Young at Heartland Takes the Spotlight June 23 and 28

It's always a hot ticket when the Young at Heartland troupe of senior actors perform. Every summer, they take the stage at Heartland Theatre for two showcases that highlight their acting and writing talents.

Young at Heartland's actors, all over 55, will perform at Heartland Theatre on Friday June 23 at 1 pm and Wednesday June 28 at 7:30 pm. There are no reservations and no set price; they simply ask for a donation at the door. And yes, it's a popular event, so you are warned to get there early -- at least 20 minutes before curtain, when the doors open -- if you want a good seat.

No word on what they'll be performing in this year's program, which represents the culmination of a two-month acting workshop led by veteran director Sandra Zielinski, but I can see what looks like chefs, clowns, firefighters, a matador, a bunch of Wizard of Oz characters, and a bevy of fans and fanatics in this year's photo. (Click on the image above to see a larger copy.) The scenes and short plays these actors perform were all written just for them by current and former YAH colleagues.

Young at Heartland was founded by Ann B. White and continues under her leadership, with two semesters of workshops and performances each year. Ann is the one holding her pom pom high (fourth from the left) in the photo above. She was recently named one of eight area "Women of Distinction" by the YWCA of McLean County for her stellar work with Young at Heartland.

For more information on Young at Heartland, click here. You can also see their entire schedule of area performances here.

Young at Heartland Fall Showcase Looks at "Life's Choices" Next Wednesday

Young at Heartland's Acting Troupe

Young at Heartland, Heartland Theatre’s senior acting troupe, is now a teenager! As YAH celebrates its 13th year of "continuing education, creative self-expression, and community outreach" through the vehicle of theater, the troupe will once again show off their talents in a performance at Heartland Theatre.

Young at Heartland's Fall Showcase will take the stage at Heartland Theatre on Wednesday, October 19 at 7:30 pm. There is no set charge for admission, although donations are accepted at the door to help with program expenses. Note that these performances tend to be well-attended, so you are advised to be there early to get a good seat.

If you are unable to attend the evening performance, Young at Heartland will offer another show open to the public at the Normal Public Library at 2 pm on October 28.

This year's theme -- a unifying idea that runs through all the scenes the senior actors will be performing -- is "Life’s Choices." The YAH press release explains:

Every day brings us choices, some small and others big, so the Young at Heartland senior acting troupe’s program will be exploring the complications and pleasures of Life's Choices. These brand new short scenes and plays are performed by the Young at Heartland senior acting troupe traveling through our community delivering lighthearted fun. Come see how they light up the stage.

Heartland's website indicates that the scenes being performed include several pieces by members of the troupe, including Cemetery Walk and Goosed by Bruce Boeck, Going Postal by Lynda Straw, Helpful Hints and What's for Dinner? by Elsie Cadieux  Skinfall and Telephone Tango by Joy Schuler and 'Tis The Season by Holly Klass.

Young at Heartland Hijinks

The actors in the troupe have participated in a two-month acting workshop led by retired Illinois State University professor Sandra Zielinski, with ISU alum Terri Whisenhunt assisting.

For more information (and more pictures) of the irrepressible Young at Heartland acting ensemble, click here.

Young at Heartland Summer Showcases Today and June 22

Heartland Theatre's senior acting troupe, Young at Heartland, is back for two fresh Summer Showcases, with performances today at 1 pm and on June 22 at 7:30 pm. Both performances take place on stage at Heartland Theatre.

Young at Heartland provides a two-month workshop for actors over 55. Sandra Zielinski, retired Illinois State University professor, has brought her extensive directing experience to YAH this semester, and she has been assisted by Terri Whisenhunt. At the end of each semester, the troupe takes its act on the road to a dozen area nursing homes, retirement centers, churches and civic groups, with the Summer Showcase at Heartland Theatre the only time they offer performances to a general audience.

From left, Lynda Straw, Mary Scott, Kathleen Clesson and Norma Oberholtzer.

All of this year's pieces were written by current or former members of Young at Heartland. That means you have the chance to experience your friends' and neighbors' writing as well as their acting if you attend the Showcase. Playwrights include Bruce Boeck, Elsie Cadieux, Kathleen Clesson, Holly Klass and Lynda Straw.

There is no charge for admission to the Summer Showcase, although they do ask for donations at the door. You are advised to get there early, because these are VERY popular events. Doors will open 20 minutes before the show.

Ann White (L), Lola Devore and Elsie Cadieux in the YAH Summer Showcase

About Young at Heartland: "Young at Heartland strives to build an ensemble of seniors who share the values of continuing education, creative self-expression, and community outreach. It is designed to accommodate and support performers’ comfort levels with memorization. We aim to find appropriate pathways to showcase performers’ gifts in a fun, stress-free atmosphere."

