MELODIES & MEMORIES Set for WHBPAC, 6/1

On Sunday, June 1 at 3:00 p.m. area seniors will perform live on stage in an endearing production as part of the Life-Long Learning Program, Melodies & Memories, in collaboration with the Town of Southampton Senior Services, at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. The performance is FREE and open to the public. Tickets are distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

For nine weeks, twice a week, seniors came together in a dynamic class to appreciate something that has often been overlooked - their pasts. Taught by professional teaching artists Valerie DiLorenzo and Jenna Mate, and under the musical direction of Dr. Peter Pece, participants shared stories, learned acting techniques, and sang favorite songs around the piano.

Set in a cabaret style, the culminating performance of the spring session, entitled Life is a Cabaret, takes advantage of the WHBPAC's world-class theatre, giving seniors the opportunity to show off their newly acquired skills by performing scenes and musical numbers from Broadway shows on the PAC's renowned Mainstage. The performance will be separated into themes that will amuse, beguile and enchant such as "Then and Now", "When We Were the Naughty", "What I Did for Love", "Favorite Things," and favorite Broadway shows and scenes. This unique production is not to be missed!

This nationally recognized, original music and theatre program is designed to foster the continuous development of skills and knowledge throughout the lives of older adults. The Life-Long Learning Program at the WHBPAC not only improves various performing arts skills in older adults, but has also been proven to increase self-esteem, reinforce personal and collective identity, and ease anxiety about getting older.

Teaching Artist Valerie diLorenzo has been a Singer, Actress and Teaching Artist for over 20 years. Her musical theatre program, Theatrix, was honored by Lincoln Center as an exemplary integration of the theatrical and creative into the classroom. No matter what she does, however, people seem to be most interested in the fact that Valerie has been singing the National Anthem for the New York Mets for over 15 seasons.

Teaching Artist Jenna Mate is a director, actor, and performing arts educator. She's worked with numerous children's theater programs both as a director and vocal coach, and she's committed to fostering creativity, individuality, and confidence in her students.

Musical Director Dr. Peter Pece has been professionally involved in music for over 40 years and has been an educator since 1973. Peter received his doctorate in the field of Neuromusicology where he examined the issues involved in how the brain processes music, memory and language, and what the effects of brain trauma has upon these processes. He is also an adjunct professor in the School of Professional Development at Stony Brook University where he teaches graduate courses on Music and the Brain, Thesis Writing and Early Adolescent Development. Peter has served as arranger and accompanist for WHBPAC's Life-long Learning Melodies and Memories Program since its inception in 2010.

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