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Bonnie's Column
It's never
to late to share your love of theatre.
Recently, I had a
wonderful conversation with Bridget Whiteman, a Life Enrichment
Coordinator, about her Senior Theatre. At one point, she paused,
took a breath, and said, “I have been working with seniors for 21
years, and Readers Theatre is by far the best thing I've ever
experienced!”
Bridget told me their
Senior Theatre program all started with Maxey Megrue. “Miss
Maxey was the ring leader. During the pandemic, her creative and
wild spirit needed an outlet, and she wanted desperately to bring
joy to her peers."
I needed to meet this
woman! So I called Maxey and we had a delightful conversation. I
learned about her theatre experience with the Spokane Civic
Theatre as an actor, director, and board member. I wasn't surprised
to hear that when she moved to the retirement community, she
combined her need for a challenge with her love for theatre.
Maxey's enthusiasm carried the group through the pandemic. Now with
Bridget's support, the group has 14 committed members and packed
houses at every performance.
This has been a
marvelous win for everyone -- the participants, the audience, and
the supporters. It's no wonder that Bridget says, “It is the most
popular thing we do!"
President, ArtAge Publications
The Senior Theatre Resource Center
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Theatre keeps us alive. The fun and laughs
are there, but the actors really want a creative outlet and to
learn. We all gain so much from our Readers Theatre group!
— Maxey Megrue
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from
Bridget
Whiteman
Life Enrichment Coordinator
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1. Listen to the
actors, listen to the audience.
2. Support by being
available for anything, anytime.
3. Encourage actors
and the audience to step out of their comfort zones.
4. Promote! I can’t say
it enough. Promote and get people talking.
5. Love your actors,
love their passions, and all will fall into place.
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Spring Sale
Spring brings renewal!
To help your Senior Theatre group to re-start or re-energize,
we
are offering $5 off some of our favorite resources.
- One of our favorite teaching tools is The Improv Game.
Whether we're teaching a class or in
rehearsal, we always have it hand for when we need a creative
spark. It's very useful for re-energizing a group after taking
time off during the pandemic.
- Play collections are a great way to find scripts
that work well together. Here are 3 that every Senior Theatre
library must have:
- $5 off these select e-Scripts by featured
playwright, Linda LaRocque.
Linda's scripts have great dialogue, wonderful heart, and
often an unexpected twist. They strike a perfect balance
between funny and smart.
- Love's Language: 10
minutes, 1 man, 1 woman. A play about the value of
communication in relationships, especially proof-reading.
- Old Men: 10 minutes, 2 men, 1 woman. Strong friendships can
weather a variety of stressors, including a muskrat on a
mission.
- Housekeeper Wanted: 15 minutes, 1 man, 4 women. Never underestimate
Dad, especially when it comes to finding a housekeeper.
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Our Plays are Being Performed!
Senior Theatre momentum continues to grow
this month with more older actors moving their activities from
online to in-person performances. What a relief! Here are some of
the shows that have been popular with actors and audiences.
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Old Hams - A huge hit from coast to coast!
Audience members in both Florida and
California are raving about the excellent roles in this really
funny play. The theatre group in California had exceptional
success with the show. After the first evening performance, the
ticket seller's phone rang off the hook. They sold an
additional 100 tickets for the final three performances!
"We certainly recommend this show to groups that want to be
entertained and to have their audience leave the theatre smiling!
As a director, it was a real hoot!" -- Jan B., Director
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