Young at Heartland is supported by grants from the McLean County Arts Regranting Program (Illinois Arts Council) and the Mirza Arts and Culture Fund of the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.

Young at Heartland Stages FALL SHOWCASE October 25

If you've seen the Summer Showcase put on by Heartland Theatre's Young at Heartland troupe of senior actors, you know that they know how to put on a show. Their Summer Showcase tends to sell out and have audiences rolling in the aisles. For the first time, Young at Heartland is offering a Fall Showcase as well, spotlighting the pieces they've been working on this semester in their two-month acting workshop with instructor Kathleen Kirk and assistant instructor Matt Bedell. And this time it's prime time, with a 7:30 curtain on a Saturday night performance.

Members of the Young at Heartland Troupe

Most of the pieces they will be performing are homegrown, meaning they were written by members of the troupe specifically for this Showcase. Scripts by Bruce Boeck, Elsie Cadieux and Lynda Straw are in the mix this year along with a selection of monologues and poems on the general theme of "Taking Chances." Those chances may include moving on, a new restaurant or an old romance, taking a trip or writing a play.

Young at Heartland's Fall Showcase is set for Saturday, October 25 at 7:30 pm at Heartland Theatre in Normal. This event is open to the public at no charge, although donations at the door are encouraged to help defray program expenses and make it possible for Young at Heartland to continue their tours to area senior centers and retirement homes. Because their Showcases have proved so popular in the past, you are advised to arrive before 7:10, when the doors will open. Seating is first come, first seated.

For more information, click here or call 309-452-8709.

Young at Heartland Summer Showcase Coming Up Friday

Young at Heartland, the senior acting troupe which operates under the auspices of Heartland Theatre, often takes its act on the road. But every summer, Young at Heartland comes back to Heartland Theatre with a l Summer Showcase to give friends, family and fans a chance to see what they've been working on.

This year's Summer Showcase uses the theme "Life's Roles," showing a sample of the many roles each actor plays in life and on the stage. To explain how Young at Heartland is working with that theme in this year's pieces, Program Director Ann White quotes from Shakespeare's As You Like It. She reminds us that "All the world's a stage" and "One man in his time plays many parts."

With those "many parts" in mind, Young at Heartland actors will bring to life a variety of roles and a selection of scenes, some past favorites and others brand-new works written by Young at Heartland colleagues. 

Instructors for this spring's acting workshops have been Sarah Salazar, Adjunct Professor at Bradley University's School of Theatre, and Kathleen Kirk, an actress, playwright and poet who frequently works with Heartland Theatre. Kirk will be directing Heartland Theatre's September production of Julia Cho's The Language Archive. In the image of the Young at Heartland troupe shown above, Salazar and Kirk are seen in the first row on the far right, while YAH Program Director Ann White is second from the left, also in the first row.

Young at Heartland's Summer Showcase performances are scheduled for Friday, June 20th at 1 pm and Wednesday, June 25th at 7:30 pm. This is the first time YAH has added an evening performance. Since the matinee has so often been a full house, the evening performance will provide another option to get a seat.

Both performances are offered free of charge, although donations will be accepted to help defray program expenses. No reservations are taken so first come first seated.

This year's program includes the following pieces and actors:

Cats and Dogs by Terri Ryburn
Performed by: Susan Callahan, Holly Klass and Gayle Thomas

Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward
Performed by: Elsie Cadieux and Wes Melton

On Golden Pond by Ernest Thompson
Cast: Kathy Clesson and Ann B. White

The Majestic by Michael Sloane
Performed by: Larry Eggan

Cemetery Club by Ivan Menchell
Performed by: Nancy Slattery and Diane Walker

Let's Go to the Movies by Terri Ryburn
Performed by: Carol Baker and Lynda Straw

“Tandem” from All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum
Performed by: Natalie Dugan

Driver's Test by Elsie Cadieux
Performed by: Susan Palmer and Mary Scott

Adam’s Diary by Mark Twain
Performed by: Bob Weldon

Super Clean Machine by Lynda Straw
Performed by: Glen Beaman and Lola DeVore

Goldilocks by Keena Lindsay
Performed by: Dottie Peiffer

Homecoming by Elsie Cadieux
Performed by: Diane Anderson and Lorie Highfill

The Assignment by Marie-Aline Cadieux
Performed by: Kathe Conley, Norma Oberholtzer, John Ford/Larry Eggan

Happy Birthday YOUNG AT HEARTLAND!

If it's June, it must be time for the Young at Heartland Summer Showcase! This is the tenth anniversary of the founding of Heartland Theatre's senior acting troupe, and they're celebrating that milestone by performing some of their favorite scenes from past shows. And that includes some scenes written by Young at Heartland members themselves. This year's Showcase features 21 actors in eleven short scenes, performed on stage at Heartland Theatre on Friday, June 28, at 1 pm.

The gift of Young at Heartland keeps on giving.

