Theater
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It offers classes and opportunities to engage in performance for
all ages, from kids to adults. Its senior theater initiative — similar
to Philly Senior Stage — brings theater to senior communities
through its Bright Invention ensemble of performers.

“White Pines’ mission is transform people’s lives through per-
formance creativity, and that leads us into many diverse communi-
ties,” Lloyd said.

For Lloyd, this initiative was a personal one. His grandmother
was in a home for a while — unhappily so, to the point where she
committed suicide in 1999.

He wanted to ensure others did not have that same experience.

Through theater and working on improvisation and other aspects
of performance, seniors gather and work with one another and can
explore their own stories.

The collaborative nature of theater brings people together and
“out of isolation,” Lloyd said.

One way he has helped bring senior residents out of their shells
was through not only acting out other people’s stories that have al-
ready been written, but also by acting out their own.

At the Sidewater House in Northeast Philadelphia, a Federation
Housing senior independent living site, Lloyd established a 12-week
workshop residency under the direction of Jerry Perna, founding
ensemble member of Bright Invention and director of senior pro-
grams for White Pines, which culminated with a performance called
“Who We Are,” that guests could share in.

People shared stories of starting their own businesses, even a few
Holocaust survivors told their stories.

“We were interested in generating material from their own lives
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and experiences, so a lot of what Jerry was doing was structured
storytelling exercises,” Lloyd elaborated. “In the end, we were so
moved by the stories being told.”
His goal is to continue fundraising for these programs so that
they can establish a yearlong residency with the community rather
than just three months.

Engaging with the arts and performance in this way is beneficial
because it brings the seniors together in a fun environment.

While at first, perhaps, the residents might be resistant to com-
municating, Lloyd has noticed that over time, “people become
softer and more vulnerable and in some way more tolerant and for-
giving of each other.”
“This is true no matter what age you’re working with,” he said.

He has found that “the older you are, the more hilarious your
stories are,” and he wants people to share them with one another
through performance.

“This is an attempt on our part to say, you’re alive until you’re dead
and as long as you’re alive, you’ve got creativity to share,” he said.

Other arts programs beyond theater have their own benefits,
as well.

At Brandywine Senior Living — all 27 locations in 5 states —
residents can enjoy programs from the space’s “Escapades...For Life!”
which offers activities from cooking to karaoke to gambling.

From theater groups such as “Curtain Call” to classes for bud-
ding artists through its “Artists’ Palette” program, resident can
partake in many different activities.

“They are important because it keeps our residents engaged
and stimulated,” said Krissi Kressler, corporate director of pro-
gram excellence. “They are vibrant, energetic, rich, educational
programs and sometimes people believe that maybe the senior
population doesn’t need that, they’ve done that, but it’s human
nature to want to learn things and want to be a part of something
Retire… Start Living.

TM At Beaumont, there is no one-size-fi ts-all retirement – you choose your own lifestyle. Our campus is an
artful blend of spacious private villas and apartments, ultra-modern fi tness facilities and commons, and
the traditional Austin Mansion, on 50 beautifully landscaped acres. Our community is alive with social
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