History:
Founded in 1984 over a cup of coffee, Bonnie Gill and Mark Manhart decided to start a community theatre for older adults and those who like to work with older generations. A one-act play, "Any Body For Tea?" was mounted to play for three performances in Omaha. The cast included six women and two men who's average ages hovered around 72 years with one lady teetering at 84 years young, Lois Wayland. She was cast in the cameo role, just in case. The original cast has all passed away to "actors' heaven," including of course, Lois who died peacefully this summer of 2006, at 104 years young. Their show sold out to the rafters and continued for nine performances at three locations. Until the end, she remembered her lines.
The rest is history as the Grande Olde Players Theatre continues with 16 performances of each of the six shows a year bringing good solid entertainment to the Omaha community. Thanks to our loyal season subscribers, individual patrons and volunteers their still is a special place for older people who love theatre and are exceptionally special on stage. This independent, nonprofit company depends on your support to continue to prosper.
The Grande Olde Players Company was founded in 1984 over a cup of coffee, Bonnie Gill and Mark Manhart decided to start a community theatre of live perfomances for older adults and those who like to work with older generations.
Our first play was a one-act play, “Any Body For Tea?” It was mounted to play for three performances in Omaha. The cast included six women and two men who’s average ages hovered from 72 to 84.
The rest is history as the Grande Olde Players Company flourished for 25 years with 12 performances of each of the five shows a year bringing good solid entertainment to the Omaha community. Three years ago we had to close the theatre facilities. It had become Omaha’s finest small theatres. Time had caught up with us, but we contine as a company of older people who love theatre and want to help other small theatres. We now offer our expertise in live theatre highlighting older people any way we can: acting, directing, writing or just good commonsense advice.
Thanks to our loyal patrons and volunteers their still is a special place for older people who love theatre and are exceptionally special on stage. This independent, nonprofit company depends on your support to continue to prosper. If you are enclined to help with sharing your experiences, writing or reading plays, establihing a Grande Olde Players theatre in your city, contributing to this web site, or finanial aid for this project, let us know.
