InterACT NOLA musical displays multiple talents

    
     Terri Hingle was able to fulfill a life-long dream this year. As an Arc of New Orleans day center participant, she danced and sang her heart out as a go-go dancer in the musical “It’s About Time.”      “My dream is the play,” said Hingle, 46, whose performance was her second with Arc’s InterACT NOLA, a new theater troupe open to participants with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. “I like to be in the theater to have fun.”
    “It was awesome,” said fellow actor Paige Cohn, 22, who also portrayed a go-go dancer. “My friend didn’t know I could do it.”
    “That show changed my life,” said Lentoya Brooks, 27, who was a cavewoman in the production.
   
  The show did more than uplift actors.
    “It’s a professional show that touches your heart and your mind,” Valerie St. Amant, associate director of individual options at Arc of Greater New Orleans and InterACT NOLA creator. “People’s attitudes of people with disabilities took an about-face after they saw the show. What audiences get is community theater at its best.”

Third production in fall 2014
    St. Amant, a veteran of local community theater who has 30 years’ experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, realized that no performing arts outlet existed for Arc participants, although there were many work and volunteer opportunities as well as a new health initiative available to them through Arc.
    She wanted to share her love of theater with her Arc friends, knowing many would thrive in a performing arts atmosphere. After doing some research, St. Amant discovered an InterACT troupe in Minneapolis. Its director Jeanne Calvit – originally from Baton Rouge – agreed to let St. Amant create InterACT NOLA in 2012.
    St. Amant believes it’s the first adult, community theater troupe for individuals with mental disabilities in this area.
    “The troupe functions by learning about theater, improv and character development and learning skills in the performing arts,” St. Amant said.
    Its first show, “Funky Times at the Blue Door Shack,” in 2012 was simple. St. Amant said everyone was on stage for the entire production, and there were no costume changes.
    This year, 36 participants from Arc’s locations in Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard parishes took part. There were costumes, set changes and eight musical numbers. Calvit and music director Aaron Gabriel from Minneapolis spent a week in town assisting with tips during rehearsals.
    St. Amant also solicited help from local theater professionals she knew for acting tips, music and scriptwriting and set construction. For example, professional actor/director Scott Sauber designed the lighting; Jennifer Pagan directed; and Jeremy Phipps was musical director of this year’s production.
    “’It’s About Time’ took a lot more coordination, and there was a script that the group (Arc members) developed out of improv sessions and ideas people brought up,” St. Amant said. Performances were held at Nunez Community College, Arc’s Community Center in Chalmette, Dillard University and St. Joseph’s Abbey. Actors received a certificate of achievement and T-shirt for their efforts and were recognized at Arc of Greater New Orleans’ annual luncheon.
    “It’s a progressive movement getting people with and without disabilities involved in professional theater,” she said. “It was a professional production.”
    St. Amant’s goals for next year involve opening parts to nondisabled actors for a more inclusive creative atmosphere, finding a vocal coach and compensating all actors.
    “$1,000 would be good,” Hingle joked. 
    “I was a semi-lead in ‘Footloose’ and only got $500,” St. Amant retorted. “We have to start slow.”
    Arc recently recognized St. Amant as “professional of the year” for her work establishing InterACT NOLA. The troupe has gained so much popularity among Arc participants that auditions may have to be held for the next production.
    St. Amant, who admittedly calls herself a chorus girl, doesn’t like to take credit for the troupe’s success. She said it’s the hidden talents of the actors that come alive and shine in productions.
    “This project totally exceeded any of my expectations,” she said. “I can only predict it will grow in complexity next year.”
    She believes there is a future in community theatre for some of her Arc actors.
    “The growth with InterACT could open up doors for disabled people to be involved in other public theater,” she said. “Some of the actors are just that good.”
    Christine Bordelon can be reached at cbordelon@clarion herald.org.