Juniper Village at Mount Joy Becomes 5th Juniper Community to Stage a Broadway Senior Show

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” - Henry Ford

Mount Joy, PA – Juniper Village at Mount Joy proudly became the fifth Juniper community to stage a Broadway Senior production, joining an exciting program that brings the magic of theater to senior living. The community’s performance of Singin’ in the Rain, SR™ was held on June 20 and 21 at The Janus School, and it was a resounding success.

All cast members were residents of Juniper Village at Mount Joy. The production brought together months of rehearsals, laughter, and new experiences, highlighting the joy of learning and creative expression at any age.

One standout performance came from Carol Kase, who captivated audiences as Miss Dinsmore. “It was an opportunity to try something out of my comfort zone at this age, and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said. “I was so impressed by the outcome!”

The show was directed and produced by Katie Erb, Juniper’s Connections Director. Reflecting on the performance, she shared, “I am very proud of all our residents who worked so hard to bring their characters to life. It took a lot of heart, creativity, and courage, and I’m extremely thankful for the volunteers and Juniper team members who helped make it happen.”

Support came from six student volunteers representing three local high schools, who worked behind the scenes as cast assistants and production crew, contributing to everything from lighting and sound to props and set changes. Music was provided by Ruth Sweigart, a skilled accompanist best known for her work with Voices of the Valley, a well-loved regional choir.

Among the many memorable performances, Doris Schmitt stole the show as Lina Lamont, the dramatic silent film star with a famously unlovable voice. Her family came out in full force to cheer her on.

“As a team member at Juniper, it was amazing to see all the work that went into this production behind the scenes,” said Theresa Dumez, Doris’s granddaughter. “Seeing the joy this brought to my grandmother, and to our whole family, was incredibly special.”

Shawn, a representative from Donegal Performing Arts and a mentor to several student volunteers, reflected on the collaboration, saying, “It was a pleasure working with Katie and her team. Opportunities like this are rare for seniors, and Broadway Senior is such a meaningful program. This show had us laughing and singing along - in the rain, of course!”

This production was made possible through a partnership with Music Theatre International (MTI), one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies. MTI’s Broadway Senior collection features specially adapted versions of classic musicals, designed for performers aged 55 and older. The program emphasizes inclusion, creativity, and the life-affirming joy of participating in musical theater, regardless of prior experience or ability.

Juniper Communities was the first senior living organization to pilot a Broadway Senior production in 2018 and continues to expand the program across its communities nationwide.

For more information about the production or to learn more about Juniper Village at Mount Joy, please contact Beverly Zimmermann, Sales and Marketing Director, at (717) 492-9692 or via email at Beverly.Zimmermann@JuniperCommunities.com.

About Juniper Communities

Juniper Communities, a leader in quality, value, and innovation, operates senior living communities in Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas that emphasize residents’ well-being, interaction and security. Our communities and approach to housing and care offers residents the opportunity to live a full life, regardless of age or health. Juniper’s innovative Connect4Life program has been proven to improve residents’ care by decreasing hospitalizations, re-hospitalizations, and urgent care visits, while offering potential cost savings to public programs such as Medicare. To learn more about the many ways Juniper Communities innovates in support of our residents, visit www.junipercommunities.com.