ACTS makes Super Stars
It’s a combination surely made in heaven.
University of Central Arkansas occupational therapy students and adults with developmental disabilities have been collaborating for years to make a theatrical performance that draws on the students’ skills and the willing, self-described “hamminess” of the consumers of Independent Living Services.
ACTS (Acting Creates Therapeutic Success) is a matchup not to be missed.
This year’s production is titled “Wolfman Jack Walking You Through the Decades,” and will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday in UCA’s Reynolds Performance Hall. The performance is free; donations are accepted.
ACTS was developed in 1997 by Dr. Cathy Acre and Dr. Jennifer Johnson of the Department of Occupational Therapy. Their students work for months — sometimes one-on-one, often with the full cast — with eager actors-to-be.
Depending on the stage of disability, students may also appear on stage with the actors either to prompt or fill in a line of explanation.
In addition to creating “Super Stars” who love the stage, love the spotlight and love taking a bow, the consumers help create the sets as overseen by David Antonio, the art teacher at Profiles, the adult day center operated by ILS.
Sets are more elaborate each year.
The goal of the program is “to provide a creative outlet where people with disabilities can develop learning skills, nurture independence and self-worth and enhance well being.”
The auditorium is usually filled, so get there early and get a good seat.
Christmas Parade
The Conway Downtown Christmas Parade will be 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, starting at Markham and Van Ronkle. hosted by Relay For Life of Faulkner County.
Parade entry forms can be picked up at the Conway Chamber of Commerce office on Oak Street in Downtown Conway and returned there with a $10 donation to the American Cancer Society.
School groups, fraternities, sororities, churches, businesses are encouraged to enter floats.
The theme is “A Down Home Country Christmas.”
Gift of a lifetime
After reading this column last week, Dr. Gayle Seymour, UCA art professor and assistant dean of the College of Art and Communication, called to offer a ticket on the bus taking 35 art students to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville the next day.
It was a wonderful gift and a fabulous opportunity to see the “art event of the century.”
Because of Gayle’s efforts, we were first in line for the first day (11/11/11) the public was welcome.
After joining in the crowd on Bentonville’s square that officially opened the museum and featured a speech from benefactor Alice Walton and architect Moshe Safdie, we happy band of art lovers trekked to the Museum, just four blocks away.
Professor Seymour gave us the option of strolling along with her and taking advantage of her commentary or striking out on our own.
I did some of both. I “found” paintings and artworks that mesmerized me, especially the George Rickey kinetic sculpture in the courtyard at the museum’s entrance, and “Along the Shore,” a depiction of a translucent wave by William Trost Richards.
You can see and hear Professor Seymour’s commentary on a painting by John Singer Sargent of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife and see the “arms of steel” of the Rickey kinetic sculpture guided by the wind if you go to thecabin.net and check out the videos.
It’s possible to spend four hours in the museum and nature/art trails and not see everything. Especially if you take lunch at Eleven, the restaurant that offers delicious choices at small prices.
Go and Do yourselves a favor. Admission is free. Call (479) 418-5700 to reserve a time.
Thanks, Alice, for our Museum.
(Staff writer Becky Harris can be reached at becky.harris@thecabin.net and 505-1234.)
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Add commentACTS is tonight!
7 p.m., UCA Reynolds Performance Hall. It's free!