EXCEPTIONAL THEATER COMPANY
BEHIND THE CURTAIN
NOW SHOWING
The mission of the Exceptional Theater Company is to energize and motivate children, teens, adults, and seniors with disabilities, and their families to achieve creative expression through involvement in the arts and community service, utilizing the power of theater.
The organization’s purpose is to work toward fulfillment of the vision of a fully inclusive accessible program that meets artistic needs of the special needs community.
Through its work, ETC develops and promotes independence, dignity, and self-respect in order to create, and develop more fulfilling lives.
EXCEPTIONAL THEATER COMPANY
ACT I
In 1991, special education teacher Nanette Mikes came up with the idea to start a drama class for young adults with special needs, so that they would have a place to socialize after they graduated. The Quest Center in Hollywood was excited about the idea and agreed to house the 3-hour evening class. “The Drama Class for Adults with Special Needs” began with a mere 12 students that met once a week.
TAKING A LEADING ROLE
Each individual class provides a setting for inclusion with the involvment of members of the community as volunteers, mostly high school students, receiving community service hours.
The volunteers, also known as Shadows, work with the special needs students on and off the stage. The class teaches techniques in improvisation, movement and music. With easy, fun exercises, the special needs actor has the opportunity to express ideas and feelings.
The program enhances verbal skills, improves movement, builds self-confidence, and advances socialization while stimulating free thinking. The actors and volunteers/shadows pick the themes and write the scripts for the performance.
Most of our classes meet once a week for a minimum of one hour. The size of the class can vary; actors of all ages are welcome.
CASTING CHARACTERS
The ETC drama class is designed to teach theatre to persons with physical and intellectual challenges. ETC creates opportunities for personal growth by teaching theatrical skills of expression.
SHOWTIME!
As the years passed, the class grew in size. ETC has also been acknowledged by the Very Special Arts (VSA) of Florida as an innovative theater arts program for persons with disabilities and also by the School Enrichment in Arts and Science (SEAS) Program. ETC continues to teach at a Broward County Community School location.
Under the direction of Debbie Lombard, the one class became a program and was renamed the Exceptional Theater Company (ETC) and was established as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. Over the past 19 years, its membership has surged past 200, with 20 classes throughout Florida’s Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, and a summer program in Asheville, North Carolina. The performers, and volunteers usually pick the themes and Write the scripts for their annual performance. In 2010, the ETC Actors performed the full length play “Cinderella” for an audience of over 600 people — and everyone was thrilled! Most of the classes meet once a week for a minimum of one hour.
The Exceptional Theatre Company continues to grow and make a difference, one star at a time.
OUR TRULY AMAZING PARTNERS
We sincerely appreciates the support of its generous sponsors:
