Stagebridge showcases Oakland’s mature performing talent

This is isn’t your grandma’s acting company — well, it might be — but its reputation is much more lively than apple pie and knit woolen sweaters. The Stagebridge theatre company takes a creative, innovative approach to what it means to age by offering classes in acting, singing and dancing for older adults.

For more than three decades, the downtown Oakland non-profit has been working to narrow the gap between the generations and to promote healthy images about aging. Local talent like Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and playwright Joan Holden collaborate with Stagebridge students for classes and live performances for the community. The actors ranging in age from 50 to 90-plus have been been featured in over 40 original plays performed for 350,000 people in senior homes, hospitals, schools and theaters. Stagebridge is also the West Coast representative of TimeSlips, a creative storytelling method for people with dementia.

There will be four students showcases at the Ashby Stage in Berkeley on June 6, 7, 13 and 14 starting at 6:30 p.m. Performances range from renditions of H.G. Wells The War of the Worlds to HAIR: The American Tribal Choir.