Pontine Theatre Receives $4,000 Lincoln Financial Foundation Grant

This Spring Pontine Theatre will present scenes from their original staging of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic story poem, Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie, at assisted living communities, senior centers and nursing facilities throughout New Hampshire. This tour is made possible with generous support from Lincoln Financial Foundation.

The Lincoln Financial Foundation, established in 1962, is a nonprofit organization formed and supported by Lincoln Financial Group. Under the Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of arts, education, human services and economic/workforce development.

Published in 1847, Evangeline is a story of loss and devotion set against the diaspora of the Acadian people in 1755. The poem elevated Longfellow to be the most famous writer in America and has had a lasting cultural impact. Pontine Theatre's two-person staging of Longfellow's masterpiece features storytelling, toy theatre and projected images to bring this poetic tale to life onstage.

Pontine's program will the needs of seniors who are unable to travel to enjoy cultural events. The $4,000 grant will enable Pontine to bring their program to eleven New Hampshire facilities in May and June 2016:

• New Hampshire Senior Center, Pittsfield NH

• Partridge House, Hampton NH

• Langdon Place, Keene NH

• Bentley Commons, Bedford NH

• Taylor Community, Laconia NH

• Birch Hill Terrace, Manchester NH

• Woodcrest Village, New London NH

• Harvest Hill, Lebanon NH

• Maple Suites, Dover NH

• Riverwoods, Exeter NH

• Wentworth Home, Dover NH

Seniors are a growing, but often neglected segment of our population. While many seniors are still active participants in their communities, others have been restricted by the need to enter assisted care facilities. These seniors face not only physical and cognitive challenges; they also often battle depression and a sense of isolation from the larger community. Arts programs, such as Pontine's, help to keep seniors connected with the larger community and with their own cultural heritage.

Activity directors at these facilities see enormous value in bringing arts programs to their residents. However, the cost of live performance is prohibitive to most retirement and nursing homes. Funding from the Lincoln Financial Foundation will allow Pontine to substantially subsidize its costs, making the program accessible to senior audiences throughout the state.

Lincoln Financial Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Lincoln Financial Group, believes in empowering people to live greater lives, which advances culture and empowers greater positive change. Its grant is part of Lincoln Financial's annual $10 million investment in its local communities' youth education, economic and workforce development, human well-being and arts programs.

Pontine Theatre, a two-person ensemble, is well known for a large body of innovative original productions that celebrate the history and culture of New England. Pontine's touring program is also supported by grants from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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