The Why and How of Older Adult Theatre: an introduction

Our Agenda

1. The why? Older adult theatre research Teresa Beshwate

2. The How-To guide to murder mysteriesJill Ross, Sarasota Bay Club

3. Theatre around the networkKen Ray, Judson Park & others

Theatre Research

Drs. Helga and Tony NoiceElmhurst College

Study #1 Community dwelling older adultsStudy groups: theatre, visual arts, controlNoice, Noice & Staines (2004) National Institute on Aging funded

Study #1 results:1.Theatre group performed significantly better than controls on cognitive testing2.The theater group experienced greater psychological well-being compared with controls3.No evidence of decline after 4 months4.Visual Arts group made fewer gains in fewer areas

Theatre ResearchStudy #2

Same interventionQuestion: Will the Intervention be effective with participants who are more at-risk because they are: 1.Older; 2.Less well educated; 3.Living in subsidized retirement homes?Noice & Noice, 2009

Study #2 Results

• Acting group improved significantly on 7 of 8 cognitive measures

• Improved against the Control group AND the Singing group

• Improved on episodic memory measures

• Both groups had higher personal growth scores

Noice & Noice, 2009

Theatre ResearchStudy #3

Question: Could other trainers administer the

intervention with positive results?

◦Activity Directors of Retirement Homes

◦Outside ProfessionalsNoice & Noice

Study #3 ResultsSignificant effects:1. Problem solving

2. Self-reported lifestyle activities: The

experimental group increased significantly

from pretest to posttestThe control group slightly

decreased3. The acting group led by

acting professional improved on almost all cognitive

measuresNoice & Noice (being reviewed for publication in 2012)Enhancing Cognitive Fitness in Adults by Paula Hartmann-Stein. (Springer, 2011)

In summary• Older adults can benefit

from a short theatrical intervention

• The arts are uniquely positioned to tap into their

creativity• The arts allow people to

escape worries and pain and “escape” into an

imaginary world• The artistic expression is a

means for people to connect, interact and form

close social tiesNoice & Noice

Let’s Create,

Develop & Perform

A Murder Mystery©

Jill L. Ross M.S., C.T.R.S.

Murder Mystery Organizational Meeting

Our Community

will be presenting a

Murder Mystery Cocktail & Dinner Party

On Thursday October 18, 2012

We will be having an Organizational meeting for anyone interested in joining

this group on August 18 at 2:00 PM.There will be no memorization required

for our cast members.

Murder Mystery Process from Creative Writing to Performance

(A ten week rehearsal period is advised)

Creative Writing Sessions:

I. A. Decide on who is giving the event/party. B. Where and what event takes place? C. When the event takes place/season/year? D. Who are the Special Guests (characters) invited?2. A. Group assigns roles to participants. B. Each participant has a list of all the characters. C. Assignment: each actor must development an in-depth

character analysis by the next meeting. They develop their backgrounds from childhood to present and how they know the hostess and show what their relationship is with the other characters (Special Guests.)

Character Development1. The group shares the name (be creative)

of the character they have developed as well as their in-depth character analysis.

2. They should also have developed what their character’s relationship is with all the other Special Guests.

3. Time should be given to exchange, share, make decisions as a group and solidify results so that everyone has the same information.

Final Decisions 1. All relationships are set now.

2. The group is sworn into secrecy, because they will know who is murdered and who is the murderer. If it is discovered before everything occurs, it will ruin the entire evening.

3.. The group now decides who gets murdered.

4. The group decides who the murderer is, and the motive.

5. The group decides how (s)he was murdered.

5. Each character however has to also create a possible motive, as all characters are suspects.

Detective’s Role

1. Establish a relationship to Host, the Detective was invited as a guest. Why was the Detective present?

2. Now that the murderer and the murdered person is established, this character must develop a suspicion and motive of each of the other characters, so that when the detective questions each of the Special Guests, the audience is challenged to vote for the correct selection of the murderer.

3. The Detective creates a list of questions to use in his final interrogation in order to reveal the murderer.

Host/Hostess1. All residents and guests receive an invitation from

the Host/Hostess of the event.

2. The Host/Hostess prepares a short welcoming address briefly introducing the Special Guests.

(May use cue cards)

3. As they are introduced, the Special Guests tell the audience a few things about themselves.

4. The Special guests then mingle with the rest of the crowd spreading rumors. They work in two or threes together. When cued, they then do the same thing on different groups of guests in the room.

Improvisational Sessions

1. In rehearsal, pair up the characters and have them talk about themselves to each other and spread rumors about each other.

