AWB Brings "Magic" to St. Joseph's University
The curtains rose, lights illuminated the stage of the Bluett Theatre, and a year of hard work and dedication reached its climax as the talented thespians of Acting Without Boundaries showcased "Pippen" in front of a packed crowd at St. Joseph's University. The performance was the culmination of an incredible four-day workshop in which the actors of AWB put the finishing touches on the musical that began production in early October of last year. The highly anticipated return of the star-studded cast was nothing short of spectacular and the fans of the acting group were treated to an unforgettable night of music, comedy and inspiration!
In 2004 Christine Rouse, the founder and Executive Director of Acting Without Boundaries, created a unique year-round theater program that provides an open forum for the creative and artistic expression of teenagers and young adults with physical disabilities. Each month the actors, along with Christine and the artistic directors of the program (Neill Hartley, Maria Ceferatti, and Michael DeVitis) gather at The Episcopal Academy to Devon and work on a variety of theatre techniques: vocal and focus exercises, exploration in movement and mime, commercial production, yoga and scene study. In addition to being an opportunity for participants to hone their craft, the monthly workshops have served as rehearsals for “Pippin” establishing the foundation for the four-day workshop at St. Joe’s where the final pieces of the show were to be assembled.
“Pippin” is the coming of age story of a young man who has dreams of becoming so much more than ordinary. It was going to take an extraordinary cast to produce this Broadway hit, and the AWB actors were up to the task. Through their talents, creativity and dedication, the actors of Acting Without Boundaries dazzled the crowd with song after song and received a well deserved standing ovation at the conclusion of the performance. The AWB program has always focused on individual’s ability, not their disability, and this performance was a confirmation that each actor has a talent that lives inside of them that the whole world can enjoy. It was truly a magical experience and an affirmation that Acting Without Boundaries continues to be an inspirational program for all who encounter it.
 
 
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