Seniors onstage

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Spring, 1995 by Teri MacFarlane

If ever there was a group of people who proved the old adage true that you are never too old to learn," it is the members of ACT II STUDIO. And if anyone can successfully change our misperceptions about seniors it will be ACT II STUDIO, Toronto's acting school for seniors.

ACT II's origins date back to 1988 when students signed up for an acting workshop for seniors put on by Ryerson Polytechnical University's Continuing Education Senior Studies Department. The workshop, an introduction to acting, was taught by nonsenior Vrenia Ivonoffski who was then the Director of Publicity for Ryerson's Theatre School. Ivonoffski found herself inspired by her student's willingness to work hard and to take risks and the students in turn were inspired by her direction and guidance.

Soon the students were talking about taking more advanced courses and putting on plays, creating original works and having their own theatre in which to produce plays about and for seniors. They wanted to reach out to the community though theatre to raise awareness and change perceptions about seniors. And they didn't just want to talk about it - they wanted to do it. Two years after they first met, the students wrote an original work, Loves Makes No Promises an performed it at Oakham House on the Ryerson Campus. In 1992, with much discussion and input from the students, ACT II STUDIO, an acting school for seniors, was formed. "ACT II" because most of the members are embarking on their second careers and "STUDIO" to bring attention to the fact that the school's primary mandate is training. Make no mistake about it, the school is run as any professional acting school would be. There is a curriculum with as many as 14 courses being offered in any one semester. The courses range from introduction to acting, voice, movement, monologues and Shakespeare. Ivonoffski, who has a background in theatre, teaches some of the courses and the school also hires theatre professionals. The curriculum is developed "based on people's needs," says Ivonoffski. "It's driven by the kind of skills that need to be developed."

The school's objective is to provide the nucleus of a permanent and financially stable theatrical company, to allow for continuing education and personal growth in theatre arts. The wish is to encourage the aspiring as well as the established senior actor to higher levels of professionalism. It represents a theatrical resource which promotes senior actors to the theatre, film and broadcast industries. It serves the community through the presentation of stage, film, television and radio, productions designed to entertain and inform, particularly concerning the role of older and retired people in the social structure. And there is no shortage of enrollment. A feature in The Toronto Star resulted in more than 200 inquiries about the school and in 1994, ACT II STUDIO received a grant from Shoppers Drug Mart which enabled the school to further develop its curriculum and goals for the future.

ACT II works within Ryerson's Seniors and Intergenerational Education (S.A.I.G.E) Department which allows the school to be have a convenient downtown location, but that does not mean it is an ideal location. "We get moved from pillar to post, "says student and board member Elaine Vayda. Frustrated by the inadequate space and concrete floors, the directors are looking for a new space to call home but they are hampered by a major obstacle that befalls all arts organizations - money. "We need a secure funding base and space," says Vayda, who is also on the committee that is developing a strategic plan for the STUDIO for the next five years. "Money is always a problem," she adds. ACT II's members, however, are cognizant of the fact that they will have to become more ambitious in their fundraising efforts in order to bring about a move to more suitable rehearsal and classroom facilities.

A single mother, Ivonoffski, 43, as worked tirelessly to get ACT II to where it is now and she has become adept at working around financial restraints. "With a limited budget it is difficult to do major productions, however to do a soiree every six weeks, for which people have to audition, where they can work on their own piece or from a class work ... we can make a cabaret evening out of it and it gets them up on stage ... and it becomes a social event," says Ivonoffski.

Ivonoffski, who has taught acting and mime at Ryerson and George Brown Theatre Schools, has found her niche with ACT II STUDIO. She tells you how much she has learned from her students and they in turn adore her. "She gives more than her share. "She has a lot of energy and is the driving force," says Vayda adding, "there is very committed leadership from Vrenia."

Another student and board member, Joanne McMinn says about Ivonoffski, "she's the one who deserves the credit. She sees in each person what they can do and she has a way of making you feel special and then making everyone else see that too."

The school is open to anyone with an interest in theatre and the majority of students have had little or no previous acting experience although there are a few professional actors who are taking courses to keep their skills honed. For those who want to be involved in theatre but don't want to act, there is a stage management course. Another aspect of the school that has developed is the strong bond between the members. Ivonoffski says that, "members are finding a peer group and they all love theatre. We want to create an environment where people feel free to risk ... so they create the comfort for each other...and they clearly like to hang out with each other."