Merrick resident competes in ‘Special Needs Got Talent’

Charlie Kosina, 16, of Rockville Center, danced enthusiastically to Bruno Mars’s “Marry You,” with Lady Gaga’s “Marry the Night” edited in near the end. His routine earned him second place in the 14 to 17 age group at the BroadHallow Theater Company and Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.’s first-ever “Special Needs Got Talent.”

After two rounds of auditions, thirty finalists from across Long Island participated on Feb. 4 at the Bayway Arts Center in East Islip. Finalists were split into three age groups with roughly 10 competing in each. In addition to Kosina, participants included singer Michael Korins, 22, of Merrick who tied for third place and James Hausmann, 33, of Valley Stream, who played the keyboard and sang Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire.”

Kosina, a South Side High School sophomore with Down Syndrome, has been dancing since he was six years old. He performs with the Center Stage productions at South Side High School and takes lessons at the Hannah Kroner School of Dance in Albertson.

“I was very proud,” said his mother, Donna Kosina. “This opportunity was terrific. For me, if he finished first or he finished tenth, I’m happy that he participated.”

She hopes that the show will happen again next year and that it continues to grow by word of mouth.

She added, “[Charlie’s] excited to do it. He’s excited to tell his friends to do it. That’s how these things grow. I think it will give him the desire to share this with his friends.”

For the past five years BroadHallow Theatre Company and FREE have been running a drama program for individuals with special needs. FREE is a non-profit whose mission is to help people living with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury reach life and career goals. “Through the direction of theatre and performance our [participants have] become more independent, more confident and have increased their independent living skills,” said FREE Senior Director of Day Services Jessica Gallone.

BroadHallow owner Bob O’Neil thought of the idea for a talent competition as a way to give those who aren’t in the program an opportunity to perform on stage. After reaching out to fellow Suffolk resident, Mark Snider, of the metal band Twisted Sister, he was able to put together a panel of celebrity judges.

Gallone said that the show was a success and they plan on holding it again next year. She added, “Although (the participants) go through life with a disability they are very able and capable of doing amazing things.”