The practice began in February for a night the residents will not soon forget. 16 residents participated in the Open Spot theater production of a Talent Show. Participants learned skills from Open Spot Theatre directors to become more comfortable on stage and learn their routines. Directors listened to the participants, learned their skill levels, and helped them to pick a performance that would best showcase their skills.
A Theatre Program for People of All Abilities
Open Spot Theatre has been proudly teaching music & movement therapy to people of ALL abilities since 2012. Theatre classes are designed for everyone, from students with developmental disabilities to seniors. Classes are led by trained instructors who are professionals in theatre, sign language, and/or special education. Singing, acting, and dancing are included in all our programs, along with sign language interpretations.
Seeing the benefits of music and dance in her daughter’s life, Amy L. spearheaded the fundraising to bring Open Spot back to St. Louis Center. Amy’s daughter was a participant with Open Spot before moving to St. Louis Center. Amy worked diligently to raise the funds to make the program a reality for the Center’s residents, knowing the importance that this class has played in her daughter’s life.
“I like being in the plays because I like to dance!” – Charlie
Residents Take the Stage
Residents took the stage and welcomed the crowd with a touching performance of “This is Me” from “the Greatest Showman.” They sang and signed the words along with the music. Each resident anxiously awaited their time to perform, while cheering on their fellow performers. David started the individual performances with a sing-a-long to his favorite songs from Barney, the purple dinosaur.
Other performances included Jerome playing the classic “Moon River” on the keyboard, Sarah playing her recorder, and many others singing and dancing. Open Spot theatre did an amazing job working with the residents and the performances really showed their dedication and hard work. It was a fantastic performance!
This article appears in the Spring 2023 issue of St. Louis Spirit newsletter.
You can read it online or download the issue in its entirety here.
Highlights from the Winter 2023 Issue of St. Louis Spirit
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