Casino Theatre variety show displays talent of area's senior citizens
Edwardine Saul is not shy about sharing her age.
"I'm 79 going on 20," says the enthusiastic Washington Township resident.
It's that spirit that promises to make "East Goes West: Vaudeville Revisited," the debut of the Senior Citizens Follies, a special afternoon Saturday at the Casino Theatre, Vandergrift.
The 2 p.m. variety show features dancing, singing, instrumentals and skits from a cast representing senior centers in East Vandergrift and New Kensington. There will be a senior-citizens art exhibit in the lobby before the curtain. A post-show reception for the cast and audience will be held on the portico.
Saul will be in two skits. "I'm just a big ham, I guess!" she says.
She's always been one, too, adds Jessie Snider, of Allegheny Township, who says she is "89 years young." She'll be acting and singing, and appreciates the opportunity to do that with other seniors.
She remembers the days when she rode a streetcar from Apollo to Vandergrift to see actors such as Al Jolson on the Casino's movie screen. The historic venue once was a Vaudeville theater.
Valerie Tocco, 51, of Lower Burrell, who will be dancing, hopes the Follies, a fund-raiser for the East Vandergrift and New Kensington senior centers, becomes an annual event.
"Hopefully, it will show seniors that it's never too late for anything you love," she says. "I love music and I love to dance, especially with a great group of people I've met at the senior center."
That's why they are so much fun to work with, suggests director Mary Ann Justham, of New Kensington. "I was excited to be asked to direct, because I remember about 20 years ago there was an annual Follies that was presented by the New Kensington Center, and I always wished I could have been a part of it. But I was too young then," she says, laughing.
It has become a reality, she says, because Suellen McCollim, supervisor of the East Vandergrift Center, successfully applied for a grant for equipment and supplies to stage it.
Justham also hopes it can be staged each year. "This has stirred up the juices of those who are participating and has shown others who aren't that, 'Hey, this is a really good idea!' We may have to apply for another grant, but there's no stopping us now!"
She believes the show is for anyone of any age who wants to be entertained. "I think that younger people should be encouraged to attend to see that, indeed, seniors are alive and well, and can sing, dance, act and play instruments well into their golden years, and that retirement and growing older aren't the end of the world."
"People who want to see how senior citizens can have fun will want to come to this show," adds Jack Spillers, of Washington Township, who is performing in a skit with his wife, Marcy Spillers. "It's entertaining and lots of fun." The Spillers are both 67.
The Follies is a reminder that "senior citizens are still a part of society," says Roger Crawford, 70, of Kiski Township.
He plays a judge, an airport announcer and airplane pilot in the show. "It's enjoyable to pretend to be somebody else and make somebody laugh and be happy," Crawford says.
Happiness should abound, Justham says. The program also will include line dancing, Tai Chi and the Lower Burrell-based Memories Choir.
"The amount of energy, stamina and hard work that is put into this is unbelievable," she says. "The dancing is not your usual 'wedding line dancing' efforts. These numbers are actual performances of hard routines."
Humorous segments include "Refractured Nursery Rhymes" and other skits by the East Vandergrift Players; some skits are written by one of the players, Jessie Snider.
There also will be dance duets, vocal solos, a trio, a banjo solo and more. "The finale will be the cast of over 80 members asking the audience to join them in a flag-waving salute to our country by singing 'God Bless America,'" Justham says.
Sylvia Sellari, of New Kensington, who will be performing with the Alle-Kiski Line Dancers, thinks many will be surprised at the abilities of participants.
"It is a wonderful showcase for the talent of seniors, and I think it is something that this area can support," she says.
Justham is an officer at the New Kensington Center, which has two satellite centers, East Vandergrift and Avonmore. She says one of the goals of the centers is to attract younger and newly retired members.
"We want to show that being a member of the senior center doesn't mean you aren't active and participating in a wide variety of activities," she says. "When we sign in at the center, we have two sheets: 'Over 60' and 'Under 60.'"
Her philosophy: "Getting older is mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!"
Additional Information:
'East Goes West: Vaudeville Revisited'
What: Debut of Senior Citizens Follies variety show
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Casino Theatre, 145 Lincoln Ave., Vandergrift
Admission: $10; $5 for middle school age and younger
Details: 724-568-2692 or www.casinotheatre.org
