As many good stories do, it started with a conversation over coffee.
A group of residents at The Fountains at Millbrook were swapping ideas one morning when someone wondered aloud what, exactly, was up on the second floor of their building. The jokes started flying. Someone mentioned ghosts. A few characters emerged. Before the mugs were empty, the idea for a radio play was born.
That lighthearted chat sparked A Mystery at The Fountains, a full-scale radio-style production created, written, and performed entirely by residents. The play was the latest in a growing tradition of live theater at The Fountains — and it may just be the most ambitious yet.
A Plot Full of Twists — and Heart
Inspired by the idea of mystery, rumor, and miscommunication, resident Marge Wardrop penned the script based on her fellow neighbors. “The plot started out as a murder mystery,” she told McKnight’s Senior Living, “but we don’t want to be thought of as a bunch of murderers here, so we switched to a mystery.”
With nine scenes and a two-act structure, the play used the community itself as a backdrop, including the now-infamous second floor. It was performed as a live table read in front of a full audience, complete with 1940s-style commercial breaks and vintage sound effects.
From Page to Performance
This play wasn’t Marge’s first time bringing a script to life. She and her husband, Jim, spent 20 years leading a radio performance troupe, Spirit of the Airwaves Players. But for some cast members, this was their very first time on stage. And that was part of the joy.
“We have a very active, talented group of people in the community who are thrilled to get involved with the play,” Marge said in an interview with Senior Living News. “A lot have never performed before, and it is fun to see them express themselves in a new and creative manner.”
Instructor Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi, who leads the community’s Watermark University writer’s exchange program, helped coach the production and encouraged its early development. She’s watched residents transform into writers and performers over the years and says the magic is in the process. “When people are being creative, something wonderful happens,” she said.
Creativity Without Barriers
One key to the success of A Mystery at the Fountains was its accessibility. The table-read format allowed participants to hold scripts (no memorization needed), and larger print options ensured everyone could follow along. Even the use of microphones became part of the choreography. “We had four mics for 15 people,” Marge told McKnight’s, laughing. “It was a little bit of a dance routine as well as a play.”
Accessibility wasn’t just a feature — it was part of the creative design, ensuring every resident who wanted to participate could find a role.
A Final Bow — and a New Beginning
For Marge, the play’s success wasn’t just in the applause. It was in the shared journey of making something beautiful together. “The biggest thing we did was, we started it, we worked on it, and we pulled it off,” she shared with McKnight’s. “You can have your little goals and meet them, but here, you got a chance to show everybody what you did, and everybody responded positively. I think that is extraordinary.”
So what’s next for the stage at The Fountains at Millbrook? You’ll have to stay tuned. With this much talent and heart, another production is undoubtedly just around the corner.
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