Young at Heartland actors prepare and workshop their scenes during two-month class sessions held with a special instructor every Spring and Fall. This year, recent ISU masters degree recipient Sarah Salazar headed up the classes, assisted by Misti Crossland, who filled that function last year. Founder and Program Director Ann B. White has once again shepherded the troupe in class and out, as they took their act on the road to the senior centers, churches and civic groups who keep their schedule full.

The Summer Showcase gives Young at Heartland performers an opportunity to show the general public what they've been working on. And it's always a popular event. Reservations are not taken, as it is purely first-come, first-served seating. That means that when the doors open at 12:40 pm, you are advised to be there! Admission is free, although donations are recommended.

For more information on Heartland Theatre or the Young at Heartland program, click the links under their names or call 309-452-870. The entire summer schedule is available here.

Young at Heartland Playwrights in Print!

It's only fitting that the Young at Heartland senior acting troupe should celebrate their tenth anniversary by branching out into yet another venture. Not content to sit on their acting and touring laurels, the Young group began writing their own scripts a year or two again. It's always tough to find material suited to short pieces for actors over 55, so members decided to create their own. And now they're publishing some of those pieces to provide material for other senior acting groups, too!

Young at Heartland Program Director Ann White has announced that 16 plays by YAH members will be published by ArtAge under the title Seniors Still Acting Up, which ArtAge is billing as a "vibrant collection of [Young at Heartland's] short plays and monologues." The playwrights and plays included in the collection are:

Bruce Boeck
Two of a Kind

Elsie Cadieux
Doctor's Office, Storm, First Time

Judy Franciosi
Good Grief, A Promise Kept, For Better or Worse...But Not for Lunch

Janet Grupp
The Car and the Garage Door, Fire

Holly Klass
Lend Me Your Ear...Puhleese, What Emergency, Lemme See

Jane Plum
Gadgetry

Joy Schuler
Pink

Carol Scott
Ladies Who Lunch

Lynda Straw
Afternoon Antiquing

You can see the back cover below, including ordering information. The volume will be priced at $24.95 and available from ArtAge at PO Box 19955, Portland OR 97280 or calling 503-246-3000 or 800-858-4998.

Young at Heartland Offers Senior Acting Solutions

Young at Heartland, Heartland Theatre's wildly successful acting troupe for seniors, will take its act to the Normal Public Library tomorrow for its annual showcase.

 This year's theme appears to be "Problem Solved?"  as the various scenes performed by Young at Heartland actors involve the solutions people find, whether those solutions really solve the problem or not.

This showcase of short scenes takes place at the Normal Public Library on Friday, October 26, from 2 to 3 pm in the Community Room.

The performance is free and open to the public, with refreshments served. Call the library at 309-452-1757 for more information.

If you're over 55 and have a hankering to act, you'll want to check out Young at Heartland to see if it looks like a good match for you. They offer performances all fall, with classes beginning again next year.

You can check out the whole Fall schedule for Young at Heartland here, but note that the Normal Public Library tomorrow and Westminster Village on November 2 are the best options for the general public.

"Playing Games" and Other Entertainments at Heartland

A lot is happening at Heartland Theatre right now!

Dave Lemmon and Gayle Hess in "It"

Heartland's annual 10-Minute Play Festival, always a summertime treat, opens its second weekend of performances tonight with more "Playing Games" plays. In case you've missed the memo, this year the plays, chosen from among 366 entries, involve some kind of game, and that includes Scrabble (Austin Steinmetz's "Wordplay"), Bingo (Meny Beriro's "Final Bingo"), Rummikub (Alexis Roblan's "Bourbon Whiskey Rummikub"), a video game (Jerry McGee's "I Am. I Think"), the children's game of Tag (Mike Poblete's "It"), tug-of-war as a metaphor for divorce woes (John D. Poling's "Destiny's Tug-of-War") and the dating game as translated for a new world on Craigslist (Marj O'Neill-Butler's "Missed Connections").

Five of the eight playwrights were in town to see their plays last Saturday night, which was also my first opportunity to see
"Playing Games" realized on Heartland's stage. I chair the 10-Minute Plays committee for Heartland, and as a result, I read all the plays and help the judging process along for the first two rounds. That means I am in no way an unbiased audience member when it comes time to see the whole program. But it's always interesting to see how what you read on the page comes alive on stage, and how different directors and actors can make the material.

My (completely biased) judgment this year is that Poblete's "It," nicely directed by Rachel Krein and starring Dave Lemmon and Gayle Hess, both terrific as wise-beyond-their-years children, is the funniest and sharpest among the produced plays, and that John D. Poling from Clinton, Illinois, has created the most heartfelt piece with his "Tug-of-War," with George Freeman offering a warm and sweet performance as a divorced man caught between his ex, her new girlfriend and their injured dog. O'Neill-Butler's "Missed Connections," directed by Ron Emmons, with Kent Nusbaum and Alyssa Ratkovich doing good work as a pair of mixed-up singles, is also fresh and timely.

