The arts are often underrepresented for persons with disabilities. But a collaboration between Heidelberg’s School of Music & 剧院 and the Seneca County Opportunity Center is doing its part to change that.
在周六, 4月27日, 伯格剧院的学生, 由大三学生莱利·阿米尔领导, who have partnered with students from the Opportunity Center will to stage “A Barnyard Moosical” in Ohl Concert Hall. This unique partnership allows individuals with disabilities to take the stage and perform in front of an audience. 整个学期, theatre students have conducted twice-weekly workshops and rehearsals at the Opportunity Center in preparation for the performance.
莱利, a theatre major with a business minor, is co-directing the production along with Sandy Kimmel, the Music and Movement instructor at the Opportunity Center. 莱利 took on the role of co-director as a student research project. She participated in a previous Heidelberg-Opportunity collaboration as a freshman, 她被迷住了.
“That was when I fell in love with teaching and the Opportunity,莱利说. “Meeting with them quickly became my favorite part of the week.”
作为联合导演的一部分, 莱利 also took on the role of choreographer, 舞蹈指导及制作. With Sandy’s guidance, she designed costumes and gathered supplies. Back on campus, she worked with Dr. 卡罗尔Dusdieker, 她的导师在她的项目, and Sue Hlavinka to make selections for sets, 道具及服装.
But it’s been her interactions with the Opportunity Center students that have been most impactful.
“和学生一起工作, seeing their growth in confidence and skill, 老实说,我很开心,莱利说. “I look forward to every time I get to work with them.”
The process hasn’t been without its minor challenges, 虽然, primary among them is “not having enough bodies to give attention all around,莱利说. “I believe it’s important for the younger classes to have a few helpers so the students can be more one-on-one. I brought in a few amazing Heidelberg students to help me and they have made a world of difference,她说。.
What to expect from ‘A Barnyard Moosical’
The show features four funny animals dancing and singing about their unusual farm. 鸡肯定会抖腿, 猪喜欢打扫卫生, the cows dance an awesome chorus line, and the goats cook up a tasty gourmet pizza. In addition to the toe-tapping music, audiences will be treated to a preview of the process of producing the musical.
莱利 describes the Opportunity Center students' roles as actors. Two or more classes are assigned to a farm animal, where, when they perform, they will be the stars. Each student will perform in three numbers, two group numbers and one song featuring their animal.
During the songs, they will showcase their singing, dancing and acting skills,” 莱利 explains. “They also have helped out in designing their costumes and set pieces.”
戏剧之后, there will be an opportunity for photos along with a chance to recognize all of the student artwork from the past few months.
All in all, “A Barnyard Moosical” has been a collaboration in the truest sense. It has allowed the students to be stars and showcase their talents while being part of a quality production with skills taught to them by Heidelberg students.
“Each student gets to experience the spotlight in a supportive environment that sets them up for success,莱利说.
莱利的未来是什么
Her experience has helped lay the foundation as she prepares for her dream job of becoming a high school drama teacher, reinforcing her personal philosophy that “arts are for everybody.”
“在我的教学生涯中, I want to get as many students involved in theatre so they can express themselves and push themselves. Working with the Opportunity Center has taught me how to push and support students at the same time.”
Tickets for “A Barnyard Moosical” are $5 for general 入学 and free for youth, 并可在WWW上预订.gundlachtheatre.org.