Watermark’s The Fountains at Millbrook Residents Perform Original Radio Play

September 6, 2024

MILLBROOK, NY — As a group of residents at The Fountains at Millbrook casually talked over coffee one recent morning when, according to a press release, the topic turned to creating a radio play. From there the conversation veered to the residents’ curiosity about what was on the second floor of their building. Next thing you know, as they sipped their cup of morning joe their imaginations ran wild and visions of a mysterious second floor populated by ghosts were soon the theme of the conversation. And before you could even say, “Bob’s your uncle,” the friends had developed a list of characters and come up with the inspiration for a radio play. Sounds like it was a fun conversation.

That’s all it took for Fountains at Millbrook resident Marge Wardrop, who lives there with her husband Jim, to get excited about doing a radio play based on these characters. Wardrop shared the character list and radio play idea with other residents and instructor Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi at the Fountains’ writer’s exchange program. The writer’s program is part of the award-winning Watermark University, which offers programs that stimulate the mind, keep the body strong, and expand horizons to residents at Watermark Retirement Communities, including at The Fountains at Millbrook.

Encouraged by Hartin-Gelardi and other residents, Wardrop wrote the “radio” play, A Mystery at the Fountains, and with the participation of many in the Fountains community the “good-spirited” mystery based on what happens up on the second floor of their building was recently performed as a table read in front of an audience.

“We have a very active, talented group of people in the community who are thrilled to get involved with the play,” Marge said. “Jim and I have loved radio broadcasting for years, and sharing this with others is so exciting. A lot have never performed before, and it is fun to see them express themselves in a new and creative manner.”

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Longtime fans of radio, the Wardrops founded the Reading, Pennsylvania-based Spirit of the Airwaves Players (S.O.A.P) and performed with them for about 20 years across the mid-Atlantic region. Their experience with S.O.A.P. led the Wardrops to create some authentic details for the community production, including intermissions featuring real radio advertisements from the 1940s.

Associates provided equipment and other production needs, while Hartin-Gelardi used her 30 years of performing experience to be the production’s coach.

“I love this play,” said Hartin-Gelardi, who has been the writing program’s instructor for 12 years. “The radio play has generated so much positivity and excitement in the writing group and beyond.”

Prior to the performance, the community hosted a pre-matinee martini event, with proceeds from the event benefitting Watermark for Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids between the ages of six and 22 overcome barriers and access life-enhancing opportunities.

“Our residents are very talented,” said Lisa Rieckermann, community life director at The Fountains at Millbrook. “It is wonderful when residents are involved with all aspects of our community, and we enjoy seeing them be happy and thrive. We want all our residents to enjoy their retirement and continue their love for learning by participating in our numerous programs, activities, classes and trips.”

Based in Tucson, Arizona, Watermark Retirement Communities has been named one of the top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services in a national program conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute and published on Fortune.com. A privately held company with over 30 years of service, Watermark manages more than 60 retirement communities in 22 states coast to coast.