Today was a life-changing day; for me and for the 32 people in the C-R Center Stars performance of “Dream” at the Cohoes Music Hall. When a life-changing event comes your way, I’ve found it best to revel in it, to let the emotions sweep you away, cherish what comes your way. And that’s what you can see on all the faces of the performers – pure pleasure, happiness and delight.
C-R Center Stars is this incredible joint venture between C-R Productions, the management and production company at the Music Hall and Center for Disability Services made possible through a Pepsi Refresh grant last year. The performing arts have long been a way to build a sense of community, but in this troupe of performers, all with some type of disability, it becomes something more, something alive, something you can almost touch.
So what is it that happened today, up on that stage? The best I can do to explain is that I, along with a full house of family and friends, had the rare opportunity to see 32 people experiencing a personal dream come true. The life force, the energy, the joy radiating from that stage will be with me for a long time to come.
“Dream”, conceived, choreographed and directed by Tony Rivera, Managing Director of the Music Hall, will be performed one more time on Friday, July 29th at 7 PM. Give yourself the gift of hope and inspiration – go see it!
Please take a moment to view this video interview by Benita Zahn, WNYT, Channel 13. It will give you more of an insight into the lives and dreams of the performers. Thanks Benita.
Now it’s time for me to figure out what I can do with this life-changing experience.
A Noble Purpose 