Men of words
'Wordy Old Men' share septuagenarian life experiences

It’s been said that aging is just another word for living. And this weekend, there will be a combined 350 years of living experience under one roof as “Wordy Old Men” take the stage at the Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr.

The free performance, which includes 7 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, will run the gamut from prose and poetry to storytelling.

“The show will cover everything from aging to how we grow up to the outdoors and nature,” show organizer and participant Anthony Myers, 70, said. “People can expect to hear a really soulful and beautiful rendition of life through the eyes of a septuagenarian.”

In addition to Myers, the group includes the Telegraph’s own unofficial poet laureate, Burt Baldwin, as well as Larry “From Durango” Bourland, Larry Goral and Pete Martori. “We are all in our 70s,” said Myers. “And we’ve all lived pretty darn fascinating lives, and that type of thing can only be achieved by living long enough.”

The show is the first one sponsored by Myers’ newly formed group, “Artists of Aging,” or AOA. A longtime Durango resident and English teacher for 40 years, Myers came up with the idea for the group after making a trip to the Netherlands several years back. While there, he visited a niece, who is a well-known spoken word artist, and was “blown away” by her performance, which was attended by about 300 people.

“It kind of inspired me to be on the lookout for people who could do that kind of thing here,” he said.

Particularly, Myers – a spoken word artist and stand-up comedian himself – was looking to help showcase the work of older creatives who can face difficulties in finding places to perform their art.

Then, about a year ago, lightning struck when Myers attended a local open mic poetry night in which all four of the aforementioned men performed.

“I walked out stunned. These guys nailed it,” he said. “I thought, ‘This might be my opening.’”

He reached out to all four, and they were immediately on board with the idea for a group performance. “It just fell into place. It fit the concept I had about an older creative who has been serious about their art but has maybe gotten away from it. We’ve had regular careers and came back to our art after we retired,” said Myers. “We’ve all been doing this work decades. We’re honed artists who just need a place to let their art out so people can appreciate it.”

In addition to sharing life experiences, Myers said the event is about bringing back public speaking, which seems to have fallen by the wayside in this TikTok era. “Public speaking is absolutely an art from, and we’ve gotten away from it,” he said.

While this first performance is all men, Myers said he hopes the organization will grow to include older women artists as well. He said he would like for the next show to feature all women.

“Basically, the whole point is so give older creatives an opportunity to get out there and create,” he said.

“Wordy Old Men” is produced in conjunction with Merely Players’ Studio Series. The event is free, and no reservations are necessary. “Just show up. Pay what you wish,” said Myers.

For more info. about Artists of Aging, find Myers at one of the local stand-up comedy nights.