SILVER STAGES
End of semester showcase
7pm,Thursday, May 7
GATEWAY FAMILY YMCA - Tucker Ave
FREE ADMISSION / ID REQUIRED
Tickets at the door
Three FREE theater workshops for seniors (60-plus)
- Acting/Improvisation
- Playwriting
- Musical Theater
Details/meet the instructors below
Sessions take place at the
The Gateway Family YMCA – Wellness Center Branch
1000 Galloping Hill Road, Union, NJ
Each workshop is ten 2-hour sessions starting
March 2, 2026, culminating with a showcase in May.
The three workshops will present a combined showcase performance during week 10.
Students may enroll in more than one workshop.
Made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts
REGISTRATION IS SIMPLE:
Contact Us
ACTING/IMPROVISATION
Mondays, 9:30am to 11:30am starting March 2
Instructor: Susan Speidel
Whether you’re a beginner, have previous acting experience, or you’re dusting off a long-held secret dream of performing, this acting class is a great way to dive in! Using improvisation, theatre games, monologues, and scenes
(with no memorization required), you’ll explore how actors analyze scripts and develop characters, while expanding your own communication and critical thinking skills - and making new friends!
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Susan Speidel served as the first Director of Education for Paper Mill Playhouse and spent 20 years creating education and outreach theatre programs for ages 6 to 96. She taught high school theatre for 12 years and currently teaches for the Department of Theatre at Kean University, OSHER Lifelong Learning at Rutgers University, and is the Youth Arts Director for Light Opera of NJ. Performing and directing credits include regional theatres and cabaret venues, as well as concerts with the Key West Pops and the Portland, and Seattle symphonies. Awards include the NJ Governor’s Award for Theatre Education, a NJ Theatre Alliance Applause Award, and two Broadway World/NJ awards.
MUSICAL THEATER
Tuesdays, 12 noon to 2pm starting March 3
Instructor: Gail Lou
Hello! Come and join the musical theater class at the Five Points YMCA!
Will we sing? Yes!!
Will we dance? If you want to! But toes will be tapping, and legs will be shaking!
Will we act? We will act our hearts out!
We will learn musical numbers and present them at the end of the 10-week workshop --- and who knows, there may be break out solos and duets and trios. Tony Awards, look out!
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Gail Lou grew up in Vaux Hall, NJ and is thrilled to be working with The Theater Project, where her acting credits include Having Our Say and Crowns. Other professional musical theatre credits include Mama, I Want to Sing as well as one-woman pieces, one of which is Billie, featuring the music of Billie Holiday. She has received writing recognition from the BMPfest, and the John Lennon Songwriting Competition as well as Grammy nods. Ms. Lou is an accomplished vocalist, musician, musical director and holds a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Montclair State College.
PLAYWRITING
MONDAYS: 10am to 12 noon starting March 2
Instructor: Bill Mesce, Jr.
Aimed at the new playwright, course is designed as a workshop-type environment in which students will explore the basic "tools" of playwriting: play structure, developing character through action, cultivating an ear for dialogue, as well as some of the practical considerations of production. In the later sessions of the course, students will be able to see their work read by students from the acting course, and see the interpretive side of playwriting as a director and actors present their work.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Bill Mesce, Jr. is an award-winning playwright and author, who has also written for film and TV. Among his over 30 published titles are several works on writing. He is currently an adjunct instructor at Kean University.
