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Those are the three favorite words of the performers of Beyond the Evening Star Theater, a group of extraordinary young people who entertain audiences despite their own challenges.
The singers and dancers in this troupe, ranging in age from 8 to 31, have one thing in common: a developmental disability. Most have Down syndrome. A few others have some level of autism.
BEST Network, as it’s known, was the brainchild of Marlene Wagnon, whose daughter Audrey has Down syndrome. Audrey always wanted to act, sing and dance, but Marlene couldn’t find any outlets for young would-be performers with disabilities.
“Once they’re out of school … there’s really no place for these kids to go,” says Wagnon, mother of seven. But she’s a believer in the power of performing arts to help these special-needs kids and young people learn life skills and allow them to express their talents and desires.
“Everyone deserves opportunities to try anything they want to achieve,” Wagnon says.
So, taking matters into her own hands, she formed the BEST Network in 2002, offering classes out of her Overland Park home.
“That was the best day of my whole life,” says Audrey, 31. “I told my mom what I wanted to do, and she did it.”
The group’s mission is to create communities of kindness and inclusion through the performing arts, integrating people with and without disabilities, to educate, entertain and break down social barriers. And the kids work hard at it.
‘Reverse inclusion’
Wagnon converted her suburban basement into a disability-accessible stage, complete with lights, curtains and sound system. This is where her performers practice and practice for the many shows they do around the metropolitan area. Down here also are a kitchen where the young people prepare lunch and a space for socializing with one another.
During the day Wagnon runs a program called ARTS: Arts Reinforcing Transition Skills (she likes acronyms). Several of her performers are in this program, including Audrey and Lena Middleton, 22, who has cerebral palsy. Activities include teaching life skills and performance practice — singing, dancing and learning interpretive sign language to music.
The performers learn music from CDs and sing karaoke-style. Volunteers, including high school dance team members and even professional choreographers, teach dancing. Classes are held three evenings a week with kids of varying ages and abilities. Wagnon charges a small fee to cover administrative costs for the classes.
“We also include typical people onstage,” says Wagnon, defining “typical” as people without disabilities. “We call it reverse inclusion.”
Six of these typical teens have joined the troupe and are referred to as BEST BUDDs (Believers Undaunted by Developmental Disabilities). They help the BEST performers rehearse and socialize with them.
It’s about friends
Wagnon’s troupe has entertained at schools, Down Syndrome Buddy Walks and the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. Members have also performed with the Jellybean Conspiracy, a theater group that teaches about disabilities.
And it’s not just about singing and dancing. Wagnon weaves other messages in as well: the importance of being positive, being kind to one another, supporting friends regardless of their disabilities.
“We love each other and trust each other,” says Jennifer Kubler, 22, with a big smile on her face. “We treat each other nicely … and I love myself, and that makes me feel good.”
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