It's All in the PHAMALY

[Guest guest]

It's All in the PHAMALY

http://www.disaboom.com/arts/its-all-in-the-phamaly

In 1989, a group of former students of the Boettcher School for the Disabled in

Denver, Colorado, became irritated with the lack of theatrical opportunities for

those with disabilities and decided to do something about it. The five friends

founded the Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League (PHAMALY).

" They had done theater the whole time they were in school and just loved the

arts, and then they got out of school and they weren't being cast—there were

just no opportunities open for them, " says PHAMALY Executive Director

Mayner.

After receiving a small grant from the Colorado Council on the Arts, PHAMALY

began working on its first play, and in 1990 the newly founded theatre troupe

was christened, performing the musical Guys and Dolls.

Fast-forward 20 years and 22 plays later, and PHAMALY has become a prestigious

theater company known for its theatrical prowess and commitment to providing

artistic opportunities to actors with disabilities. The group now puts on two

plays a year—one musical and one non-musical—and also performs at various social

engagements and events.

Currently, the organization is run by a full-time staff of two

employees—Executive Director Mayner and Administrative Director Regan

Linton—but uses the services of independent contractors and myriad volunteers to

ensure its success. Another key ingredient is PHAMALY's talented actors.

PHAMALY continues to only cast actors with physical, developmental, or emotional

disabilities in its plays, giving many of its cast members a chance at acting

that they might not have otherwise had. According to Linton, the talent pool at

PHAMLY " spans the gamut, " from first time actors to those with long histories of

involvement in the arts.

Although PHAMALY may have an atypical cast, its actors still go through the

rigors of professional auditioning—and not everyone makes the cut. " It's

challenging, because if you don't step up, you'll never get a role. But you'll

never leave thinking that your disability was what held you back, " says Linton,

who stars in the company's upcoming rendition of Sideshow that opens on June

5th.

PHAMALY's productions continually leave theatre critics and patrons feeling

liberated. Its performances have generated numerous laudatory reviews for their

theatrical power—with many reviewers quick to point out that it's the production

value and not the actors' disabilities that leave audiences mesmerized.

" Audiences will be focused on the actors' talent, not their disabilities. I

can't emphasize the significance of this statement enough, " said North Denver

Tribune writer Craig on, in response to a PHAMALY show. Other viewers

have described PHAMALY performances as " sheer unadulterated magic, " " powerful, "

and " joyous. "

For the company's staff, such lavish praise spreads optimism that actors with

disabilities will soon be more welcomed in other entertainment realms. The

organization now frequently receives casting call information from producers

looking to cast characters with disabilities. " The industry is still changing

more and more and I think that film and television are trying to seek

authenticity when portraying characters with disabilities, " says Linton.

But for PHAMALY, the most important goal has always been creating a positive

environment where those with disabilities can grow creatively. Through the

years, the company has helped build confidence in many of its actors, and once

individuals participate in the PHAMALY experience, they almost always continue

to be a part of the group, which is a tight-knit one.

" Everyone's extremely welcoming, and for many PHAMALY has made their world a

much better place, " Mayner says.

" You know, it's not just a P-family, but it's an F-family as well, " she adds.

For more information about PHAMALY, visit http://phamaly.org.