Senior Center Variety Show is sure to leave you laughing

A little old-school comedy, some music and a whole lot of dancing are coming to Lincoln Park later this month as the Jonesborough Senior Center's Vintage Productions brings its latest show to the stage. The group will present a free variety show at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 at the open-air stage in Lincoln Park, next to the Jonesborough Senior Center. The production is inspired by the classic television comedy "Laugh-In" and will feature short sketches, jokes, musical performances and dance numbers drawn largely from the 1960s and 1970s. Robin Beals, the center's fitness specialist and director of the production, said the show is a new venture for Vintage Productions, a group that meets weekly at the senior center to work on dance and performance. "This is something new that we're trying," Beals said. Rather than following a traditional play format, Beals said the show will move quickly between jokes, songs and performances, much like the television program that inspired it. The roughly 30 to 45 minute production will feature songs including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," "Sugar, Sugar" and "Surfing U.S.A." The performers will also incorporate dance numbers and other musical moments throughout the show. Beals said the goal is not only to entertain the audience but to bring back memories for those who remember the era. "We're just trying to bring some memories back for folks of back then," she said. The production also highlights something Beals said she enjoys about working with the group: giving people an opportunity to perform regardless of age. "I love being able to put on these shows," Beals said. "It's sort of me extending that part of me that loves to dance and move and helping people get out there and perform, no matter what age that they are." Beals brings plenty of performance experience to the project. In addition to operating a dance school, she spent years traveling with a group and is a well of knowledge when it comes to the topic. Vintage Productions also has several other performances throughout the year, including its traditional Christmas show. Beals said some members who cannot participate in the upcoming production still attend rehearsals because they enjoy being involved. The Aug. 27 performance is open to senior center members and the general public, with free admission. Beals said that the center is hopeful to have a food truck or two at the event. Donations may be accepted to help support the program. If weather forces the outdoor performance to be canceled, the show will move inside the Jonesborough Senior Center. For Beals and the performers, though, the evening is ultimately about having fun and sharing that experience with the community. "They have a great time doing this," Beals said of the group's rehearsals. "It is a love of mine to see them so happy."