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O’Neill hosts Reader’s Theater

ERIN O’NEILL The Marietta Times Pat Davis, left, of Barlow, and Sherri Lafley, right, of Little Hocking, read through a skit in the style of “Gone With the Wind” as the small group met at the O’Neill Center for the first meeting to revitalize a reader’s theater.

Seniors who take part in theater improve cognition and social engagement.

Acting helps people express their emotions, does not require previous training and increases social interactions, according to the National Institute on Aging. It is the perfect way for seniors to be social and get involved in their community, while stimulating their brain in the process.

A small group which hopes to grow larger in the coming months met for the first time at the O’Neill Center Monday. Reader’s theater is something that activities coordinator Nancy Matheny thought would be beneficial to bring back to the senior community.

“We did it many, many, many years ago. It was started by Sally Hille but then just fell off,” Matheny said. “I thought it would be something new to do with the baby boomer generation.”

Annamaria Stellato, who works part time at the center, volunteered to get the group up and running. She had a variety of short skits, monologues and plays for small groups, many of which are available to senior casts through the Senior Theatre Resource Center based in Oregon.

“I’ve never done anything like this before but I thought it sounded exciting,” Stellato said. “We will meet twice a month and just see what we like to do. I think theater offers the opportunity to have a good time and to learn about yourself. It also offers the community a chance to laugh.”

The idea behind reader’s theater is to allow the actors to read from a script and not have to memorize lines or blocking. Matheny said the group may decide to utilize costumes or props. The shows will likely be performed at the O’Neill Center.

“I did some theater many years ago, at Mid-Ohio Valley Players,” said Pat Davis of Barlow. “We performed a couple Christmas shows and took them out to some of the nursing homes.”

Since that time, Davis hasn’t dabbled too much in theater but said she thought that it would be an enjoyable thing to revisit. She also encouraged friend Sherri Lafley, of Little Hocking, to attend the first meeting on the program on Monday.

“I like to read aloud and I like to do different accents. I really love the classic old films and radio shows,” she said. “I have played many roles in my life but have never done theater, so I thought this would be something new to try.”

The next meeting of the O’Neill Center reader’s theater will be July 23 at 1 p.m. For more information, call 740-373-3914.

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