Santa Cruz Sentinel's May 11 online and paper editions carried a wonderful article about Santa Cruz County's Parkinson's Group, SC EASE PD, and featured photographs by Shmuel Thaler, their award winning photojournalist, of NextStage Health & Wellness leaders Ellen Mazaika and Risa Lower.
Read the full article
NextStage offers ongoing drumming classes, as well as speech and movement zoom sessions for people with Parkinson's. Contact Risa Lower for information about upcoming classes: risa@nextstagesantacruz.org
Santa Cruz County Parkinson's Group, SC EASE PD, offers monthly educational meetings, peer support groups for those with Parkinson's and their care partners, community-based exercise programs and classes tailored to those with Parkinson’s, and the monthly Movers & Shakers newsletter which includes times and locations of activities, and articles about Parkinson’s. For information about the group, visit easepd.org.
The energy of Spring
My garden is growing. The seeds pushed through the muddy soil and are now reaching for the sun. With a little extra food and drink, there is no stopping those little spouts.
NextStage Productions is doing the same. This past month our focus has been on rejuvenating the Board and membership. We’ve updated our By Laws and Job descriptions and are planting seeds for new Board members and Committee heads. And it’s beginning to show. Colleen Stobbe is an exceptional new Secretary. Welcome, welcome!!!!
We held a Cinco de Mayo information meeting and met amazing new folk with great performance and teaching experience. I can’t wait for you to meet them. And we now have three potential directors of shows, two with original scripts. All we need is worker bees to make our projects grow and spread energy to our community.
I love the sound of bees pollinating. Let’s keep that buzz going for NextStage Productions.
- Kathryn Adkins
Spring Surprises
Surprise! We’re here and smiling in the sun. Yes, it feels like it’s been months since the bright light last shone on us, but now we are up and reaching for more. That’s NextStage Productions and not just the flowers. We have so much to tell you.
First, we invite you to see what our players have been up to. Come to the Reader’s Theater performance at Mid County Senior on April 23 at 2pm. You won’t want to miss all of the high jinks and laughter. Then head over to St. Andrew Presbyterian on May 7 for the Open Mic with new acts and NSP classics to entertain. This is such a fun afternoon under the redwoods in the church courtyard and a benefit for Veteran Village.
Be on the lookout for an article on our Parkinsons Taiko class performance in the SC Sentinel in the coming weeks.
And did I tell you about our new arrivals to the board? In the next communications we will be introducing our new Secretary and Treasurer. And we are actively looking for more directors for exciting shows and projects. Surprise! Is that you?
We welcome all of you to shake off the dust and burst into the NSP sunlight.
- Kathryn Adkins
Spotlight on Risa Lower
When I was approached by NextStage to be in the "Spotlight", I wondered what I would say and how my experiences could make an impact. And then I realized that I am an example of how successful NextStage is in both meeting its mission of enhancing and promoting creative aging, but also in providing community, opportunity and an avenue to fight isolation, develop confidence and provide a platform in which the inner child can reign free.
I am a transposed East Coaster, raised with theatre and music. I came from a family of singers. Sadly, that gene passed me by - but I immersed myself in my love of the theatre and after retiring from my initial career of raising two children and spending 31 years at a national company, where I grew from secretary to President, I began my own next stage, starting a talent agency with an actress friend and worked for the New Jersey Theatre Alliance representing 35 NJ regional theatres.
So when I moved to Santa Cruz, one of the first things I did was look for volunteer opportunities to be involved in something associated with theatre and the arts. I found an ad in one of the local papers to volunteer for a show called Bingo being presented by a group called NextStage Productions and the rest was history.
I met two dynamos and leaders of NextStage, Lynn Knudsen and Carole English, who encouraged my development and participation.
I said earlier that I was a quintessential example of how NextStage achieved its mission.
How? They gave me a voice, literally. Having lip-synced my entire life because I felt I couldn't sing, they taught me that anyone can sing and gave me the confidence to feel comfortable in the chorus and even soloing in some musical reviews.
I also got involved with classes, directing and Readers Theater. Most importantly, I let my creative energies flow, which gave me the ability to find an area, Health and Wellness, where I could let me passion for helping the elderly, those with memory deficits, and people living with Parkinson's develop opportunities for improving not only their health, but quality of life.
I never expected or could have predicted any of this when I moved to Santa Cruz. NextStage showed me that age truly is a number, and creative aging is real and available to all.
To those who are not aware of the opportunities that NextStage Productions can provide, I encourage you to find out how you can grow in this community of creativity, enrichment and friendship.
- Risa Lower
Rainbows and Renewal
I recently returned from a trip to Arizona and driving through the central valley was a feast for the eyes and soul. The coastal mountain range was dusted with snow and the southern snowcapped peaks met us on the East.
For me however, it was the return trip through the rain that sent my spirit soaring. Why? As we left I-5 and turned West the rain stopped and there it was, the most intense multi-colored rainbow set against the green hills, valleys and mountain peaks. This was the pot-of-gold. Renewal after the storms.
NextStage Productions is at those cross-roads. We are looking for renewal within our leadership. You may be the rainbow that leads us down the road of continued growth.
Please consider joining the NSP board of directors and/or nominating a member of the community with a willingness to serve and with business or organizational capabilities. Send your recommendations and contact information to info@nextstagesantacruz.org. Let’s do this!!
- Kathryn Adkins