complete information about the plays. Get the book at the new, unbelievable price of $12.50--that's over $7 off the cover price!

Shirley Cohen of The Autumn Players

The Etc. Senior Theatre Company (St. Louis) will present six performances of their adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at The Robert Campbell House Museum on December 7-9. They're supported by the Missouri Humanities Council. Click here to read about the group. 

The HotPots (London) will present Alice on December 4-6. Alice is at her retirement bash, tipsy with champagne and raring to retire and see the world. But after a tumble down a most unusual rabbit hole, she meets Davina McRabbit, the media monster who has other plans for Alice's retirement. Alice gets caught up in a television game, Happily Ever After, the Red Queen's evil plot to reduce pensions so she can drink gin and tonic with Brad Pitt. Sounds like fun!

South Iredell Senior Theatre (North Carolina) presented Bachelor of the Year, a one-act play about a 35-year-old principal who finds himself engaged to three teachers at the same time in dessert matinees. This is the second performance for the one year old group. 

AgeQuake Theatre (Illinois) performed Ladies at Lunch and Ladies at Poker on November 15 and 17. In March, the company will present staged readings of new scripts about situations that older adults experience or scripts featuring roles for older actors to determine the plays for their upcoming season.  

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Check out these two exciting Senior Theatre companies:

The Autumn Players (North Carolina) Click here to learn more 

Poor Players of the Bay Area (California) Click here to learn more

Need help deciding what to give to your Senior Theatre friends and colleagues? Here are some gems:

Play Collections include multiple scripts so readers can choose the one that works best for them. "New Plays for Mature Actors" is our best seller. For readers theatre, check out "Return Engagement Plays Volume One," which includes plays that numerous companies have staged successfully for years. Click here.

To inspire people to live creatively, try "Aging Artfully," the award-winning book that highlights the work of many older artists. Click here to read about it.

Try "Never Act Your Age," an inspiring book about how to live well at any age using method acting as a way to health--what a unique idea. Click here to read about it.

For anyone: Ann Smith's dance/movement videos and CDs encourage viewers to stretch and move in an artistic way. They are useful for people of all ages but especially for mature adults and/or those with the disabilities that come from long lives. Always set to wonderful music, they are mesmerizing. Click here to read about them.

For directors: The award winning "Notes on Directing" is a handsome book that works for both beginning or advanced directors. It was the Theatre Book of the Year! Click here to read about it.

How about a great makeup kit? We searched all over to find the best kit. It is chock full of high quality bases, highlights, pencils, brushes, rouges and even includes a comprehensive book. I love these kits! Click here.

Feel free to contact us if you need more suggestions. Place your order before December 20 for arrival by the 25th!