Into the Spotlight

Playing different roles is also a wonderful way to leave your problems behind — at least temporarily. "Studies show you can actually change your emotional frame of mind by acting a certain way," says Sally Bailey, director of the Drama Therapy Program at Kansas State University. "And there's a circle of energy between the audience and the actors that creates a natural high."

The range of opportunities for older thespians is vast. It includes amateur groups that have no budget, like the Atherton Players in Alhambra, Calif., who perform unmemorized scripts written by their leader, Pat Lane, 77. They put on three or four plays a year for their fellow residents at the Atherton Baptist Home, a retirement community. Lane's one rule is that every member of the troupe — even those with limited mobility — be treated equally. "Whoever comes to rehearsals is guaranteed a part," she says.

Other groups offer musical reviews, oral histories or improv, like the San Diego — based Late Bloomers, who perform at a local theater, charge for their performances and pay the actors. And there are groups that use the theater to tackle social issues relevant to the aging population. The Heyday Players, a troupe of 44 volunteer actors between their mid-50s and mid-80s who perform under the auspices of the Round House Theatre — in partnership with the Montgomery County, Md., Department of Health and Human Services — tackle such themes as alcohol abuse, bereavement, family relations and isolation.

"We have an award-winning playwright on staff who writes original plays dealing with those issues, which our company performs in readers' theater-style productions," says Kathy Feininger, director of education and outreach for the Round House Theatre. Its free productions take place at libraries, community centers, medical conferences and senior centers. "I know from talking to audience members that we've made a difference, particularly in the area of alcohol abuse," says Feininger, "and that makes our actors feel they've contributed significantly to the community."

Indeed, theater has the power to transform both the audience and the actors. All the performers who participate — even if their first attempt is at age 50--are keenly aware of that. "Not only have I discovered I can memorize lines, relax and even make a fool of myself without falling apart," says James Harding, "I've also become more aware of the needs of others. After all, if the audience has chosen to spend a few hours in the theater with me, I want them to feel it was time well spent."