LENOX, Mass.—Community Access to the Arts (CATA) presents its Annual Performance "The Ripple Effect" on May 9 and May 10 at Shakespeare & Company's Tina Packer Playhouse in Lenox.

 

CATA's Annual Performance is the culmination of hundreds of performing arts workshops that serve 1,300 people with disabilities across Berkshire and Columbia counties. CATA artists explore new interests and build skills in CATA arts programs throughout the year, then share their creativity with the community in this dynamic event.

 

Artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities have shaped every aspect of the show, with more than 100 CATA artists from across the Berkshires contributing to the performance. CATA artists created original performance pieces in dance, theater, music, juggling, comedy, and more—composing original songs, devising choreography, and crafting scripts and theater scenes. Behind the scenes, CATA artists built the set, made the costumes, and designed the sound and lighting.

 

The CATA Annual Performance weekend begins with a Gala evening on Saturday May 9, at 5 p.m., with a cocktail reception, followed by a performance, then dinner and dancing. The CATA Gala is co-chaired by Liz and Tom Costley and Mary Pope Osborne & Will Osborne. Funds raised at the CATA Gala support CATA's year-round arts programs for 1,300 children, teens, and adults with disabilities. For more information, call CATA at (413) 528-5485.

 

A family-friendly Matinee Performance takes place on Sunday, May 10, at 1 p.m., followed by a free Cast & Community Party. Matinee tickets are available through the Shakespeare & Company box office. Order online at Shakespeare.org or call the box office at (413) 637-3353.

 

"All year, CATA artists have been pouring their artistic talents into preparations for the CATA Annual Performance," says Margaret Keller, CATA Executive Director. "The theme of this year's performance, The Ripple Effect, invites audiences to explore how every act of creativity can spark change. When artists with disabilities participate in CATA programs, the impact ripples out: They tap into their talents, and their worlds expand, with new friends and new possibilities. Families see new dimensions in their loved ones. Teachers discover new talents in their students. And our entire community grows more connected as we witness the artistry of our neighbors."

 

In the lead-up to the show, 300 students from local public schools will attend a special Dress Rehearsal of the CATA Annual Performance. The students include children and teens in special education programs who participate in CATA's weekly programs in local schools, as well as the entire 6th grade class from W.E.B. Du Bois Middle School. The performance is a powerful experience for local students: Teens in special education programs see people like themselves taking center stage, and students in traditional classrooms learn about the talents of people with disabilities.

 

CATA has expanded accessibility accommodations to ensure everyone can access and enjoy the performance: ASL interpretation, open captioning, assistive listening devices, and braille, large print, and Spanish language programs will be available, as well as live audio description for patrons who are blind or low vision. CATA is the first organization in the Berkshires to provide audio description at performances.