Palace Theater Launches 'Second Act' Series with Tom 'The Suit' Forst

Blues Hall of Fame member, Tom "the Suit" Forst will share his story "From the Boardroom to the Bandstand" in words and music accompanied by his band, when the Palace Theater's new 2ND ACT series debuts Monday September 17 at 6:00pm Tickets for 2ND ACT, the new monthly speaker's series featuring stories presented by ordinary people doing extraordinary things after mid-life, include a light meal. A cash bar will be available. Tickets can be purchased online at www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St. Prices for the series including meal are:

Individual presentations - $25 each.

Choice pkg. (choose any 5) - $100

Full series (all 9 series' presentations) - $180

Part inspirational, aspirational, experiential and in some cases comical, the hope is that hearing these after-50 life stories will ignite the audience member's own imaginations and a desire to become part of a growing community of 2ND ACTers! "The idea that life can be richer and even more fulfilling after the first act is what this series is all about," states creator Sheree Marcucci, Marketing and Public Relations officer for the theater.

"The presenters chosen for this initial series are engaging and charismatic with a story that will inspire others of how they pursued a passion, dream or championed a cause after the age of fifty", continued Marcucci. The inspiration for the series, Nancy Schuler of Litchfield, a thirty year personal trainer who turned playwright at age 62 and now at 68 is writing and performing her works in New York and elsewhere, is the the 2ND ACT presenter for November.

Forst, a former VP of Cox Communications will share his journey and plan to become a Blues Hall Of Fame recording artist.

Tom the suit Forst has been a 1st grade school teacher, a door to door salesman, a television advertising account executive, a VP of Cox Communication and, today... a Blues Hall Of Fame recording artist. At age 67 The Suit is still pursuing his dream and building his career as a full-time rocker.

The other presenters and dates are:

Martin Herman - mystery writer

Tuesday October 23, 6:00 - 8:00pm

Just Warming Up

"There are no second acts in American lives."- F. Scott Fitzgerald

" I was only four and a half months old when F. Scott died in 1940 so somehow I missed this warning... not only is there a second act there can also be a third and fourth and as many as we seek...the challenge is in our desire to actually seek them" - Martin Herman

For almost forty years Martin Herman successfully led a series of businesses and later had an active international business consulting practice specializing in assisting new companies to get off the ground and troubled mature companies to survive and grow.

Although he'd been writing articles and short stories under a series of pen names since a teen, it was not until he approached his 75th birthday that he published his first full length mystery novel. There are now four books in his mystery series.

Nancy Schuler - playwright/actor

Saturday November 10, 12:00 - 2:00pm

Everyone Has a Story

How does someone transition from being a personal trainer for 30 years to becoming a playwright/actor? Well, she starts by listening, because everyone has a story, then writing it down and then becoming the personalities that she writes about.

Brooke Packard - Sleep Coach

Tuesday December 4, 6:00 - 8:00pm

The First Best Habit to Nurture

When sleep coach Brooke Packard became an empty nester, she became a rester! We are in the middle of a global sleep deprivation crisis. The solution is simple, free, and - unlike most habits that reap positive outcomes - pleasurable. In this talk, Brook will go over why you need to upgrade your bedtime routine, sharing simple, actionable steps to take for a better night's sleep.

Eric Lanzeri - author/family tree discoverer

Saturday Feb 23, 12:00 - 2:00pm

Miraculous Coincidence - How a Story for Louise a loving tribute to a beloved grandmother and finding one's roots, took both

A journey of self-discovery in finding your roots both near and far.

In 2016, at the age of 53, Eric Lanzieri wrote a book for the first time in his life. A Story for Louise describes the details of his paternal grandparents' emigration from Italy to Waterbury in the early 1900's, and his grandmother's return to her home town in 1946. The book explains the various circumstances which brought Eric there, and culminated in a miraculous coincidence which allowed him to find his relatives.

Garrison Leykam - Certified Professional Career Coach

Tuesday March 26, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Audacious at Any Age

Certified Professional Career Coach Garrison Leykam doesn't just believe that everyone is capable of creating their own second act careers. This AARP card-carrying motorcyclist and "real deal reinventor" has proved it himself many times over. Leykam has been a record producer for industry giant London Records, performed as a singer-songwriter at Nashville's iconic Bluebird Café and CBGBs (the Bowery's birthplace of punk), held leadership positions at companies such as MCI Telecommunications and Grand Circle Travel, been a published author, news-talk radio show host on WSTC/WNLK, stand-up comic whose appearance at NYC's legendary Gotham Comedy Club was the premise for the television documentary "Comic on a Half Shell," and producer and host for Connecticut Public Television (CPTV). Just shy of his 70th birthday, Leykam will share how to be audacious at any age.

6. James Mapes - entertainer/hypnotist/motivational speaker

Tuesday April 23, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

IMAGINE THAT! Igniting Your Brain for Creativity and Peak Performance

Aging, physical challenges and fear do not have to limit you in our own second act of life. James Mapes will inspire you with stories, interactive exercises, fun and solid take-a-ways as to how to apply your imagination to enhance your life, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and socially.

Jeff Savage - actor

Tuesday May 7, 6:00 - 8:00pm

From Wall Street to Chappaquidick

A former Wall Street law firm attorney discusses his winding path from attorney to actor.

Jeff Savage has been a Wall Street lawyer, corporate counsel, CEO, investment banker and an antiques and art dealer on the way to his current career as a working actor. In his early 50's, he was confronted with some difficult challenges and found himself on a downward slope. A along the way he embraced the wisdom of the adage "to find oneself you must first lose yourself". Now, at the age of 77, he is, happily, working on stage and screen, in TV commercials, movies (including the recent film Chappaquiddick, and in voice overs.

Aingeal McLaughlin Murray - Integrative Health Coach

Tuesday June 25, 6:00 - 8:00pm

Fit & Fabulous into your 50's and Beyond

Aingeal was approaching a notorious time...life after MOM. As a part-time Fitness Trainer and passionate wellness advocate she set to out to turn her passion into a career. Now a Certified Integrative Health Coach, she is sharing her strategies for balancing the F words in our lives. Food, Fitness, Friends, Family, Faith & Fun.

Initial funding for the program has been provided by the Connecticut Community Foundation www.conncf.org as the concept aligned perfectly with the Foundation's stated interest area tohelp people in our region age successfully and remain healthy, informed and engaged. The Second Act series addresses the Foundation's funding priorities of healthy aging, personal growth, creative expression and community engagement for older adults in an effort to improve the quality of life through the aging process and encourage post career engagement for community and self -improvement.

Also supporting this new initiative as a sponsor is Peak Physical Therapy, Chase Avenue, Waterbury.

Please contact Sheree Marcucci at the theater 203.346.2008 for more information.

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