The Sunday afternoon performance of "Broadway Bound" is already sold out; tickets to the Saturday evening performance are available, but might be gone all too soon. That's because the Born to Act Players have been building their fan base for the past fifteen years, and their uniqueness has provided many people with inspiration, appreciation and delight. In this weekend's shows, there'll be singing and dancing to tunes from "Mamma Mia", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Westside Story" and "Sound of Music".
What makes this acting group so special is that most of the performers have "special needs", namely Down Syndrome. When actress and director Mary Rings helped found the group a decade and a half ago, one of the reasons was that her own son Casey Powell has Down Syndrome. However, rather than focus on his disability, Rings was determined to help her son discover his abilities by providing him with the opportunity to express himself through acting, singing and dancing. At the time, Powell's friend Blair Williamson, who also has Down Syndrome, had the itch to perform, too. So together, the two young men embarked on their creative endeavor, along with six other performers with disabilities. Rings enthusiastically explained that this weekend's shows will also include three other cast members who were part of the original Born to Act Players.
A non-profit organization dedicated to providing a supportive environment for students with special needs in which they can use the performing arts as a means for self-expression, BTAP has weekly classes held at Los Angeles Valley College. For the past several years, BTAP has held their biannual shows at Valley College's Horseshoe Theater. However, the Madrid Theatre seats more than 400, so Rings said it will be a great opportunity for members of the cast to feel what it's like to perform in front of a large audience.
Not that this cast is made up of novices. Several members of the cast have had professional acting jobs appearing on such shows as "ER", "Saving Grace", "CSI" and "Scrubs." Most recently, actress Robin Trocki has had a recurring role on "Glee". To help these actors hone their skills, more than a few seasoned professionals, including Shelley Long, Linda Purl and Wayne Pere to name a few, regularly volunteer their time.
Eventually, Rings hopes that the company can acquire a facility of its own. In that case, the company will be able to add more classes and thus accommodate all the people who are on the waiting list to join BTAP. Currently, there are thirty-two students in the program, ranging in age from 15-47.
Rings explained that everything BTAP does focuses on the positive. As a result, participants develop not only their performance skills, but their self-confidence and interpersonal skills, as well.
This is a far cry from the way people with Down Syndrome were often treated in the past. In his comprehensive article "Children Like Grace", writer Jon Henley touches upon many of the prejudices and problems that people with Down Syndrome often had to endure, including forced institutionalization and sterilization.
Rings, on the other hand, is grateful for the societal acceptance of people with disabilities that has grown in recent years. "This is the first generation of people (with Down Syndrome) that are being given a chance," she said, "and there's no telling what they can do."
(The Madrid Theatre is located at 21622 Sherman Way in Canoga Park. "Bound for Broadway" will be performed Saturday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 29 at 2:30 p.m. For ticket information call: (818) 787-2969.)
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