A Role in Linking Generations

All around the country a most endearing phenomenon, one that is spearheaded by the senior community, is taking root. It is the rise of the Senior Theater as a vehicle to highlight the talents of creative folks over fifty-five. In this program they merge their talents into an intergenerational canvas that welcomes children from ages eight to fourteen to share in theater presentations and workshops so as to learn all aspects of theater.

The Sarasota Senior Theater, a relatively new non-profit organization, recently gained a spotlight at the International Senior Theater Conference after winning a musical competition written by its founder and president, Irene Silver. It was also awarded the Golden Gavel Award for community service by the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

The Sarasota theater group is especially proud of the ties made with youngsters in their community and presents intergenerational joint ventures with Sarasota County that offer participants a chance to learn to act, dance, and sing, as well as instruction in writing plays and musicals. The idea of having young persons and seniors perform together in major productions was an outcome of the great response received from kids to the group's performances. "We discovered that in audience talk-back after a performance the kids held their own. They were excited and thrilled that their opinions were valued and were awed by the performing Grandpas and Grandmas." Soon afterwards the Park and Recreation Department of Sarasota asked if we could teach acting for children.

Begun with a grant of $5000, Sarasota Senior theater has come a long way quickly. The seniors in the shows, many of them new to the performing arts, have found that participating is not only fun and challenging, but that the applause from the audiences is exhilarating and empowering.

Having presented to sell-out audiences and now taking their shows on the road, the presentations of these seniors are truly inspirational. The added opportunity of community out-reach and working with youngsters is especially fulfilling and rewarding.

"We feel useful; we feel like somebody want us again," Silver says. She believes that this is an avenue for older people who have always enjoyed entertaining and theater, but, for whatever reasons, never had the opportunity to engage themselves in it, until now.

From flappers to the Zigfield Follies, from the dances of World War II to today, from creative skits to serious drama and hilarious comedy, the creations of the Sarasota Senior Theater bring the memories of days gone by, and contemporary presentations, to life for all ages.

The Sarasota Senior Theater is modeled after the 400-plus senior theater troupes that belong to the International Senior Theaters Organization. Imagining these groups focusing their talents on intergenerational endeavors and building creative bridges between youngsters and the elderly is an awesome and important undertaking. It promotes an experience of honoring, acceptance, co creation, mentorship, and most importantly, weaves a tapestry of community well-being.