NewStages is a Los Angeles based theatre company for seniors. The company is led by director and teacher Mark Salyer. He draws on his deep roots in professional theatre on both coasts and in between to bring professional teaching artists to the senior community.

Initially serving the seniors at the LA LGBTQ Center, the company began producing shows in 2012 as part of the City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride Arts Festival. In 2014, the program became part of the award-winning Oasis Theater Company. The company has produced 15 performances and over 30 workshops including Musical Theater with Broadway’s Kay Cole.

One program of NewStages is Life Stories which gives seniors the opportunity to capture their lives, adventures, and memories on film in a fully produced documentary-style video directed by a professional director. “Our work with the LA LGBTQ Center has helped us to create a remarkable seniors program rooted in developing personal narratives. These folks have such amazing stories. We felt a need to nurture them in the process,” says Salyer.

In 2020, the company rose to the challenge of Covid lockdowns  and began producing online classes and two performances. “I was concerned that the technological demands would lessen our reach and that many people would feel uncomfortable on Zoom. Boy, was I wrong!” Salyer explains. “We are excited to open our programs to a wider audience through online projects,” says Salyer.