Narberth Senior Glee Club Brings 'Broadway Light' to Retirement Home

For 22 years, Selma Savitz, 75, has run a glee club for senior citizens out of the basement of the .

"When I came over, it was really just a grownup sing-a-long," she told Patch from Manresa Hall, the Jesuit Infirmary of St. Joseph's University, where she and the now 40-strong ensemble had just wrapped up an hour-long performance. "And now we do 30 shows like this a year."

Tuesday afternoon marked the second straight year that Savitz, a former music teacher at Nether Providence Elementary School, and her troupe performed for the retired priests. The ensemble—the men wore dark blazers and red bow ties while the women opted for matching vests and red scarves—performed show tunes and American standards from "Cabaret" and "Hello Dolly" to "My Fair Lady" and "Annie Get Your Gun."

"We try to stick with songs that everybody knows and recognizes," Savitz said.

On Tuesday, as usual, they hit their mark.

"The residents here really enjoy it," said Manresa Hall director Nancy Gallagher. "It lifts their spirits to see people close to their own age dancing and singing. Performing familiar songs."

Sister Nell Carbin is the senior-most member of the club, whose ages run from 60 to91.

"My favorite song to perform is 'New York,'" said Carbin, who's been with New Horizons for three years. "I very much enjoy singing with this group."

Savitz, likewise, says she has treasured her time with the club.

"I'm so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful, talented musicians," she said, as the talented musicians zipped on coats and headed out into the warm fall afternoon.