The Invisible Theatre’s Pastime Players, an award-winning, multi-disciplinary arts education program for mentally and physically challenged students, will present a free performance of “The Me Inside of Me” on Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at Doolen Middle School, 2400 N. Country Club Road.
Pastime Players started as a workshop in 1984. The project is centered at Doolen Middle School in the Tucson Unified School District. The Pastime Players receive instruction twice a week from Invisible Theatre artists.
“I was brought up with a commitment to Jewish values that has influenced every aspect of my life and work. Our Jewish values embrace diversity and this project reflects that in every way,” says IT Managing Artistic Director Susan Claassen, who created Project Pastime. “People say, ‘Oh Suz, you are doing such a mitzvah to work with these young people. I always respond I learn far more from them then they learn from me.’”
“The Me Inside of Me” is an original musical presented each spring to mark the culmination of the students’ instruction in music, drama, and dance.
The touring group of Project Pastime has performed at the American Association of School Administrators Conference in Orlando, Florida in 2001, and in Arizona, at such diverse venues as the state legislature, Raytheon Corporation, The City of Hope’s National Spirit of Life dinner, the Senior Olympics opening ceremonies, the National Association for Handicapped Riders national conference, an art reception at the Flux Gallery in Plaza Palomino, and at the 2013 Gem Show for the National Chinese Jewelry Association. Pastime Players were honored at the 2002 Volunteers of the Year Awards when they received the Southwest Gas Corporation’s “Right from the Start for Children” Award. The award-winning documentary, “Such Good Friends,” chronicling the Pastime Players, premiered at The Loft Cinema in April 2009.
For more information, visit www.invisibletheatre.com or call 882-9721.
