ALT’s Silver Players seeks members 50 and older
The Albuquerque Little Theatre is putting up a wanted poster for a new theatrical enterprise.
It is seeking actors, singers, backstage technicians and playwrights who are 50 and older.
The new enterprise is called The Silver Players.
“We’re creating a repertorystyle troupe that will train together once a week for 12 weeks,” said ALT sales coordinator Jessica Quindlen.
The Silver Players’ first class is Jan. 23. Classes are two hours in length.
“They’ll be doing improv, scene study, script development and culminating in performances. Every person who participates will learn all aspects of theater,” Quindlen said.
The intent is for the troupe to perform at local retirement facilities, perhaps at farmers’ markets or at corporate events, and at ALT, she added.
The ideal troupe size is 25. Heading The Silver Players program is Staci Robbins, a director, producer, instructor and actor. She’s a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Robbins said there are similar theater programs around the country aimed at seniors, but she designed The Silver Players for ALT.
“The main focus will be on acting and it will represent ALT in the community,” she said. “We want to have a group that has a repertoire in its back pocket with maybe 10-minute scenes, or one-act plays or, in some cases, a full production that we can perform on the ALT stage during the regular season. But we also are offering continuing training for experienced artists.”
Because there are more stories told about older individuals, that means more opportunities for older people, Robbins said.
She noted that classes are popping up for people who want to act in film or on TV, she noted, “but that does not give a true base for actor skills.
“It’s difficult to go from performing in front of a camera to the stage, but it works the other way around.”
The first set of classes will culminate in a showcase on May 1 on ALT’s main stage.
Quindlen said she and ALT Executive Director Henry Avery conceived of the idea of The Silver Players as a senior theater company that offers classes and outreach.
“We have a lot of older actors in New Mexico who want to continue working (in theater) and want to work with likeminded people. We’re looking for people with all levels of experience to bring to the program,” she said.
To register for the first 12-week session, call the ALT box office at 242-4750 or Quindlen at 242-4750 ext.
3 or visit the ALT website at albuquerquelittletheatre.org. Registration fee is $425. ALT’s plan, Quindlen said, is to have three 12-week sessions a year.
Individuals sign up for each session if they want to continue in the troupe.