Once In My LIFE: Behind the Scenes of an Intergenerational Theater Production

Abstract

Abstract:This article examines the goals, structure, and timeline of the intergenerational ensemble-based theater project, Once In My LIFE, which occurred at the University of Central Florida (UCF). It provides a brief rationale of the potential benefits for undergraduate students (ages eighteen to twenty-two) and students from the UCF's Learning Institute for Elders (ages fifty+) and analyzes the ways diverse disciplines such as music, personal narrative, digital projections, and theater influenced the process. Case studies of participant experience are additionally presented. Throughout this article, the authors address the following questions: How did Once In My LIFE meet the project aims to share stories, celebrate life, and build a bridge between the two demographics? What challenges or opportunities arose during the project?