In terms of the scripts, McGee's "I Am. I Think." goes for the most depth -- McGee actually tries to discuss the concept of Free Will versus Fate in ten minutes! -- and features excellent performances from both Dana Anderson and Dave Lemmon, who goes from a kid on the playground in "It" to a harried commuter worried about his very existence in "I Am. I Think." in the space of twenty minutes.

If you are a game player, this is the Festival for you. You have three weekends left to catch these hot-off-the-press 10-minute plays, with reservation and show time information on Heartland's website.

Also of note -- tomorrow marks the annual Summer Showcase from Heartland's Young at Heartland acting troupe for seniors. This year, a corps of 24 actors will perform scenes centering on the idea of "Opportunities." That's tomorrow, June 15, at 1 pm at Heartland Theatre, and you are advised to arrive early if you want a seat. There is no charge for admission, but they suggest a donation at the door as you enter.

And last but not least, Heartland has launched a new website this week. If you've visited heartlandtheatre.org before, you will notice that it has a new look and lots of information on the upcoming season, on the 10-Minute Play Festival, New Plays from the Heartland, Young at Heartland and their summer schedule of performances, and even the Board of Directors, of which I am a member.

Young at Heartland Schedules June 15 Summer Showcase

Young at Heartland, the acting troupe created especially for seniors, will hold its Summer Showcase at 1 pm on June 15 at Heartland Theatre.

Ann B. White, director of the Young at Heartland program, describes this year's Showcase this way: "Through selected scenes, our Young at Heartland members explore the many opportunities that life can bring. Opportunities can open a whole new world but is it worth the risk? Will they grab the opportunity or let it slip away?"

White adds that 24 seniors will perform in this year's Showcase, which features 12 scenes. Young at Heartland members Bruce Boeck, Elsie Cadieux, Judy Franciosi, Holly Klass, Jane Plum and Terri Ryburn all contributed scenes as the troupe has also taken on playwriting workshops as part of its program.

The Young at Heartland acting company in 2011

The Young at Heartland troupe has participated in a two-month acting workshop in preparation for their Summer Showcase. Although the troupe is usually seen “on the road,” bringing its shows to area nursing and retirement homes, as well as church and civic groups, they also offer this Showcase to give general audiences a chance to see their work. This performance is the only one held at Heartland Theatre.

Donations will be accepted at the door to support the Young at Heartland program.

Heidi Harris was the instructor for the 2012 spring workshop, with Misti Crossland assisting her.

The schedule of performances on June 15 will be:

 Chapter Two by Neil Simon
John Ford as George, Nancy Slattery as Jennie
 Can a mix-up in phone messages actually be a good thing?  

Dining Dilemma by Elsie Cadieux
Larry Eggan as Jasper, Lynda Straw as Rose  
Choosing the perfect way to celebrate a birthday can be a complicated business.  

For Better or Worse - But Not for Lunch by Judy Franciosi
Bob Weldon as Ron, Dottie Peiffer as Marge  
Will retirement bring Ron and Marge more time together or send them in different directions?

Cross Words by Julie Kistler
Gayle Thomas as Mike, Kathe Conley as Fran  
When a stranger intrudes on Mike’s daily crossword time will it lead to cross words?  

Good Grief by Judy Franciosi
Susan Callahan as Bonnye, Joy Schuler as Lucy, Lola DeVore as Jan  
Has the time come for three friends to change their routine? 

Choosing the Menu by Bruce Boeck
Diane Boeck as Edna, Judy Franciosi as Susan, Susan Palmer as Waiter  
Are diet restrictions going to make dining out a thing of the past?

New Idea by Elsie Cadieux
Carol Scott as Belle, Diane Anderson as Ellie
Belle is hearing the siren call of exotic adventures. Can Ellie bring Belle to her senses?

 Signature Dish by Terri Ryburn
Elsie Cadieux as Dorothy, Holly Klass as Barbara Jean  
Is it possible that a potluck dinner will produce important food for thought?  

Feelin' Curvey by Holly Klass
Mary Scott as Connie, Jan Proeber as Marge  
Marge and Connie meet at a Curves Fitness Center. Connie’s worried that a news article means her life is about to change.  

The Cocktail Hour by A. R. Gurney
 Ann B. White as Ann, George Freeman as John and Larry Eggan as Bradley  
At a family gathering, John announces that his new play is about the family. His father is dead-set against it and his well-meaning mother, Ann, encourages him to write a book instead.

Gadgetry, written and performed by Jane N. Plum  
Technology has opened new possibilities but it has also complicated our lives.  

Monologue by Terri Ryburn

Young at Heartland Summer Showcase

Friday, June 15, 2012

1 pm