Acting Our Age

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Acting Our Age
Voices of the Times
Project developed by The Works

A series with people whose lives show and tell how history was made 

~ About the series 2018-2025 ~
  
In 2018-2019, seven people ages 73-95 volunteered to meet over 15 months to create a theatre event and a film from the stories of their lives and the history they helped to make through a century of Americana. It started the Acting Our Age series, which has since had three more editions that tell the individual stories of the 40 people involved - and the bigger stories of the collective experiences.
 

Acting Our Age Series 
Sponsored by Aldersgate:
One Century in Seven Voices (2019)
Voices of the Pandemic (2021)
Using Our Voices (2022)
Sponsored by Plymouth Harbor:
Voices of the Harbors (2024)

Projects created by Lyndall Hare and Steve Umberger with the casts 
Director Steve Umberger   
Director of Photography Jay Thomas / Music & Sound Design Fred Story 
Productions and event films produced by The Works


Acting Our Age has two formats: live stage performance and documentary film.

Each film or stage production of Acting Our Age is 60-120 minutes long, each developed with a group and a professional production team over the course of one year.

Acting Our Age was developed by The Works to recognize individual lives in historical context. (Sponsors: Aldersgate & Plymouth Harbor non-profit life plan communities)


Acting Our Age history 2018-2024
Photos: Jay Thomas
Scroll below the gallery for more information






"The collaboration between theatre director and gerontologist turns decades of memories into a collective whole." 
Observer (feature) 

"Thank you for demonstrating these vibrant and creative lives. Their stories are funny and poignant. A masterpiece!"
Chris McLeod, Director, OLLI at Duke University

"A great, seamless weaving together of many stories that everyone shares as a part of their generation."
Audience member Susan Lowy, Sarasota

"This is an example of how we can save the world - conversations, empathy, engagement."  
Audience member Beth Monaghan, Charlotte



Press links
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Southpark Magazine 2022 The Silent Generation Speaks

The Biscuit 2022 Silents Speak Out



Acting Our Age casts 2019-2024
June Connerton, Betty Cowan, Dot Horne, George Moffat, Andie Payet, Bob Payet, Norman Pollock, Steve Baldon, Sondra Cooney, Tom Dunton, Cheri Furr, Lynn Lau, Melvin Dwight McIntosh, Jan Valder Offerman, Joal Fischer, Kathy Habel, Deborah Langsam, Dick Metzler, Lou Mitchell, Molly Mitchell, Brenda Schleunes, Carl P. Denney, Winnie S. Downes, Michael Fox, Ella Gross, George Gross, Barbara Kelly, Bob Lifeso, Cheryl Mooney, Robert Wilk, Lynne Woodman

Acting Our Age stage productions performed at Blumenthal Performing Arts and Spirit Square Arts Center, Charlotte, and Holley Hall, Sarasota


Acting Our Age 2019-2022                Acting Our Age 2024
Acting Our Age productions & films produced by The Playworks Group