2. Switch partners until all have worked together and feel comfortable knowing about each other.

3. When doing this facts will emerge that will help to solidify backgrounds and relationships.

4. Meet back as a group and discuss what came out in their conversations.

Timing of Cocktail Party Events1. As soon as everyone arrives, cue sheets are distributed and the

Director will welcome the guests and explain briefly how the evening will proceed. Then introduce the Host/Hostess

2. The Hostess will welcome her Special Guests and introduce them individually.

3. The Special Guests will each say a few words and the Hostess wishes everyone to have a wonderful evening.

4. The Special Guests mingle with the crowd for 45 minutes, spreading rumors

5. The Murder takes place. It is announced by assigned characters.

6. Hostess calls on friend Detective to assist. Detective tells the group that everyone is a suspect.

7. Hostess calms everyone. Invites them all into dinner where the situation will be solved.

The Dinner

1. Place all the characters at different tables. Their function is to spread as many rumors as possible. They may get up during dinner to create some loud scenes.

2.Voting sheets are on the tables. A leader is designated

for each table.

3. Everyone should have their own cue sheets that they received at the Cocktail Party. During the Cocktail party, they should have been writing down clues they heard as well as during dinner.

Dessert & The Trial 1. During dessert, the Detective calls up all the Special Guests to sit

behind him in a semi-circle. A stool or chair is put in front of the guests, all facing the audience.

2. The Detective calls them up one by one and interrogates them.

3. After all are interviewed, the trial stops down. It is the audience now that gets to vote on who they think is the murderer. They write it down on the sheet supplied at each table and also what they think their motive is. (Give them ten minutes)

4. The Detective calls the trial back to order and he re-interviews two of the final top murder candidates. Then reveals the murderer who is then handcuffed and taken away. All actors take a bow.

5. The Director then finds out which tables guessed the right murder and motive and prizes are awarded.

Anastasia Le Beaucoup of

The Bon Vivant Spa Montreux, Switzerland

 Cordially invites you to join herfor a

Murder Mystery Champagne/Dinner Party Monday, April 11, 2005

6:00 PM

Champagne Reception

inThe Grand Ringling Room Dinner will follow in the Bon Vivant Dining Room

(The Murder Mystery takes place in the 1920’s. Costume attire is optional).

Sample Invitation

 CHARACTERS NOTES

*Anastasia Le Beaucoup (Owner of The Bon Vivant Spa) * Carmichael Crump (Wealthy Vineyard Owner) *Astrid Lovelace (Book and Script Author) *Lotta Hart (Eligible Lady) *Kierston Flagstone (Former Opera Singer) *Ali Osofat (Wealthy Arab Prince) *Ray Sanborn (Wealthy Politician) *Zany Coyote (Lady Friend of Ray Sanborn) *Gary Can’t (Movie Star) *Phil M. Upp (Waiter) *Maurice Le Neurve (Frenchman/Jewelry Expert) *Ian Whimsey (Formerly of Scotland Yard) *Dr. Thelma Passwater (PHD in Forensic Science

The Bon Vivant Murder Mystery Cue Sheet

Incident: Murder/Theft

Date: Afternoon of Monday, April 11, 1924Location: The Bon Vivant Spa of Montreux, SwitzerlandName of Victim: Zany Coyote

Circumstances Leading to Death: Ingesting unidentified poisonous substance

Suspects: Everyone

Physical Evidence:

1) Accusatory note found in Zany Coyote’s hand when body was discovered

2) Business proposal shared by Ali Osofat and Ray Sanborn

3) Script written by Astrid Lovelace

4) Empty bottles of Chateau Crump El Dorado ‘26 Semi-Brut Champagne

5) Zany’s missing jewelry

Circumstantial Evidence:1) Did jealousy cause Lotta Hart to follow Zany into the bathroom?2) Why was Carmichael Crump so pushy with his champagne?3) Why was the Waiter so particular about who got which hors d’oeuvres?4) Why would the Inspector Lord Ian Whimsey be so admiring of all the jewelry?5) What private business did Anastasia Soboloff have with Maurice Le Neurve?6) As a former girlfriend of Ray Sanborn, can Dr. Passwater’s determination of the cause of death be trusted?7) Was Gary Cant being blackmailed by Zany in order to secure funds from the politician to back Astrid’s new movie?8) Argument overheard between politician Ray Sanborn and Zany?9) What are Kierston Flagstone and Maurice Le Neurve conspiring about?

Examples from the Network!

Radio Show Readings

Fibber McGee & Molly Baby Snooks & Daddy

The Revue

Resources Journal on Active Aging article Senior Theatre Resource Center

www.seniortheatre.com TimeSlips (Story telling program

for those with dementia) www.timeslips.org

STAGEBRIDGE Oakland-based senior theatre company www.stagebridge.org

EngAge turning affordable senior housing into centers of vibrancy & creativity www.engagedaging.org www.nohoseniorartscolony.com

www.lbseniorartscolony.com