Theatre in Motion and The Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary

In joyous celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Americans with Disabilities Act, a worldwide, digital arts festival is being hosted by VSA International, a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Showcased will be orchestral, music videos produced and directed by Leslie Fanelli, Artistic Director and Founder of Theatre in Motion, with offices in Union County, New Jersey, and New York City. This award-winning, repertory company features artists with and without disabilities in original productions. The music videos, which emanate from a play by Ms. Fanelli, entitled The Promise of Central Park, comprise well-researched, historical, time-travel fantasy. The Promise of Central Park has played with much acclaim throughout New Jersey and New York, including multiple times in Central Park.

The featured music videos are “Back in 1873 with American Sign Language” and “Song of the Land with American Sign Language.” New Providence resident, William Dembaugh (former lead tenor of the New York City Opera) sings the role of “Frederick Law Olmsted,” the genius “Father of American Landscape Architecture,” who designed Central Park and many other, breathtaking panoramas throughout the country and in Canada. Broadway’s Gerald Small is the sign interpreter. The videos tell the fascinating tale of Olmsted, America’s Great Park-Maker, and the legacy of his landscapes, with grateful thanks to his landscape partner, Calvert Vaux.

The Global Digital Arts Festival, “40 Days Around the World,” also celebrates the 40th anniversary of VSA, the International Organization on Arts and Disability, founded by Jean Kennedy Smith.

Below are the links to Theatre in Motion’s winning videos:

“Song of the Land with American Sign Language”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXUGU3EpGwc

“Back in 1873 with American Sign Language”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKjtPzH2Ni4