Beginning in May, UNLV will launch a new Senior Adult Theatre outreach program, thanks to a $4,500 grant received from the Nevada AARP (formerly American Association for Retired Persons).

The grant will be used by the UNLV Senior Theatre Outreach Company to perform a variety of scenes and monologues -- both comic and serious -- at a number of community venues, including the Concorde Assisted Living Facility, Delmar Gardens of Green Valley, and the Salvation Army Adult Day Care Center.

"AARP is committed to offering opportunities for personal enrichment and intellectual development in later life," said Carla Sloan, Nevada state director of AARP. "The UNLV Senior Adult Theatre outreach program is exciting to us because it will help us to realize these goals."

The company consists of 25 mature performers who have been studying acting in the theatre department at UNLV.

"We are very enthusiastic about our talented senior performers sharing their theatrical abilities throughout the greater Clark County area, and we're grateful to AARP for providing the means to do so," said Ann McDonough, director of the Senior Adult Theatre program.

Founded in 1990, the Senior Adult Theatre program offers older students a variety of courses in acting and creative dramatics, as well as a first-in-the nation bachelor of arts degree in senior adult theatre. Currently, more than 80 students over the age of 62 are enrolled in the program's courses.

"Our performers are working hard to offer a show that is sure to delight audiences and show off older adults at their best," said Douglas Hill, assistant director of the Senior Adult Theatre program.

The public is invited to a free performance beginning at 1 p.m. June 8 at the Winchester Community Center Theatre.

For more information, contact McDonough at 895-1517.