Ohioana Citation for Theater and Community Service: 2009
RSVP Players
Cleveland OH
Retired and Senior Volunteer Theatrical Group
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Greater Cleveland, Inc. is an organization that coordinates the recruitment and
placement of adult volunteers, all over age 55, with nonprofit agencies throughout the Cleveland area. The RSVP Players is a special project of
RSVP. Players is a volunteer theatrical group, made up of twelve to fifteen members, who, in addition to their individual volunteer
involvement with area nonprofit organizations, write, direct, and perform various humorous and information skits and
short plays for senior centers, community groups, social organizations, nursing homes, volunteer recognitions and conferences throughout Northeast Ohio.
The average age of members is mid-70s and they perform to audiences, large and small, at least six times a month.
During the groups seventeen years they have presented more than 1,000 performances and its
repertoire has grown to more than twenty plays. The plays and songs vary from five to twenty minutes in length and include a
variety of issues; the funny as well as the not so funny things that happen to us as we grow older.
The group’s original play, Pills a-Poppin, contains information about the dangers of misusing medication. The Western
Reserve Area Agency on Aging was so impressed by the presentation that it sponsored the creation of a video featuring the
Players and the program was shown throughout the area. Group members have also been asked to
participate in online and video training programs for doctors at Cleveland’s MetroHealth Medical Center.
The City of Cleveland Department of Aging commissioned the Players to develop and perform a play, which they call
Crimebusters, on the dangers to senior citizens of predatory lending schemes.
RSVP website
