Coatesville couple leading musical theater productions for seniors

COATESVILLE, Pa. (WPVI) -- Paid Sponsor Partnership: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

For the past seven years, Fran and Maggie Doyle have helped seniors shine on stage through an acting group they started called The Village Players at Freedom Village at Brandywine.

"It's a group of residents that live here that love music," says Fran Doyle, Co-Founder of The Village Players. "And we try to make the whole experience fun."

They stage one show a year and this season's pick is part of Music Theatre International's Broadway Senior Program.

"We're doing the senior version of 'Guys and Dolls,'" says Maggie Doyle, Co-Founder of The Village Players.

She says a lot of the music has just been "shortened."

Actor Rich Merhar and actress Bron Yocum are two of the leads.

"I'm playing Sky Masterson who's a big gambler in New York City," says Merhar.

"And I'm playing Sergeant Sarah Brown in the Save-a-Soul Mission," says Yocum.

About 25 residents are participating in the production.

"The average age on stage is 85.4," says M. Doyle.

She says there are 17 on the stage and 8 in the crew.

Maggie serves as producer, while Fran directs.

"We give them notes at the end of each act," he says.

"Fran and Maggie are wonderful to work with," says Yocum.

Before moving here, staging musical theatre was a big part of their life.

"We started in junior high, then we went to high school. Then, we went to community theater," says F. Doyle.

"There are three benefits that are really good for the seniors," says M. Doyle.

She says they ask the older adults in the group to memorize, to move a little bit and they have to sing, which is "great for your lungs."

And friendships form.

"I enjoy the whole crew," says Merhar. "We're all there to help each other and support each other."

For Yocum, it's a return to the stage.

"I started in high school, and I probably acted and directed some through my mid-20s," she says.

As a retired pastor, she says she was "really thrilled by the experience."

Others are trying it for the first time.

Maggie says it's just really good to see people getting themselves up on stage.

"That's really great to us," she says.

The plays also serve as a fundraiser to benefit the Coatesville community, with half of the proceeds going towards a scholarship fund that benefits employees at Freedom Village at Brandywine who are going on to further their education. The rest is used for outreach, benefiting local food banks, among other places.

For more information:
Freedom Village at Brandywine
"Guys and Dolls SR."
Music Theatre International's Broadway Senior Program

Freedom Village at Brandywine
15 Freedom Blvd.
Coatesville, PA 19320