LGBTQ Seniors to Take the Stage in New Stages' CALIFORNIA DREAMS Showcase

"I am a singer. When I was younger, I was sure that I was gonna be a star. Then - life happened. As a disabled senior in the LGBTQ community, I thought I had no place to sing. And then, after 40 years, I found New Stages," said Herbie Taylor.

New Stages is a Los Angeles-based arts program for LGBTQ seniors with an emphasis on music, storytelling and theater. This year's showcase performance, California Dreams, directed by Mark Salyer with musical direction by Debbie Lawrence will be at the Renberg Theater in Hollywood, June 12 and 14, at 7:00 PM. Admission is free.

"For me, the most important part of this program is learning about the lives these people have lived and finding ways to curate and save their stories," says Salyer. "They are really what Pride is all about."

California Dreams is presented as part of the City of West Hollywood's One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, which this year celebrates the theme 'Go West,' which explores the current and historic waves of immigration to West Hollywood. Events take place from Harvey Milk Day (May 22nd) through the end of June Pride month. For more info and to see a full roster of events, visit www.weho.org/pride or follow on social media @WeHoArts.'

"Our show this year focuses on what brought so many of us to California in search of freedom and liberation," says Salyer.

Herbie Taylor, a self-described "senior, gay, disabled, AIDS survivor, cancer survivor, black man," says what he likes most is the diverse community that New Stages creates. "People who would otherwise not have met are brought together by art."

The Los Angeles LGBT Center will once again host the event at the Renberg Theater. The performers are part of the Center's Senior Services program which provides more than 100 events monthly to LGBT older adults at the Village and Triangle Square apartments. New Stages is an integral part of Senior Services at the Center and a signature Pride month event.

Tripp Mills, Deputy Director of Senior Services says, "New Stages brings their original voices to the Los Angeles LGBT Center for another year! We can't imagine a Pride season without the unique voices of our LGBT elders in this heartwarming theatrical tradition."

In Fall of 2016, New Stages introduced an acting class into the program. Fifteen LGBTQ seniors tackled monologues and scenes from gay and lesbian playwrights.

"Our goal for our 2017/18 is to add a filmmaking component. I think this community needs to be making media. Their voices are so unique," adds Salyer.

New Stages is a program of Oasis Theatre Company and is also sponsored by the Grace Helen Spearman Foundation.

For more information about contributing to or joining New Stages' workshops, visit at www.newstages.org. For reservations to California Dreams, call 323.860.5830 or by email to seniors@lalgbtcenter.org.

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