New Hampshire

Adults with disabilities star in 'Greased Lightning'

Adults with disabilities put on a show

By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
Published: September 27, 2008

ATKINSON, N.H. — Songs and laughter helped some local adults with disabilities conquer their fear of performing yesterday afternoon.

Life Visions, which provides day support services in Newton, started its theater group in April. Throughout the summer, the eight members worked together to pick out songs from the musical "Grease," choreograph dances to them, learn the words, and make costumes.

Their first public performance of "Greased Lightning" was at the Atkinson Community Center for a crowd of more than 50 friends, family, and disability advocates and experts. The performers lip-synched and danced to a variety of songs from the hit musical.

Lynn Tonkin, the associate director of day services, started the theater group as an improvisational time to help the adults better react to unexpected social situations. The improv philosophy also taught them that there isn't a wrong way to act, she said.

"I learned that you don't need to be perfect," said Kim Raymond, 27, of Salisbury, Mass.

Most of the actors and actresses found it difficult to get up in front of the crowd, but that wasn't apparent to the audience. Especially not when Al Ruiz, 23, of Bradford, Mass., dressed up in a wig and pink slippers to lip-synch "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee."

"It was very hard to get in front of everybody and conquer your fear," Ruiz said, noting that he was now ready to work on another show.

Ruiz played Rizzo because the group wanted their show to be funny — and Ruiz helped deliver the laughs as he danced down the aisle.

"They thought entertaining people meant comedy," Tonkin told the crowd before the whole cast, men in wigs included, came out.

The group concluded their show with "We Go Together," which Tonkin also said came with a lesson for the performers.

"Friends and people we know come and go from our lives," she said. "But they are always connected with you. It's something we all deal with and (the song) was a good way to talk about it."

Bob Pliskin of Salem said the entire Life Visions program teaches invaluable social skills and confidence to its clients, like his son, Steven.

"It's made a huge difference," Pliskin said. "Better than I ever expected. For these people to be able to get up and do this in front of people, it's unbelievable."