Arts Learning

We expected to reach 45 senior students in three 5­-week sessions (2 classes per week) at the Sabes Jewish Community Center in Minneapolis. And we filed our class successfully. We will drew the majority of our senior students from the activities programs at the Sabes Jewish Community Center in Minneapolis. Everyday thousands of people of every age, background, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation come through the doors of the Sabes Jewish Community Center with the expectation and promise that they will be welcomed and embraced. We were privileged to be working with the Sabes Jewish Community Center and their community. More than 50% of the participating seniors reported physical or mental disability. The teaching artists were members Platinum Theater’s staff and acting company. They range in cultural diversity, race and age between 25­-70. We embrace all of the diversity that makes Minnesota what it is. ?The Senior Acting Studio offered a special place for our growing senior population to participate in an art form they are often not included in. The Senior Acting Studio was illuminated by a multitude of experiences and perspectives; the beauty of it was that theatre is a flexible art form; it can be performed in any language, by people of with any level of education, experience, and physical ability. We reached this audience with 50% of our participants reporting that they are disabled. Our participants were seniors (70+), of many cultures, races and economic backgrounds. Our decision makers (Board of Directors, staff and artists) at Platinum Theater include people from multiple generations (30­-65+), gender (female, male), cultures, economic status and occupations (administrators, educators, artists). We strive to mirror our community with representatives from many constituencies within in our target audience. While our board is working to approve our accessibility plan, we have implemented many tools. Our class and performance space was completely accessible to wheel chairs and other mobility devices. We offered large print scripts upon request. We strived to make sure our rehearsals and theatre were comfortable for every potential audience member and artist as they possibly could be. Participants were not be required to memorize their scripts, and we provided ways to read from them within the classes and performances. We offered additional accommodations upon request, including interpreters. Participants were allowed and encouraged to bring additional assistance (family members, friends, caretakers) as needed to make sure their involvement was comfortable for them. Senior Acting Studio was offered as a free program for any senior interested in participating. It was completely funded by grant and contributor support, in order to make sure that anyone who wanted to learn to act could. 45 seniors participated in the acting studio with 48 audience members attending the performance. Participants were able to express themselves with improved scenes and onstage scripts and gave the class a 99% favorable rating.