Morgantown, Ky. – March 13, 2019 – What if the programming in nursing homes was so interesting that families and neighbors actually wanted to come and participate alongside residents and staff?  That is the dream of Angie McAllister, award-winning elder-care professional and Anne Basting, an award-winning artist and scholar, and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow.  

Over the past year, Basting and McAllister have led a team of regional and national artists, staff, and elders in a bold reimagining of the story of Peter Pan at 12 Signature HealthCARE nursing homes across rural Kentucky. The project culminates with professionally-produced, original plays in three of the 12 homes.

The public is invited to join residents and stakeholders for a journey through the play Wendy’s Neverland. Opening Day is Saturday, March 23, at 2 p.m. CST at Morgantown Care and Rehabilitation Center, 201 South Morgan St., Morgantown, KY 42261. There will be three more performances at Morgantown, four performances at Lee County, and four performances at Sunrise Manor. The show runs approximately one hour with a reception to follow. Tickets are free, but limited, so please visit https://www.timeslips.org/about/current-projects to reserve your spot(s) today.

Artists participating and leading the project include Anne Basting, Lead Artist; Robert Martin, Director; Andee Rudloff, Artist-in-Residence; Kevin Jeff, Choreographer; Jeff Becker, Designer; Nicole Garneau, Production Manager; Cheyenne Mize, Musical Director; and Clare Hagan, Stage Manager.

The I Won’t Grow Up Project emerged as a collaboration between Signature HealthCARE and TimeSlips, a non-profit whose mission is to bring meaning and joy into late life; and made possible with funding by a Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Grant through the Kentucky Office of Inspector General and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS); and Art Works, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The 12 homes include:

Morgantown Care & Rehabilitation Center*

Signature HealthCARE of Hart County

Riverside Care & Rehabilitation Center

Oakview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Sunrise Manor Nursing Home*

Signature HealthCARE at Colonial Rehab & Wellness Center

Signature HealthCARE of Spencer County

Signature HealthCARE at Heritage Hall Rehab & Wellness Center

Rockcastle Health & Rehabilitation Center

Lee County Care & Rehabilitation Center*

Signature HealthCARE at Jackson Manor Rehab & Wellness Center

Fountain Circle Care & Rehabilitation Center

*Denotes performance site

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