THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 12, 1996 TAG: 9609120335
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH SIMPSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 114 lines
Meghann Cole, decked out in a '50s costume and glowing in stage makeup, felt a surge of confidence as she waited for her cue to go onstage Tuesday.
``I'm Meghann,'' she announced from the wings of the Center for the Arts, ``and I'm a star.''
``We're all stars,'' co-star Nathan Hull reminded her.
Every member of the Princess Anne West Building Players can make the same statement. The performers of the production ``Grease'' all have disabilities - ranging from cerebral palsy to Down syndrome to autism - but that hasn't stopped them, or their musical production, from grabbing some national limelight.
On Tuesday, a film crew hired by the national headquarters of Very Special Arts, an international nonprofit arts organization for people with disabilities, trained video cameras and lights on 23 of the performers. The video of two ``Grease'' numbers will be used to promote Very Special Arts across the country and to show other communities the dramatic work of students with disabilities.
The ``Grease'' production is one of just a handful of creative works to be featured in the film.
The Virginia Beach chapter of Very Special Arts first produced ``Grease'' in April, catching the attention of the national group's officials.
``We wanted a component in the video that focused on a community-based, grass-roots production in action,'' said Cynthia Aldridge, creative director for the Very Special Arts' national office in Washington. ``We were surprised by the enthusiasm the video has generated. It's a nice surprise.''
As the performers rocked and rolled, parents and grandparents sat in the audience mouthing the words and going through the gestures. Other parents helped the students, who range in age from 15 to 22 years, put on makeup, and they guided wheelchairs through narrow backstage hallways.
``Let's see some attitude,'' yelled Kathleen McBlair, a Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation employee who directed the play. ``If you forget something, don't think about it, just go right on. Don't forget to smile, and everybody. . . '' she hesitated a second as the performers waited for her usual opening line: ``Break a leg!''
The students began doing the twist, punching their fists into the air, sliding their arms back and combing their hair with '50s style to the tune of ``Greased Lightning.''
The film crew ran the length of the stage, trying to capture the spirit of the cast, all of whom attend Princess Anne High School.
``Let's pull Valerie downstage a little,'' McBlair said. ``Valerie, we need some attitude.''
Twenty-year-old Valerie Norton added some kick to her gestures as her ``shadow'' pushed Valerie's wheelchair to center stage.
Blending into the background of the two production numbers were six ``shadows,'' high school students who dress in black and prompt the performers on their lines and gestures.
``It's been a great experience,'' said Samantha Davis, a Kellam High School senior who ``shadows'' for Tamara Emmons and several other performers. ``I love working with them.''
Twenty-year-old Emmons, who sings, ``Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee'' in the production, is no slouch when it comes to drama. ``I bet I've seen the movie more than 100 times,'' she said after the taping. ``I love to sing and dance.''
The local chapter of Very Special Arts began in 1983 with arts festivals for children and adults with disabilities. In 1995, the group produced its first musical, ``Peter Pan,'' followed this spring by ``Grease.'' The productions are a joint effort among Virginia Beach schools, the city's Parks and Recreation Department and Very Special Arts.
``At first, people were saying, `Come on, you're not serious, what can these kids do?' '' said Shirley Shapiro, a Virginia Beach art teacher and local coordinator of Very Special Arts. ``But the kids are absolutely amazing. They haven't done this production since April and they still remember their lines. Once you get the lines in them, they're there forever.''
The group hopes to cast a production of an original play for the first time in spring 1997.
``I love it,'' said 21-year-old B.J. Lombard, who performed in ``Peter Pan'' and ``Grease.'' ``Sometimes I get a little nervous, but then I just concentrate on what I'm doing.''
His 15-year-old sister, Amanda Lombard, is a shadow, and she says she enjoys the dramatic work as much as her older brother. Many of the shadows are siblings of the performers, friends of siblings, or drama enthusiasts.
``At first I didn't want to do it,'' said Dawn Adams, a shadow who recently graduated from Tallwood High School. ``I felt awkward at first, but then I realized I needed to accept that they could do it. And then I realized they were having as much fun as I was.''
Besides the pure enjoyment of acting, the students have gained skills from the productions. ``They're learning how to follow directions, how to relate to other people,'' Shapiro said.
Parents have watched their children blossom during rehearsals and performances. ``It's been great for Valerie,'' said Nancy Norton, Valerie's mom. ``She loves being with the other kids. Instead of sitting at home, she's performing.''
For the Princess Anne West Building Players, Tuesday's taping of ``Grease'' was proof that their hard work in the spring paid off.
``It's like being live on TV,'' said Meghann after a morning of shooting. ``I love it!'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
DISABILITIES DON'T DIM THESE STARS
Tamara Emmons, 20, front, plays Rizzo in a performance of ``Grease''
by the Princess Anne West Building Players, a group of Princess Anne
High School students with disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy
to autism. Behind her is Samantha Davis, 17, a ``shadow'' who helps
her remember her lines.
VICKI CRONIS
The Virginian-Pilot photos
Nineteen-year-old Nathan Hull gets his makeup before taking the
stage.
VICKI CRONIS
The Virginian-Pilot
Seventeen-year-old Jennifer Kepler, who acted as a ``shadow,'' gets
a hug from some of her fellow performers. The musical was taped by
Very Special Arts for a video that will be used to promote the
organization across the country. by CNB