STARS
A theater program for people with special needs!
Theater is for everyone! The mission of STARS is to empower people with special needs to get on stage and shine. Through singing, dancing, and acting, our actors-to-be learn about the theater, the world, and themselves. The founders of STARS believe that theater can be applied to all ages and all abilities and want to provide a safe and encouraging environment to meet each need. Having special needs programming allows us to customize class settings and instruction to specific groups, which maximizes accessibility, fun, and therapeutic benefit. The STARS program is open to participants ages 12 and up.
The program is designed around an 8 week course, with seven sessions revolving around skill building. The final session is a “little production” for families and friends to attend. The sessions will be led by trained theater professionals from the Brunswick Little Theatre. Professionals with backgrounds in special needs will also be a part of this program.
The program runs April 14- May 19, with the culmination being a “little production” on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. Sessions will begin at 5:30 pm at Brunswick Little Theatre on 8068 River Road, Building 2B. The cost of the program will be $60.00 per participant.
On Tuesday, March 17th, we will hold an “open house” at the Brunswick Little Theatre for interested participants and their families. It will be held at 5:30 pm. Anyone interested should attend this open house. Light refreshments will be served, and additional information will be given. The following week, on Tuesday, March 24, we will hold individual meetings with perspective participants and their families.
For more information, please contact Anita Dwyer at Boiling Spring Lakes Parks and Recreation at 910-363-0018 or adwyer@cityofbsl.org.
Founders’ Bios
Steve Goodwin, Special Populations Coordinator / Local Coordinator for Special Olympics Brunswick County
Master of Arts in Outdoor/Adventure Physical Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Leisure Studies from East Carolina University. Steve coordinates all programs within Brunswick County Parks& Recreation’s Special
Populations Division. This includes serving as the Local Coordinator for Special
Olympics Brunswick County. In addition to Special Olympics, the Special Population’s
Division offers therapeutic programs for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities.
These therapeutic programs include aquatics, horseback riding, music, dance, art and
outdoor recreation. Steve has lived in Brunswick County since 2006 and worked with Parks & Recreation since August of 2007. Steve resides in Leland with his wife Sara and 6 year old son,
Fisher. When not working, Steve enjoys hunting, fishing, kayaking and surfing, as well
as coaching baseball for his son’s Dixie Youth team in Leland.
Sue MacCallum, President, Brunswick Little Theatre
Sue earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Theater from USC, Columbia, SC. She is certified as Theater and Speech teacher in Secondary Education. Sue has taught and directed theater since college graduation. Her professional career has centered on work with special needs groups, in particular, seniors in long-term care communities. Sue founded the Winding River Players Theater Group in 2003. She has served as President of the Performing Arts Division for the Brunswick Arts Council and remains a member of the Board. She is President of Brunswick Little Theatre and will serve as President of the organization in January 2015. Sue is passionate about offering opportunities for special needs children and adults to participate in theater. Those opportunities include acting, singing, dancing and performing. At the same time, participants learn the basics of theater performance, increase self-confidence, self-esteem and enjoy new friendships. Our Pilot program will end with a performance on stage at Brunswick Little Theatre. Sue resides in Bolivia, NC with her husband Jim and adult son, Chris. Their two other adult children live and work in Charleston, WV. Jim and Sue attend St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Southport where Sue sings in the choir. Jim and Sue are both active members of Rotary Clubs in Brunswick County. Sue also sings in Cape Fear Carolers, a group that has a repertoire including madrigals and love songs.
Anita Dwyer, Recreation Program Manager, Boiling Spring Lakes Parks and Recreation
Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies from UNC- Chapel Hill, with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation/ Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Anita currently plans and implements all children and youth programs for BSL Parks and Recreation. Anita has over 16 years of programming experience with children and adults, both with and without disabilities. She has served in capacities of a Special Education teacher, recreation therapist for children with histories of abuse and neglect, and spent over 8 years with Special Olympics NC. Anita’s passion is improving the quality of life of those living with a disability and providing advocacy for people and their families whose lives have been affected by disabilities or other hardships. Anita resides in Wilmington NC with her husband, Sean and 11 year old daughter, Gracyn. When not working, Anita enjoys staying physically fit through running marathons, practicing yoga, as well as enjoying outdoor activities with her family, such as camping, hiking, and canoeing.
