NY Underworld Comes Alive on Stage in Performance of Guys and Dolls

(Bloomfield, NJ) (Paramus, NJ) – Luck Be a Lady, a song from Guys and Dolls, was recently belted out in perfect harmony by the residents living at Juniper Village at Paramus Assisted Living. And, who better portrays the characters in the musical than actors from that generation?

In a black box theater setting, using an adapted script, 14 older adults living at Juniper Village performed the musical from Broadway’s golden age to two sold out audiences. And, we might even add that if the legendary Frank Sinatra had been in the house to hear their rendition of Luck Be a Lady, we believe he would have applauded.

The performance was part of Juniper Communities Perennial Players program, which is focused on providing older residents with opportunities to perform and present classic Broadway musicals.

The success of the show is undoubtedly due to the dedicated team of Juniper's outside partners who contribute their expertise as music directors, scenery designers, lighting specialists, and tech directors. Their direct involvement allows residents to experience the magic of live theater, according to Juniper staff.

Katie Kensinger, Director of Marketing, who oversees the Perennial Players explained the importance of programming, “Research shows that creative expression can improve the quality of life for older adults. We have witnessed that impact firsthand, from improving mental clarity to reducing awareness of pain. But most importantly, the Perennial Players program builds a strong sense of camaraderie and community among the cast and the outside partners who make it all possible.” She continued, “Some of our resident actors were involved in the performing arts earlier in life, but most are discovering their talents for the first time – some at the age of 90 and beyond!”

How it started. In 2018, Juniper Communities, a leading provider of senior living communities, joined forces with theatrical licensing powerhouse Music Theater International (MTI) in their effort to adapt and condense scripts to Broadway musicals to be performable by older adults, similar to MTI’s Broadway Jr. series for young children. The adaptations feature shorter running times and specific production resources, slowing down tempos and rehearsing in their own keys.

The productions are seated, reader-theater style because of mobility constraints. For the audience to understand the actions that are taking place, a narrator explains the physical actions occurring as the actors portray their characters and scenes. Fonts are made larger and there are line breaks for eyesight. But even for those with sight impairment, the songs are so familiar to the residents that many of the actors already know the lyrics.

Guys and Dolls, with its timeless message about the unpredictability of life, is the perfect choice for a performance. The post-performance statements from the actors highlighted the sense of purpose, achievement, and joy that participating in such a production brings to their lives.

John Docke in the role of Sky Masterson said, “It gives you a sense of purpose, sense of achievement. I acted in grade school and was a member of choir for 15 years, I really enjoyed getting to sing again.”

Angela Wunderlich in the role of Sarah Brown said, “Great thing to do with the team. I love to sing so it was a great outlet for me. This was my first time performing but according to my cousin, I’ve been preparing for it my whole life being a ham.”

Pinky Burgos in the role of Agatha/Liver Lips Louie said, “This is the first job I have ever done and very proud of the work. We practiced hard for three months.”

Eileen Gerber in the role of Big Julie said, “I used to do faculty scholarship shows at North Bergen High School with the students, so I’ve had plenty of opportunity to act in the past. I love doing this.”

Richard Stange in the role of Arvide Abernathy said, “This is the first play I have ever been in and it’s all brand new to me and it was good.”

“It’s heartening to see residents like John Docke, Angela Wunderlich, Pinky Burgos, Eileen Gerber, and Richard Stange sharing their experiences and expressing pride in their performances. The variety of musicals performed, including Singin’ in the Rain, adds to the richness of the cultural experiences offered at Juniper Village,” said Everlin Kim, Connections Director, Juniper Village at Paramus.

About Juniper Communities

Juniper Communities, a leader in quality, value and innovation in long-term care, operates senior living communities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Texas that emphasize residents’ well-being, interaction and security. Its approach to housing and care offers residents the opportunity to live a full life, regardless of age or health. Juniper’s innovative Connect4Life program has been proven to improve residents’ care by decreasing hospitalizations, re-hospitalizations and urgent care visits, while offering potential cost savings to public programs such as Medicare. To learn more about the many ways Juniper Communities innovates in support of our residents, visit www.junipercommunities.com.