OnStage Seniors
Originally founded in 2007, Onstage Seniors officially became a part of McCarter Theatre Center in 2014. Like many theatre groups, our footlights went dim during the pandemic. As we emerged, we came under the sponsorship of the Center for Modern Aging of Princeton (CMAP), joining their host of programs designed to educate and engage the community.
Our impactful program creates documentary theater performances that explore the stories of our local community. Our ensemble members — all over fifty-five — perform in theaters, libraries, schools, and senior centers generating delight, insight, and affirmation about senior memories and experiences.
Our current collection of stories is titled “How Did We Get Here?” and is available for performances from May until December 2025. “How Did We Get Here?” includes both humorous and moving accounts of the people and events in our lives that have influenced where we are today.
VIDEO CLIPS
These video clips will give you a peek at what our shows are like.
Here is an older clip from when we were under the sponsorship of McCarter Theatre:
OUR PROCESS
We create original documentary scripts gathered from interviews ensemble members conduct with people in their communities.
Each year, the ensemble chooses a different theme and holds story circles where people share stories related to that theme. These interviews are recorded, transcribed, and shaped into monologues and scenes about everything from dating over age 65, to climbing to the top of a building in Greece, to having an epiphany in the grocery store, to making tough end-of-life decisions.
We rehearse and perform our productions under the direction of New Jersey teacher and playwright David Lee White. Each performance is followed by a post-show discussion about the issues that are raised in the scripts. Our ensemble’s year is divided into acting classes, script creation, and rehearsing our new projects.
The OnStage theater experience is one that comes full circle. One voice leads another to speak, with new stories emerge. After the show, the audience shares stories that matter to them—and some end up in next year’s show!
UPCOMING SHOWS
Lights. Camera. Action.
UPCOMING SHOWS
“How Did I Get Here?”
Our upcoming 2025 season is titled “How Did I Get Here?” and shows open to the public begin in the spring of 2025. Please check back here for times and dates. We hope to see you at our future shows!
Thursday, May 8 at 2:00 p.m.
CENTER FOR MODERN AGING PRINCETON
101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton
Wednesday, June 4 at 3:00 p.m.
PRINCETON ARTS COUNCIL
102 Witherspoon St., Princeton
Sunday, September 28 at 11.30 a.m.
WITHERSPOON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
124 Witherspoon St., Princeton
Friday, October 3 at 3:00 p.m.
MERCER COUNTY LIBRARY
Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
Sunday, November 9 at 3:00 p.m.
PRINCETON PUBLIC LIBRARY
65 Witherspoon St., Princeton
BOOKING
OnStage can perform for your organization!
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• 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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