Melodies & Memories, Seniors to Present THE SEASONS OF OUR LIVES at WHBPAC, 11/17

On Sunday, November 17 at 3:00pm area seniors will perform live on stage in an endearing production as part of the Life-Long Learning Program "Melodies & Memories," in collaboration with the Town of Southampton Senior Services, at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. The performance is FREE and open to the public. Tickets are distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

This nationally recognized, original music and theatre program is designed to foster the continuous development of skills and knowledge throughout the lives of older adults. The Life-Long Learning Program at the WHBPAC not only improves various performing arts skills in older adults, but has also been proven to increase self-esteem, reinforce personal and collective identity, and ease anxiety about getting older.

For eight weeks, twice a week, seniors came together in a dynamic class to appreciate something that has often been overlooked - their pasts. Taught by talented, professional teaching artists, beginners worked on vocal exercises, proper breathing and acting techniques, rhythm, and basic music reading skills, while singing classic songs together. Veterans of the program focused on building upon the skills that they have already been developing. They are now acting in scenes, further connecting to the audience, and have even collaborated on creative aspects of the final performance.

The culminating performance of the fall session, entitled The Seasons of Our Lives, takes advantage of the WHBPAC's world-class theatre, giving seniors the opportunity to show off their newly acquired skills by performing original scenes and monologues on the PAC's renowned Mainstage.

The performance reveals the many life experiences of our students and the lessons learned. From a child growing up in famed Westhampton restaurant Casa Basso to a young man falling in love with a dancer to a middle aged woman pursuing a journalism degree against her family's wishes to an older woman rediscovering her love of dance - all the seasons of life will be represented on stage in poignant scenes and monologues. Interwoven with these stories will be, of course, the music, including show-stopping hits from Broadway musicals and old favorites from days gone by. Seniors will show off their newly honed music skills by singing both as an ensemble and in solos and duets.

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