Zeus at 12 weeks old

It seems like it's a struggle to find time for art among the distractions of life. This is surely the case for me. It became even harder this summer when our new puppy, Zeus, came into our lives. At 12 weeks of age, he made it a constant struggle to focus on work. Now, Zeus comes to the office with me so there are a lot of distractions.

Then last week, my father-in-law died. The occasion made me take time to see if my life is in balance. Sitting quietly in thought during all of the somber moments, I realized that the distractions bring balance into my life. For me, Zeus and my family are important additions to my life, not distractions. They help me focus and promote my art, Senior Theatre, even further. 

We hope this fall includes time for you to foster your art, amongst the distractions that add to the balance of life.

Bonnie Vorenberg

Senior Theatre Resource Center, President 

Still Actng Up performed at the 2006 ATHE conference

The 2008 ATHE conference is coming to Denver and we need your expertise. The Senior Theatre Research and Performance Focus Group is looking for participants, presenters, practitioners, performers, and papers for the convention. Focusing on "Difficult Dialogues: Theatre and the Art of Engagement," the gathering will be held from July 31-August 3 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.  

We're looking for those of you who can address these topics:   

• Improvisation--a workshop
  
• Senior Theatre Innovations--a performance
• New and Challenging Plays--a staged reading
  
• Scholarship on Difficult Dialogues
• Theatre for Life
• Philanthropy for Senior Theatre 

Please send in your ideas by October 10, 2007. Include the following information:

• Name
• Organization
• Contact information (address, phone and email)
• Title of your presentation
• A summary/description of your presentation, performance, paper, or workshop.
• Technical requirements for space and equipment and requests for funding and/or conference guest passes.  

Funding is limited but may be available if we apply now. Please note that all technical requirements must be minimal because we are in a hotel setting. Please submit your information or questions to Steven Pennell, Focus Group Rep at spennell@etal.uri.edu, or call 401-277-5206.

The ATHE conferences are always a wonderful way to network and learn new techniques. We hope you'll join us!

The Etc. Senior Theatre Company showed how to create productions based on history at the 2006 Senior Theatre Festival

It's official! The 2008 Senior Theatre USA Festival will be held in Baltimore from June 10 - 15. Like the previous festivals, it will bring together hundreds of performers, professionals, and other Senior Theatre lovers. There will be shows from many different types of Senior Theatre companies, plus workshops, and social events to give you plenty of time to network.

When all the details are complete, a festival brouchure will be mailed. If you're on the ArtAge mailing list you will receive a copy. Information will also be posted on the website listed below. Until then, please place the dates on your calendar and plan on joining the celebration next June!

Ladies of the Mop performed by the The Vagabond Players

Athletics may be the focus of this year's B.C. Senior Games in Nanaimo, but arts and culture had a home there too. Event organizers chose live theatre as one of the games' optional events and seven entries from around the province responded to the call.

Organizers wanted to include the one act plays because "Theatre meets the mandate of the games, being an activity of both mind and body that will have beneficial effect on the health of older adults."

The plays included Ladies of the Mop, Rise and Shine, Just Say it With Flowers, One Beautiful Evening, Lonely Hearts, and Over His Dead Body.

Derby Senior Center Readers Theatre perform

Oral History and Performance Convention will be held on March 14 an 15, 2008 at Columbia University in New York City. They are looking for proposals for papers and events. Act soon because proposals are due October 1. For details, email oralhistoryandperformance@gmail.com or call Renee Braden at 202-828-6697.

Howling at the Moon will perform on the Ohio State University at Lima campus on Tuesday, October 2 at 12:30PM. Admission is free. For information, contact Beverly Bletstein at 419-995-8382. Click here to read more about the company and their techniques.

The Ain't Down Yet Players will perform on October 6. Participants are seniors from assisted living homes and senior housing. They meet on a regular basis to read and present plays, essays, and poetry.

Derby Senior Center Children's Readers Theatre brought their stories to elementary students in their area recently. "They tell great stories and they make the world come to life with their imagination," said Mary Sites, school principal.

The Women's Scholarship Program from the AARP Foundation has been launched to help low income women aged 40+ participate in education and training programs. Applications are due October 31. For more information, contact www.aarpfoundationwlc.org.

Mimi Scott appeared in the VH1 segment we cast

Use our Mailing List. For over 10 years, we have been discovering those of you who work in Senior Theatre. Now, we have over 4,000 names of companies, organizations, and individuals from around the world on our mailing list.

We've cast shows for NBC, VH1, The Onion, and several movies. We have also helped several playwrights, seminars, and researchers with specialized and targeted marketing projects. We can send information to one geographic area or to one area of interest--whatever you'd like. If you want to reach folks in Senior Theatre, please contact us!