Senior Set Designer Bob Brings “Death by Chocolate” to Life for The Village Drama Club
When you don’t have to worry about vacuuming the rugs and pulling the weeds, you have more time to learn a new skill, pursue your favorite passion … or maybe stage a murder mystery.
On February 14th (a sweet day indeed) the Drama Club at our Germantown senior living community performed “Death by Chocolate” to a packed house. In addition to colorful characters like playboy Horacio Hershey and black widow Catherine Cadbury, this intrigue-filed satire featured a custom-designed set by Bob P., who moved to The Village at Germantown in 2024. We caught up with Bob and asked him to share some of his trade secrets.
Building an Active Retirement Filled with Purpose
Bob is no stranger to designing sets for the entertainment business. Before retiring, he was a “hammer” (or set builder) at Warner Brothers for two decades. He even met his wife on the set of “Paradise,” a 1980s western. “I did a lot of cop shows like ‘Houston Knights’ and ‘TJ Hooker,’ Bob recalls, “and I had the opportunity to build alongside the chief set designers on movies like ‘Return of the Jedi.’”
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that one of Bob’s favorite activities at our senior living community is working in our fully equipped wood shop, especially when he can help his neighbors. “People bring in broken chairs, small tables and bookshelves and we repair the items for them,” he explains. “One lady had a chest with a drawer that was stuck, so we did a little shaving and sanding and before long, it was good as new.”
When he’s not busy at the wood shop, Bob volunteers at the Germantown Community Theater doing (what else) set design. “They needed a table for the famous scene in ‘12 Angry Jurors’ where Juror 8 thrusts down the second switchblade knife,” he explains. “It took some balsa wood and a bit of imagination, but I made it work.”
Hammering Out Solutions to Set Design Challenges
Engaging in the arts is a great way for seniors to maintain mental wellness and keep their minds sharp. And a sharp mind was just what Kaylee Jackson, Activities Director and director of the Drama Club, was looking for when she asked Bob to help design a set for “Death by Chocolate.” He was more than up for the challenge.
“One scene called for the actors to pop out from behind a bookcase, so we had to figure out how to make the bookcase pivot,” he explains. “The maintenance folks really helped us out by putting some screws into the floor to hold the clamps and rollers that made the bookcase move.”
The set of “Death by Chocolate” also featured a chandelier and fireplace—both of which actually lit up. “I found a beautiful old chandelier at Habitat for Humanity for just twenty bucks,” Bob says. “Maintenance helped us run the extension cord and it lit up beautifully.” The fireplace was a bit more complicated. “We rigged up a roller with tin foil and a red filter, put some light in the background and voila! A realistic flame.”
“Unfortunately, we didn’t have a million-dollar budget like we did for ‘TJ Hooker,’ but the set still looked pretty convincing,” he beams.
Setting the Stage for Building Social Connections
While he enjoyed meeting big-name stars during his time at Warner Brothers (Sally Field is lovely, by the way), Bob treasures the friendships he’s formed with his fellow seniors at our Germantown Life Plan Community.
“I tell everyone I had trouble adapting to life at The Village, because I like to be grumpy once in a while and that’s impossible here,” Bob laughs. “Everybody looks out for one another, the food is unbelievable and I don’t have any leaves to rake or windows to clean. There’s nothing to be cranky about!”
Through his work with our Drama Club, Bob also forged deep social connections. “It was great collaborating with my friend Carolyn, who used to work in a design studio,” Bob explains. “She did such a great job painting the scenery. All the trees, horses and fences looked so realistic and people who saw the play couldn’t stop raving about it. I can hardly wait until our next production.”
Your Next, Best Act Starts at Our Germantown Senior Living Community
Whether you love drama, painting, ballroom dancing or sports, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to pursue your passion at The Village. Every week, our social calendar is packed with activities, clubs and programs—all shared with some of the friendliest folks you’ll ever want to meet.
To schedule your tour of our vibrant community where everybody feels like family, call us today at 901-737-4242.