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Mostly Cloudy Special needs acting troupe to bring ‘Legally Blonde’ to life
A special needs acting troupe will delight community members this weekend when they bring the popular film and play to life on the W.T. Clarke High School stage, according to East Meadow School District officials and the nonprofit organization that supports the group.
Founded in 1977, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental illnesses and traumatic brain injuries. In addition to the diverse array of services the Old Bethpage organization provides, they sponsor the FREE Players — a one-of-a-kind arts group embracing the talents of performers of all abilities, officials said.
The troupe will stage “Legally Blonde, Jr.” at W.T. Clarke High School at 7 p.m. on Saturday and again at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Patrice Dobies, East Meadow’s director of special education and pupil personnel services, said the district is proud to host the production, which is also serves as a fundraiser for FREE.
According to the organization, monies collected from ticket sales at the players’ annual musical will support opportunities for the men and women who receive services from FREE. This year’s fundraiser will help fund a theater of the players’ own; Dobies said East Meadow SEPTA, which manages the concession stand and helps facilitate the event, will also receive a small portion of the proceeds collected.
The FREE Players’ partnership with East Meadow District dates back to January 2008, as officials said actors performed “Guys and Dolls” locally then. That relationship continued for the next few years, as the FREE Players staged “Seussical the Musical,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Damn Yankees” in East Meadow as well.
After a brief hiatus, Dobies said the FREE Players returned to Clarke with a variety show in November 2015. This past February, members of the troupe also became peer mentors to the special education students of the REACH program — Recognizing and Encouraging Accomplishments in Children. An aim of the program is to mainstream its students into group sports, arts and extracurricular activities. Dobies described it as an “artists in residency” program.
“What we know is that the arts and music allow a lot of people to express themselves in a way they might not be able to using words and other forms of communication,” she said. “They’re using their creativity…This has been a wonderful partnership that’s allowed the community to see the potential in all people.”
FREE officials added that, through the arts, individuals in their programs have made great strides in improving their interpersonal skills, as well as multitasking, focusing and taking direction — all of which helps them move towards their goal of being independent contributing members of society. Dobies noted that the organization’s theater program continues to grow and has been a model for other organizations around the country.
This year, the troupe will perform “Legally Blonde, Jr.” — a family-friendly musical that follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Dobies said it will be a great night of entertainment, adding that she thinks audience members won’t see people with disabilities acting, but rather, actors who are passionate about their art.
Board of Education Vice President Marcee Rubinsteen, a recently-retired speech and language therapist and consultant for special needs children and adults, agreed, noting that the troupe’s enthusiasm has enriched the lives of community members who’ve attended their shows in the past.
“The East Meadow community has always been receptive, resulting in standing room-only audiences,” she said. “When they left to perform at a new venue, it really left a void in our community. With the support of Superintendent Leon Campo, Ms. Dobies and the entire East Meadow school board, we jumped at the opportunity to bring them back to perform…I invite everyone to see their performance as I know it will be a life learning and rewarding experience.”
Tickets cost $20. To purchase them or to learn more about the FREE Players, call (516) 495-3201 or visit www.freeplayers.com. Tickets cost $20.
