Generations on stage

PERKINS TWP. — Senior citizens and high school students will share the stage for a night of dancing, singing and acting. Local senior advocacy group Serving Our Seniors is partnering with Perkins High School's drama club for what's known as the "Intergenerational Variety Show." It will be performed on Feb. 29 and March 1 at Perkins High School auditorium. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance through Serving Our Seniors or at the door on the night of the show. Ticket collectors will only accept cash. Show details Students at Perkins are collaborating with senior citizens in the area under the direction of their drama teacher, Shana DeRose Smith, to produce the show. DeRose Smith and Sue Daugherty, executive director of Erie County-based Serving Our Seniors, have been discussing the idea of an intergenerational show for years. "Our purpose is to dispel common myths about senior citizens and teenagers," DeRose Smith said. "If you thought senior citizens' active days were over, you'd be mistaken. And if you thought teenagers just want to always hide behind their screens, you'd also be mistaken." More than a dozen students and seniors have been working on their dancing, singing, jokes and skits every Wednesday since early January. The students are all participating through the school's drama club, but the senior citizens are volunteers through the help of Serving Our Seniors. "When Sue calls, you go," said Joe Hayberger, a senior citizen in the show with a laugh when explaining why he joined. "It also seemed like something that would be fun to do." Hayberger will be showing off his dance moves in multiple acts including a dance solo. Marj Kobylski, a senior citizen, gave a similar answer to why she and Paul Carr, another senior citizen, decided to participate in the show. Daugherty had asked the duo to volunteer. They have also performed for the Erie County Fair and have taught dance classes, so this served as an opportunity to teach the next generation. Kobylski and Carr will be teaching students how to dance in one of their skits about a school dance. The drama students are all excited for their acts in the show. For instance: • Parker Camp, a sophomore, anticipates a skit she will be performing called "Sides," a retelling of a couple's love story. • Hope Larrimore, a freshman, is excited to sing "Walking on Sunshine" with other students. • Aaron Welch, a senior, looks forward to his role alongside Matt Westerhold. Welch will be emceeing the show with Westerhold, who also serves as the Register's executive editor. Through the night, Welch will be portraying Westerhold's younger self. "I am most excited for the audience to see how easily this group, regardless of their age, is able to have fun," DeRose Smith said. "They worked together, they laughed together, and through cooperation and creativity, they built this show from scratch."