Three weeks ago a young man, diagnosed with Selective Mutism, stood on the stage of a theater on 42nd Street and performed in front of an audience loudly, clearly, and with exceptional dignity. He and his ensemble earned a standing ovation, and it was clear that he was proud of what he had accomplished. This is the magic of Opening Act – to empower any teenager to believe that they have the ability to succeed at anything in life.
Two week earlier this same young man had been ready to quit his program because he was so terrified of performing for an audience. He was worried that when he saw an audience he would simply black out and be unable to speak or move. His Teaching Artists encouraged him; having many phone conversations in the days leading up to his final performance and helping him research ways that other people have combated extreme stage fright. His teachers at school expressed how amazed they were that he had even tried Opening Act at all, since he sometimes goes weeks without speaking. Seeing this young man’s journey was extraordinary and meant so much to everyone in our organization.
Watching this young man perform was one of many beautiful moments from Opening Act’s 2013 Student Shows. In a mere 12 weeks, 128 students, from 33 high schools, in 11 after-school programs, performed some of the strongest original plays in Opening Act history. We are so incredibly proud of all of our students, this week of Final Shows is always the highlight of our year. A huge thank you to Variety, the Children’s Charity of New York for everything they do for our organization!