Bonnie Vorenberg is the President of ArtAge Publications, the Senior Theatre Resource Center.

I must admit it, I'm addicted to the daytime show, "Starting Over." The program brings several women to a house in Los Angeles where they tackle some of the problems that limit their success in life. It's nice to see women get a second chance. It fits well with my passion, Senior Theatre.

So, I was amazed when during a recent show, the life coaches asked the women to use the day to select clothes that shows how they want to look when they grow older. Then, they had to write their monologue--a personal message about their lives and how they would see the world when they are elderly.

I was amazed when I listened to the monologues and realized that they used a very popular technique, popularized by Joy Reilly in her new book, Age on Stage: Lifewriting Your Monologue. Some of the cast members wrote poetry, others prose. Several wrote poignant letters to their families. The words were moving and insight was palatable. 

The cast of "Starting Over" did what we in Senior Theatre do every day--use our life experiences to give insight to our audiences. We help others understand what growing older means and how to make it the best time possible. It's addicting...almost as much as "Starting Over!"

The Hot Springs Village Players presentation of A Bag Full of Miracles.

The Hot Springs Village Players presented the Mid-South Premiere of Tom Northam's musical comedy from April 27 through 30 with both matinee and evening performances. The group knew they had a hit on their hands when half of the tickets to A Bag Full of Miracles sold out in two days. The company wasn't disappointed because 1630 people saw their show! Linda Nichol, the producer said, "The play was extremely well received and the audiences loved it. We consider it a huge success!"

Northam's musical is a spirited look at senior life in a production for all ages with music that is so intoxicating that you can't help but hum it with joy as you leave the theatre. The hilarious comedy centers around Lady Anne Windesmere, who because of financial troubles, turns her stately Victorian manor into a bed and breakfast with help from her friend, Maggie Hill, who just happens to be a "Miracle Products" salesperson. They are joined by a cast of quirky characters.

The Hot Springs Village production is only one of several being staged around the country. Some groups use the Production-in-a-Packet which helps make staging the show a breeze. Other companies use a standard royalty payment. Whichever they choose, everyone says "The musical is a hit!" Click here to contact us for a FREE PERUSAL.

For 23 years, the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging have been bringing practitioners together with the latest information on aging. This year is no different. From June 12-14 hundreds of attendees will travel to Lexington to learn about aging research, best practices, and this year, Senior Theatre.

On June 13, Bonnie L. Vorenberg, ArtAge President, will present her workshop, "The Senior Theatre Experience: Taking the Mystery out of Drama"TM.

This session will blend reminiscence with simple drama techniques, explore the basics of theatre in the classroom or on stage, and suggest appropriate plays. Attendees will leave educated, informed and, most of all, inspired! We look forward to you being in the audience.

Students in the Theatre and Aging Seminars learn how to create and perfom their own lifewriting.

Ohio State's Department of Theatre will hold the nation's only graduate-level intensive Theatre and Aging seminars July 10-21, 2006. Taught by two internationally-recognized experts in the field, Dr. Joy H. Reilly and Dr. Alan Woods, the seminars provide practical, hands-on experience, as well as explorations of critical, historical, and textual information about this new area of study.

Dr. Reilly's course, The Practice of Theatre and Aging, and Dr. Woods's seminar, Crones, Curmudgeons, and Living Treasures---Theatre and Aging are designed to be taken together. Ohio State's seminars in Theatre and Aging can be taken for Continuing Education credit by non-degree students, and are also available for graduate credit. The seminars are the only graduate level Theatre and Aging courses in the United States. Students may earn a Certificate in Aging at Ohio State while also earning the Master of Arts or Ph.D. in Theatre. 

Fabulous Palm Springs Follies will hold their auditions on June 7 to 8 in Palm Springs. Click here to read more about the group.

Stagebridge wins an International Healing Arts Competition.

The Senior Theatre sessions for this summer's ATHE conference are now complete. Click here for more information

Lots of shows are running during May including the Roots&Branches production of Charlie's Ghost and the Alaska premier of At Half Time.

Attendees at the 2004 Senior Theatre Festival enjoy an improvistation!

The 2006 Senior Theatre Festival will be held October 4-7, 2006, at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. The event will begin on Wednesday with an optional pre-conference historical tour. The Festival will kick off in the evening with a dessert reception and a main stage performance. Then spend the next few days exploring Senior Theatre in workshops, performances, exhibits, and special events. The schedule leaves plenty of time to share ideas and make new friends.

A special feature of the Festival is that the workshops are designed to be hands-on to help participants build skills and knowledge in life writing, oral/living history, musical theatre, intergenerational theatre, improvisation, mixed media, political/social theatre, and many others.

If you'd like to perform or present a workshop and/or scholarly paper, submit your application by July 1, 2006. Conference registration materials are available online or by calling 513-421-3900.