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Bonnie L. Vorenberg

ArtAge President, Playwright, Author, and Founder of Who’s Who in Senior Theatre

Bonnie L. Vorenberg

Bonnie L. Vorenberg (B.A., M.S. Theatre) has been called “The Guru of Senior Theatre” for her groundbreaking work as a nationally recognized expert and pioneer in the field. An educator, director, speaker, and author, she founded and directed an arts academy for seniors and a professional touring company that received prestigious grants from the National Endowment for the Arts plus state and local sources. Currently, she is the President of ArtAge’s Senior Theatre Resource Center, the main source for plays, books, and information.

Bonnie received the prestigious Ageless Legacy Award for Excellence in Creative Aging from the Oregon Gerontology Association. In addition, she was named a national “TrailBlazer” by the Administration on Aging and by the National Center for Creative Aging.

A leader in the Senior Theatre for decades

  • Wrote one of the first theses in the field
  • Edited the first anthology of new plays
  • Directed one of the first Senior Theatres to receive funding from the National Endowment for the Arts
  • Wrote the first directory of Senior Theatre in the US, Canada, and around the world
  • Created the first talent agency for seniors
  • Compiled and maintained the first, and now the largest, database of Senior Theatre companies, professionals, and organizations
  • Distributed the first Senior Theatre e-newsletter, now sent to 4200 readers worldwide
  • Developed the literature of the field as a Publisher, with a current catalog of 400+ plays, books, and materials representing the work of 150+ playwrights and authors
  • Maintained the first Senior Theatre website, now attracting 5000+ visitors each month, ranked #1 in Google search engine.
  • Produced and directed the first online Senior Theatre performance.

In the Media

Ms. Vorenberg’s work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, TIME Magazine, American Theatre Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, on CNN.com, NBC, and many other media outlets. Oregon ArtsWatch, the state’s leading arts and culture journal, featured Bonnie in an article, Theatre Beyond Age Limits in which they describe her journey from an inspired graduate student to her current leadership role in an international scene of theater for and by older actors.

Her extensive writing includes many documents, articles, and the award-winning Senior Theatre Connections: The First Directory of Senior Theatre Performing Groups, Professionals, and Resources. She edited the first anthology of Senior Theatre scripts, New Plays for Mature Actors, and wrote the handbook, Enriching an Older Person’s Life Through Senior Theatre. Ms. Vorenberg is the author of Simple and Useful Activities in Adult Care Homes, used by the State of Oregon.

Bonnie is a founding member of Senior Theatre USA and served for many years as the Focus Group Rep and/or the Conference Planner for the Senior Theatre Focus Group for the Association of Theatre in Higher Education.

Bonnie is an enthusiastic and passionate speaker who has brought her practical and creative ideas to meetings of the:

  • National Center for Creative Aging
  • American Association of Community Theatre
  • National Council on Aging
  • Association for Theatre in Higher Education
  • National Park and Recreation Association Washington Activity Directors Association, and many others.

Bonnie’s goal is to use information, education, and inspiration to help older adults find fulfillment in the arts!

Bonnie L. Vorenberg, Author of These Senior Theater Publications

Senior Theatre Participation Agreement

Use this "ready-to-go" form

to share expectations of your actors

Having everyone in your group on the same page is important!
Senior theatre online resource guide for teaching classes remotely.
Senior Theatre Online Made Easy

A great way to perform!

Not just during a pandemic

Learn how to adapt classes and performances to online as you learn and have fun!
Senior Readers Theatre Made Easy

A successful format

great for older performers

With this concise guide, chock-full of simple techniques and practical advice, you're well on your way to bring this awarding and dynamic form of theatre to older actors.
Cover of Senior Theatre at a Glance by Bonnie L. Vorenberg, featuring a colorful abstract design.
Senior Theatre at a Glance

An introduction to the field

of Senior Theatre

New! See the current state of Senior Theatre. Then discover who's performing, what they're doing, and the tips and tricks to make your adventure successful.
Teaching Senior Theatre Classes

Our most popular TipSheet!

Tips, tricks and information

Based on the author's many years of teaching older actors, this document will help you organize, plan, market, and teach Senior Theatre classes that inspire.

 

Thanks, as always, for the commissions! I tell many people about ArtAge and how you’ve made my play available for downloading and performance. Thanks so much!

What you do is a wonderful service for playwrights. I know what effort goes into your work. Thank you.

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