Bonnie Vorenberg

I've had all those rewards in my almost 30 years in Senior Theatre. They've been great. But now my rewards take on a different shape. Recently, I received a letter from Pearl Fuller, who started using our plays years ago. Now, health has limited her activity but she "loves reading our e-newsletter." Then she said, "I'm pleased to see how widespread the senior performances have become, much of it due to the work you have put into developing it." That made my day. Knowing that my efforts have made a difference to others is enough for me.

So think about your rewards. Sometimes the small ones are the huge ones.

Bonnie L. Vorenberg
ArtAge Senior Theatre Resource Center, President 

You'll enjoy seeing John Astin who was Gomez in The Addams Family

The Senior Theatre Festival is around the corner...June 10-15. If you haven't made plans to attend, now is the time. Hotel reservations are due by May 1 and Festival registration is due by May 10.

You'll see many performances, workshops, and have plenty of time to chat and share ideas with other Senior Theatre lovers. One of the highlights will be listening to John Astin as Edgar Allan Poe in Once Upon a Midnight.

Join us!

The KW Silver Stars rehearse for their upcoming performance of A Bag Full of Miracles. Here Elmer Strunk is being seduced by Maggie and Nancy.

A Bag Full of Miracles, the new musical, is being produced all around the country. Now the show has its Canadian premiere, presented by the KW Silver Stars in Waterloo, Ontario. 

Director, Heather Morris says, "A Bag Full of Miracles is a wonderful play. We are having a great time at rehearsals. The cast loves the music and the story. This is a very ambitious project for this group and they are rising to the challenge."

The show will be presented on May 9-10 at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. Call 519-747-7788 or visit www.kwsilverstars.ca.

The Young at Heart poster

It's not often that senior performers are highlighted and loved like they are in the newly-released documentary, Young at Heart. The movie follows a senior chorus that sings rock songs. It's been highlighted on ABC, in Newsweek, USA Today and many other sources. The film shows what so many of us in Senior Theatre already know: how the arts change participants and how our work thrills and warms the hearts of audiences. You're going to enjoy this film!

Use our already-written news release to help you get some publicity in your area.  

• New Innovations in Theatre: From Storytelling to Bibliodrama to Equity Companies
• Theatre: A Powerful Tool for Life
• New and Immerging Scholarship: Using Theatre to Address the Difficult Issues of Life
• Performing History: Translating Local and Regional History into Exciting Theatre for All Ages
• Workshop: Improvisation: Crowds + Chaos=Comedy and Life
• Performance: Performing New Works on Aging

This is always a stimulating conference that promotes and expands Senior Theatre!

For more information about the Senior Theatre Research & Performance Focus Group contact Focus Group Rep, Steven Pennell, at spennell@etal.uri.edu or call 401-277-5206

To learn about the convention, visit http://www.athe.org

One of Ann Smith's popular videos

This month we're featuring two sales.

Get $5 off of any Ann Smith dance and movement VHS tape. She has several: "Stretching for Seniors," "Rise and Shine," and "Moving to Mozart." The videos have been wildly popular. In fact, "Moving to Mozart" was just selected for distribution in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The videos are delightful and are filled with easy-to-do movement that makes them the perfect way to start or end your day.

E-commerce is cheaper! Buy $100 worth of materials online and get free regular shipping. Does not apply to phone or mail orders. Hurry, offer ends May 15, 2008!