Spotlight on Drama Troupe & Aric’s #BestOfAll

“I regard the theater as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it’s like to be a human being.”

– Oscar Wilde.  

Since we began offering Drama Troupe in 2020, the goal has always remained the same: create a safe space for self-expression. We are incredibly grateful to the team at OpenSpot Theater, who have led this program at our Playhouse for 7 sessions now. OpenSpot’s mission is to provide a fun, creative, and inclusive arts experience that is accessible to all people. Through their rehearsal and performance process, students experience personal affirmation, empowerment, and build important life skills.

At GiGi’s we welcome all participants ages 8 and up to join our Drama Troupe. The benefits include, but are certainly not limited to, developing vocalization skills like articulation and volume, increasing self-confidence and personal empowerment, supporting one another through teamwork and collaboration, improving and sustaining cognitive abilities like memorization, and more. It’s an opportunity for actors to venture out of their comfort zone as little or as much as they’d like to.

The program leaders do an excellent job of meeting each member where they are and making sure everyone has a part in the show. Most participants can’t wait to showcase their talents on stage at the end of the session, but those who aren’t quite comfortable yet are still encouraged to come each week and gain strength from their peers!

Take Aric, for example. He joined our Drama Troupe for the first time this fall, and choreographed a fabulous performance to the song, My Girl! The entire audience was entertained as they witnessed Aric’s #BestOfAll moment as he showed off his dance moves on the big stage!

While the benefits of this program are innumerable, and GiGi’s Playhouse is committed to never charging families for our programs, Drama Troupe doesn’t come cheap! The cost of 1 individual to partake in Drama Troupe for 1 week is $25. Each session runs for 6 weeks, totaling $150 per participant.

If you have the means to sponsor an individual with Down syndrome for their next Drama Troupe session, please click here to donate!