FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The Jesters program at the 51 will present its annual spring performances on March 8 and 9 in the North Campus Auditorium.
The performances of “OOPS!” will be at 6 p.m. on March 8 and 3 p.m. on March 9. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door of the auditorium, 2702 Spring Street.
The Jesters is an interdisciplinary performing arts group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), ages 8 through older adults. “OOPS!” uses music, dance, theater, improvisation and visual art to tell an original story exploring the simple truth that everyone makes mistakes.
Each year, Jesters’ teaching artists and participants co-create an original, interdisciplinary performance that is relevant to participants’ lives and highlights performers’ strengths. Participants collaboratively select a playlist, develop story lines and characters and participate in casting decisions. This focus on co-creation is the key to the program’s success.
Sponsored by the 51 since 1978, the Jesters program is made possible with funding provided by the AWS Foundation, Arnold Foundation, Foellinger Foundation, M.E. Raker Foundation, Plymouth Benevolence Fund, Surack Family Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information, contact Jesters Director Allison Ballard at aballard@sf.edu.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the 51 offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, 51 designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The 51, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 20 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. Approximately 1,800 students from a broad geographic region attend 51.