THE TEAM
We are . . .
We are a community theater group made up of community members who share the goal of spotlighting individuals who have disabilities. We are parents and caregivers who have sons and daughters with special needs. We are friends, neighbors, aunts and cousins, therapists and teachers who have never before been involved in theater. We are professional actors, directors, costumers, set designers and builders, stage managers, musical directors, and props-people, lighting and sound designers.
We share the belief that Art is for everybody.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
HOW TO MAKE A THEATER
As the son of an actress, my son was dragged to countless auditions, rehearsals and performances. He worked backstage, bringing water to the actors and helping in front of house.
One night, during an audition, I looked into the nearly empty theater and saw my son - ever supportive, never complaining, sending encouraging vibes. And then I heard a silent voice say, "When is it my turn?"
In that moment my heart broke. How had I missed this? I couldn't say "I don't know", because I did know. His turn was whenever I made it happen.
SO WE MADE IT HAPPEN
I turned to the theater community who knew my son and have lovingly embraced him for years. And they rose to the occasion! Without a single nickel of financial support, I launched Out of the Shadows Theater, prepared to take the hit if it flopped. But in my heart I knew it wouldn't. I knew our actors would astonish their audience. I knew the community would respond with optimism, support and goodwill.
We had financial donations, in-kind donations, and volunteers. People simply began to believe it would happen.
OUR FIRST PRODUCTION
It was November, 2016. Twenty-four actors and twenty-four shadow actors stepped on the stage at the KROC CENTER, Coeur d'Alene, ID for their first production - "Beauty and the Beast Jr." For most, it was their first time in a performance theater. First time for sets, costumes, make-up, sound, lights, and theater seats. It was distracting, intimidating, scary. It was . . . rough. But we had decided at the beginning of our journey together to celebrate whatever our actors brought us.
And then, twenty-four hours later, the second night of tech week. Three days until opening night. It was the most astonishing transformation ever. It all clicked. It was magnificent. This group of inexperienced actors were suddenly a theater company. They pulled it together in true theater magic fashion.
The 400 seat theater filled rapidly and there was a friendly buzz. Nobody had any idea of the treat in store. The lights dimmed, the audience silenced.
For the next hour the audience laughed and cried, their emotions soared from pride to utter joy. Expectations were surpassed and everyone, audience, production team, actors and shadows shared in the most incredible performance.
The curtain call, oh, it was magnificent! Two bars into the finale and, with near total synchronicity, the audience rose from their seats, exploding with overwhelming emotion. There were three curtain calls with applause that was sustained for a full, incredible, 5 minutes.
And then we decided to do it again.