Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
April 24, 2002
Ageless entertainment keeps seniors young at heart
Cream of the Crop variety shows amuse and raise money for charity
By Lorenzo Chavez
In a society obsessed with youth and looking young it's refreshing to find a group of talented, dedicated senior citizens proud to act their age.
Month after month the nonprofit Cream of the Crop performance troupe kicks up its heels to entertain elderly individuals throughout the Denver metro region. The 5-year-old nonprofit organization's mission has been guided by Yvette Gunther, a 60-something community volunteer and beauty pageant contestant.
"It brightens up their day," explains Gunther, Cream of the Crop founder and official Road Show Director.
With more than 100 shows a year and a talent pool of 21 performers, she takes her title quite seriously. She also competes in various beauty pageants when not serving in a leadership role with a local chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons better know as the powerful, national AARP.
Gunther, last year's winner of the Beauties of America for 60-year-olds, has modeled their act after the 1950s television variety shows made popular by the late Sid Caesar and Milton Berle. The two dozen or so entertainers in their group include an opera singer, pianist, saxophone player and dancers.
The troupe charges $75 for an hour. After mileage expenses are paid, the group donates the rest of the proceeds to local charities at the end of the year.
Community service comes naturally to these active seniors who are careful not to use the "E" word.
"We don't consider ourselves elderly," says Virginia Auge, a north Denver native and parishioner at Holy Family Church, wearing an elegant dress depicting infamous Madam Madie Silks of the 1870s. She also depicts a more staid and respectable first lady Mamie Eisenhower in the 1950s.
"I've been in more than 100 shows," Auge says proudly, sitting on the piano stool dressed as the Silks character.
Auge is the mother of five children and 10 grandchildren.
"We're all over 65," says Auge. "I'm the unofficial historian. We don't have rehearsals because we all do our own thing. It's more or less a variety show."
The Cream of the Crop has been dancing, singing and otherwise entertaining at retirement communities since they started the group in 1997, says Gunther. The group performs twice a week at various senior homes and assisted living centers throughout the Denver metro area. Originally an all-female group, they have recruited men within the past three years. Collectively, their talents range from dancing and singing to storytelling, calligraphy and performing various musical instruments.
A 73-year-old tap dancer still wears his 50-year-old World War II Army uniform. Another pair — Joanne Holland and Ted Wolsolyn — performs a ballroom routine.
Annual proceeds, totaling nearly $1,000, are donated to local charities such as Habitat for Humanity and the National Association for the Mentally Incapacitated.
The group entertains about 50 at each stop. Any elements of stage fright have long vanished after several hundred performances.
"We have a good group of people," Gunther says. "Some of our group participate in all of the shows."
Gunther, a retired schoolteacher with 23 years in the Denver Public Schools system, today is chapter president of the South Suburban Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Under her leadership this Highlands Ranch chapter won 1st runner-up for the 2001 Colorado Chapter of the Year.
Gunther's repertoire features 15 different dances including 12 ethnic-oriented traditional Polish, German, Irish and Chinese dance steps in authentic costumes.
"It's very rewarding because the audience is so appreciative," she says.
Len Kaplan, founder of the Senior Sweetheart Pageant of America expresses the ladies' motivation clearly: "At an age when many people have given up, these ladies are doing things on stage that they never thought possible ... and having a ball at the same time."
For more information regarding Cream of the Crop, contact Gunther at 303-470-7206.
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