2024 – 2025 SHOWCASES

FALL 2024: Wednesday, OCTOBER 16 at 7:30 pm and Friday, OCTOBER 18 at 2:00 pm

SUMMER 2025: Wednesday, JUNE 25 at 7:30 pm and Friday, JUNE 27 at 2:00 pm

Donations at the door.

(No reservations taken) 

YOUNG AT HEARTLAND TOURING – The Senior Acting Troupe is out in your community touring retirement and nursing homes with their show, in the Summer and Fall.

ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN FOR SPRING 2025 SESSION. Classes for seniors age 55 or better take place in the spring and fall.  Registration fee is $50 per semester.  Call 309 452 5647 for more information.

Fall Classes now in session.

Young at Heartland’s acting workshop sessions are now in session..  Young at Heartland strives to build an ensemble of seniors who share the values of continuing education, creative self-expression, and community outreach.  We aim to find appropriate pathways to showcase performers’ gifts in a fun, stress-free atmosphere.

Ensemble members will collaborate with the instructors in choosing appropriate material to be memorized or performed as a reading at Heartland Theatre Showcases and “on-the-road” at various local senior living facilities.

The eight 120-minute acting workshop sessions, for persons 55 and over are held at Heartland Theatre Company and taught by three instructors: Rich Tinaglia, Terri Whisenhunt and Sandra Zielinski.  Sandra Zielinski is a Professor Emerita from the School of Theatre and Dance at ISU.  Sandra has directed over 15 shows at Heartland Theatre.  Rich Tinaglia has extensive theatre experience as an actor and director. Terri Whisenhunt holds a B.S. in Acting from ISU.

About our “Young at Heartland” Acting Program for Seniors

Spring and Fall Class Sessions 

Young at Heartland’s spring and fall senior acting workshop normally begins the first Monday in April and the first Monday in August.. Class sessions meet every Monday from 4-6 pm for eight sessions and then go out into the community to perform.  Sessions are dedicated to the study of the craft of acting, culminating in performances at senior activity centers in the area. Ensemble members collaborate with the instructor in choosing appropriate material to be memorized or performed as a reading.

Eight 120-minute acting workshop sessions, for persons 55 and over, are held at Heartland Theatre Company and taught by Sandra Zielinski and assisted by Terri Whisenhunt.  Sandra Zielinski is a Professor Emerita from the School of Theatre and Dance at ISU.  Sandra has directed over 15 shows at Heartland Theatre. Terri Whisenhunt holds B. S. in Acting from Illinois State University. Currently, she is conducting acting workshops at Heartland Community College.

Young at Heartland strives to build an ensemble of seniors who share the values of continuing education, creative self-expression, and community outreach.  It is designed to accommodate and support performers’ comfort levels with memorization. We aim to find appropriate pathways to showcase performers’ gifts in a fun, stress-free atmosphere.

Those interested  in the next session are asked to call YAH Program Director Ann White at (309) 452-5647 or email [email protected].

Location of workshop: 1110 Douglas St., Normal, Illinois in the Community Activity Center

Workshop, called “Young at Heart-land” is a program of HEARTLAND THEATRE COMPANY.

This program has been supported in part by a grant from Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state Agency; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the McLean County Arts Center.