Theater
Continued from Page 13
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
Name: Beaumont at Bryn Mawr
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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
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bigger — and that’s what we provide for our residents.”
Through “Cooking with Class,” residents partake in a cooking
demonstration with the chefs of the facility “Rachael Ray”- style,
Kressler said, and have the chance to try the culinary creation
at the end.

They explore different themes each month to expand their palates.

In April, for example, residents will try Jewish-American cuisine,
which will be one recipe submitted by a resident or family member
that they will try together.

In January 2016, Brandywine is starting a 10-week pilot partner-
ship with the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts called “Life
Through Art: My Life Story” to provide lessons for residents at its
Haverford Estates and Upper Providence facilities, whether they
are experienced artists or newcomers.

These kinds of programs are created to move away from the
stereotypical ideas people have about senior communities.

“We’re trying to get away from that old-school thinking of senior
living,” Kressler said. “We’re bringing the senior population into to-
day’s world. Bingo is something we almost don’t mention anymore.”
And through these arts programs — in addition to university-style
lectures brought in about topics from the story of wine in America
to a journey through theater history — the residents have a chance
to reconnect with their passions.

“The benefits of any arts programs are endless,” Kressler said. “We
could be rekindling an interest of theirs. Maybe they were an artist
years ago, and the goal is to not think of them as, ‘Oh they were an
artist,’ they are an artist, and we want to make sure we bring that to
the forefront for all of our residents.

“You’re never too old to learn something new, regardless of age.” l
Judging by her vintage card collection, Marissa Stern isn’t joking about enjoying
her bingo games.

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