History isn’t just written in books, it is imprinted in the brains and memories of our elders and ancestors. Their memories corroborate or challenge History.
What happened during World War II that you and I can’t read in History books? What went on in the Holocaust during the darkest hours of this century? Can anyone living today recall the frantic shiver after the atomic mushroom formed over the skies of Hiroshima?
To the above questions the answers are both affirmative and re-affirming in the moving theater piece “Showing Our Age, ‘an original theater work and an extension of About Productions’ innovative STAGES program, which provides senior citizens the opportunity to work with writers who transform their real life stories into theater.’
STAGES Program Director Laurel Ollstein, along with a team of playwrights, have conducted interviews at senior centers throughout Los Angeles County. Ollstein has fused these stories into "SHOWING OUR AGE," a full-scale theatrical piece.
Says About Productions Artistic Director Theresa Chavez: “This sensitive work deals with issues of aging via interwoven stories from Mexican-American, Japanese, German Jewish, German-American, African-American communities, and an Italian-American singing cowboy duo. These rich and life altering experiences include first person encounters with WWII, the Holocaust, and the bombing of Hiroshima. Although these events were devastating, the tone of work ranges from serious to playful to comedic. The work is an attempt to capture the extraordinary histories of everyday seniors, honor their journey through the 20th century and to recognize the basic generational differences and similarities between our elders and ourselves”
What to expect from this show? Theatrical storytelling combined with live music, songs and original choreography meant to illuminate the intricacies of human relationships , loyalty, estrangement between relatives and much more.
World Premiere production features
Los Angeles Senior Citizens’ true stories
“Showing Our Age”
written by Laurel Ollstein
co-directed by Theresa Chavez and Laurel Ollstein
music direction by Robert Anderson
Three Weeks Only! APRIL 9 - APRIL 27, 2008
Calendar Listing for “SHOWING OUR AGE”
Dates: April 9 – 27, 2008
Opening Night: Saturday, April 12, 2008
WHO: ABOUT PRODUCTIONS presents “SHOWING OUR AGE”
Written by LAUREL OLLSTEIN with contributions from Doris Baizley, Joyce Guy, Rose Portillo, Denise Uyehara and Steven Wolfson
Co-directed by THERESA CHAVEZ and LAUREL OLLSTEIN
Music Direction by ROBERT ANDERSON
Original music by ROBERT ANDERSON and MELODY BUTIU
Lyrics by STEVEN WOLFSON and LAUREL OLLSTEIN
Featured actors include MELODY BUTIU, RALPH COLE, Jr., ROSE PORTILLO, RAMON HILARIO, KEVIN SIFUENTES and BERNADETTE SULLIVAN
Featured musicians include ROBERT ANDERSON, NOAH NEEDLEMAN, ADRIAN TORRES and one musician TBA.
Times: Wed & Thurs @ 11AM
Fri & Sat @ 8PM
Sun @ 2PM
SPECIAL BENEFIT PERFORMANCE on Sun, April 20 @ 2PM - supporting About Productions' artistic and educational programs.
Venue: [INSIDE] the Ford
John Anson Ford Amphitheatre's INDOOR Theater
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068
FREE PARKING and HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE
Price: $20 general, $15 students/seniors, $10 groups (6+)
TIX/Info: Box Office Phone – 323/461-3673 (Box Office at theatre)
http://www.aboutpd.org
www.FordTheatres.org
About Productions info line - 626/396-0920
