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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
WHEELS, NOT WALLS
WITH THEATRE-TO-GO
By Judi Kanne
Theatre-To-Go founder Sondra Ilgenfritz says the idea for her
traveling theater company took hold about 15 years ago, when her
aging stepmother could no longer attend theatrical productions,
something the two had enjoyed for years.
A long illness and her theater-loving stepmother’s need to remain
attached to medial apparatus kept her at home. That’s when Ilgenfritz
thought about “bringing theater to aging adults” who were no longer
mobile, but still took pleasure in the arts.
“Today, we are a theater on wheels and [with] no walls,” Ilgenfritz said.
The Atlanta-based theater group now mounts 40 to 60 shows a year.
Since it started, the company has performed in about 90 different
venues, including senior centers, assisted living centers, retirement
communities, churches and synagogues, Ilgenfritz said.
“Some organizations bring every one of our plays to their facilities
every year,” she said. “That’s how we know we have a loyal following.”
Just because their audiences are older doesn’t mean you can give
them anything, says Ilgenfritz. All of the actors audition for their roles,
and a reading committee reads all the scripts. “We want to give them
the highest quality possible.” Theatre-To-Go pays their actors, directors
and playwrights. “We pride ourselves on delivering quality work.”
Through June, the theater troupe is presenting an interactive murder
mystery titled “Who Killed Lulu”. During the play, audience members
ISADORA PENNINGTON
Actors (left to right): Carol Thompson, Bernadine Cantrell,
Yolanda Adams, Steve Miller and Deborah Childs
are given minor roles to help solve the mystery and, at one point during
the play, the audience votes on who poisoned the title character.
“Who Killed Lulu” was performed in early May for a full house at Parc
at Piedmont in Marietta. “We’ve had Theatre-To-Go here for the past 4
or 5 years, and the shows are always well-received,” said Beverly Dreger,
the facility’s Event Coordinator and Activity Director. “Our residents
anticipate it and we have a packed house and waiting list every time.”
As a former advertising agency owner, Ilgenfritz “cut her
playwriting teeth” with two Atlanta organizations. She credits Jeff
Adler at Horizon Theatre’s Senior Ensemble and Mira Hirsch, founder
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