Curtain Up: The Transformative Power of Theatre for Older Adults
By Katie Kensinger | August 15, 2025
Editor’s Note: This article was written and submitted by senior living executive Katie Kensinger. If you are a senior living executive at an organization or a community with an idea for an article that you’d like to write and publish in Senior Living News you’re welcome to submit your idea or written article to Jim Nelson at jnelson@seniorlivingnews.com. We welcome all ideas relating to senior living.
The anticipation from excited patrons, family, and friends fills the room as the spotlight illuminates older adult performers seated in a black-box theatre, ready to begin their opening musical number. The theatre: a Juniper Village senior living community. The opportunity: one created through a collaborative effort between Juniper Communities and Music Theatre International, resulting in the launch of Broadway Senior musicals.
In 2018, Lynne Katzmann, founder/CEO of Juniper Communities, was approached by Freddie Gershon, the co-chairman at MTI, with an idea — one that would help in combatting isolation and loneliness that often occurs with older adults. Juniper would pilot a program that would provide residents with an outlet for self-expression, empowerment, and discovering a newfound purpose through performance.
The idea: MTI would create shortened, 60-minute versions of popular musicals for which it held the licenses to be known as Broadway Senior productions.
Juniper’s role: to determine logistically how to stage the musicals and the resources that would be needed to produce a Broadway show performed by older adults in a community setting.
The first community to pilot a musical was Juniper Village at Brookline in State College, Pennsylvania. The musical performed was Guys and Dolls SR. The team at Juniper helped MTI tailor the material to the needs of the performers including those with mobility, vision, or hearing challenges. Juniper also reached out to the greater community to find volunteers and partners to help with sound design, music, and lighting.
“Being able to participate in theatrical productions, either on a stage or in a rec room, is transformative for older adults, touching the core of their emotional and mental health, and delivering feelings of pride and accomplishment,” explained John Prignano, MTI’s COO and director of development and education. “Participation in theatre has been shown to decrease anxiety and loneliness, while simultaneously increasing one’s self-perception, sense of value, and purpose.”
And, according to the teams at Juniper, it’s also fun!
Through rehearsals and performances, this creative process encourages older adults to explore different facets of their personalities, leading to increased happiness and a freeing of the imagination. As older adults embrace new roles and overcome the challenges of performing in front of a live audience, they often find themselves empowered to tackle other challenges in their daily lives, leading to a more active, engaged, and fulfilling lifestyle.
Juniper has found that a huge benefit of theatre for older adults is the sense of belonging and community it has to offer. Theatrical productions foster a sense of togetherness among senior living residents, volunteers, and members from the local theatre community, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Not only do participants enjoy the camaraderie during rehearsals, but new, lasting friendships blossom across generations.
Instrumental in bringing the Broadway Senior program to life was Juniper’s willingness to share its experience and insights on adapting shows for older adults. With each licensed show comes a director’s guide to support the process.
Contributing to the Broadway Senior Director’s Guide has truly been an honor. We learned so much through our pilot programs, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to share that experience and wisdom with others who want to bring a Broadway Senior show to their community. I wholeheartedly believe that theatre transforms lives and builds communities, and this magic should be accessible to all ages, especially those embracing their third act of life!
There are currently five Broadway Senior musicals available for licensing: The Music Man SR.; Guys and Dolls SR.; Singin’ in the Rain SR.; Fiddler on the Roof SR.; and Into the Woods SR.
To date, Juniper Communities has mounted 14 Broadway Senior productions in five different communities, and we plan to continue to expand the program.
This article has been lightly edited for style and formatting.
