The Roxy Theatre on 9th Street East in Owen Sound. (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting News)
The Roxy Theatre is launching a new program for those living with disabilities to participate and perform in the theatre.
The Roxy Star Company program will give adults who are living with complex needs including intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities a chance to take part in the arts.
The Roxy says in a release, participants will play drama games, and learn acting skills, dances, and songs, while also focusing on each participant’s individual strengths. The end result will be a talent show where participants will get to show off that they’ve learned on the Roxy stage.
The program is open to anyone who identifies as an adult living with complex needs.
Executive Director of the Owen Sound Little Theatre Marcia Cunningham says, “we are grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for the funding that has allowed us to create this terrific and inclusive theatre program that will serve a part of our population that is currently under-represented in the arts.”
The program will be running this summer from March 9 to June 22 by Lacey Mooney, who launched The Roxy Young Company in 2021.
Rehearsals will take place at Georgian Shores United Church on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the talent show set for June 29.
“Our hope is to show that everyone deserves the chance to create performance art. We are one of the only community theatres to start a program like this, and I hope it inspires us all to be more inclusive and accepting. It’s a chance to let an amazing group of people inspire us all to be better and do better,” says Mooney.
Registration is open and tickets for the talent show are also available for purchase.
More information on registering can be found on the Roxy website here or by calling 519-371-2833.