This wonderful free program features three longtime friends and collaborators (who are also older adults) engaging our community elders in arts activities that will provide fun and creative ways to strengthen cognition and well-being while making new friends. This series of weekly workshops is presented by creative artists Ham Gillett, Marv Klassen-Landis, and Michael Zerphy.
All workshops take place at Senior Solutions, 38 Pleasant Street, Springfield, Vermont from 1:00-2:30pm. The kickoff opening event and final performance take place at 4:00pm at Nolin-Murray Main Hall, 38 Pleasant Street, Springfield.
Sponsored by AARP Vermont.
Registration recommended, space limited to 25 individuals. These are individual sessions - sign-up for one, all, or something in-between!
Friday, September 27, 4:00 pm. Nolin-Murray Main Hall
Opening Event: We’re Never Too Old to Play
Project Artists Ham Gillett, Michael Zerphy and Marv Klassen-Landis will present a performance for the public and for future workshop participants introducing the humor and pathos of aging and a sampling of the kinds of genres and activities introduced in the workshop series—readings, storytelling, poems, songs, skits, play excerpts, improvisation.
Friday, October 4, 1:00-2:30 pm. Senior Solutions
Workshop 1: Read and Discuss
What comes up for us when we read? We may have been taught we should analyze, but what about our associations and memories and gut reactions? And then again, what is actually on the page? We will read short pieces of literature aloud and discuss together.
Friday, October 11,1:00-2:30 pm. Senior Solutions
Workshop 2: Oral Interpretation
Do you read aloud to your grandchildren or to yourself? Would you like to be a bit more expressive? Bring a favorite children's story, a poem or a prose passage. We'll read them aloud to each other and consider ways to bring them to life.
Friday, October 18, 1:00-2:30 pm. Senior Solutions
Workshop 3: Storytelling
We all have stories; we all are stories. Storytelling isn’t rocket science, but there are skills you can gain by playing storytelling games and telling stories from your life in a small group of good listeners.
Friday, October 25, 1:00-2:30 pm. Senior Solutions
Workshop 4: Stepping Out of the Shower
Everyone sings in the shower, right? We will set up the curtains; you give it your best shot. We'll cheer you on. Then, if you feel like it, we'll pull back the curtain and sing with you. Or we can just sing as a group. Who knows, we might even have a good time. All participants will be fully clothed.
Friday, November 1, 1:00-2:30 pm. Senior Solutions
Workshop 5: Personal Writing
Ever try writing in a journal? Ever get stuck while writing? Does personal writing help you sort out thoughts and emotions? We will try a variety of writing techniques and exercises to overcome writer’s block, tap into our playful, intuitive side and get to know ourselves a little better—any sharing of this writing will be completely optional.
Friday, November 8, 1:00-2:30 pm. Senior Solutions
Workshop 6: Theater Games
If you ever enjoyed a round of charades, you will love this! Play imaginative theater games in which there are no losers, no wrong choices, no audience. Just creative play and lots of laughter.
Friday, November 15, 1:00-2:30 pm. Senior Solutions
Workshop 7: Readers Theater
Let's pick a play and read it out loud together. We'll switch roles around and see what happens. Comedy or tragedy? TBD/What's your pleasure?
Friday, November 22, 2:00-3:30 pm, Nolin-Murray Main Hall
Rehearsal for Sharing Our Fun
Come out and rehearse if you decide to share a poem or story or skit or song (individually or in groups) at our final event. All three artists will be on hand for coaching and moral support.
Friday, November 22, 4:00pm. Nolin-Murray Hall
Final Event: Sharing Our Fun
Participants and artists will share with the community something they have created during the series. Not a requirement for participants but we expect enough enthusiastic volunteers to make for a fun sharing event!
About the Artists
HAM GILLETT was a professional actor for 15 years. More recently he has appeared with We the People Theater in White River Junction and he's a member of Bel Canto Chamber Singers. His reading of A Child's Christmas in Wales has been a perennial favorite at Woodstock's Wassail Weekend for 23 years.
MARV KLASSEN-LANDIS is a poet and storyteller who believes in the power of creative expression for healing and discovery. A Vermont Arts Council roster artist and a Children’s Literacy Foundation presenter, he also was the founding creative writer in Dartmouth Health’s arts program. He collaborated with Michael in co-creating and touring Children’s Voices.
MICHAEL ZERPHY is a storyteller, clown, poet, musician, banjo jokester and mirth instigator. His inventive and diverse performances have captivated audiences of all ages across the US and Europe for decades. His shows include FoolzJourney, Zany Acts and Codger!
