Shakespeare Staged Readings for Senior Citizens
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2023
WHAT HO! A SHAKESPEARE STAGED READING!
“With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come!” (Merchant of Venice)
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
MEETING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS AT THE IPSWICH COUNCIL ON AGING, IPSWICH, MA
SPONSORED BY THE CHARLES COBURN CHARITABLE TRUST
Shakespeare Staged Readings for Senior Citizens is a program that meets once a week for 8 weeks to cast, read, and stage a 60-90-minute cutting from one of Shakespeare’s comedies. Participants are not required to memorize any lines, since this is a reading; however, there will be simple movement and staging and minimal costumes and props. In the eighth week of the program, participants will present their staged reading of the play to friends, family, and the public (at no charge). The director meets with the group to rehearse once a week for approximately 1½ hours. Large roles and small roles will be available and some may play more than one role.
Most seniors have read or studied Shakespeare in their school days, but even if they have forgotten anything they may have learned, there is a wonderful sense of purpose and community that forms when a group gathers to work toward a common goal with the pride of accomplishment that comes from speaking these lines and acting them out, embodying the character and communicating with an audience.

Photography by Michael Chiusano.
Efforts have been made, sometimes unsuccessfully, to contact holders of all copyrights. If any rights have been unintentionally infringed upon, we apologize and are prepared to make corrections with appropriate credit given to the owner.
Read publications about Imago Stage Company:
The Power of Story
CTR Crossings Newsletter
Feb. 19, 2020
https://ctrnorthshore.org/crossings-feb14/
Redemption in the Spotlight
The Transforming Arts Ministry of Imago Stage Company
Anglican Diocese in New England Newsletter
Sept. 2, 2021
https://adne.org/news-from-the-diocese-1/mpc-x5s42-tlz8a-rwcgm
Behind the Scenes - Crossings Article
April 20, 2023
https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=18ccd6bf065d0356d5d3c73e1&id=a13641c1f1
Read Director’s Notes from our productions:
Tale of Two Cities, November 2018.pdf
The Count of Monte Cristo, April 2021.pdf