men are G stadium if the Texans never open it does cross my
mind Channel 2 investigates
tonight after the game.
>> Welcome back
entertainment education, and enrichment for all that is the
motto of the river performing
and visual Arts Center since
its founding in
1996. The program has served
more than 35,000 students with
disabilities and their siblings
KPRC is tonight right has more
on this program in our
Sunday conversation.
Sunday conversation. >> There are a prize and
accessible affordable arts
education for individuals
with disabilities. Ages for 2
adults and their sibling, so we
provide our dance acting and
music classes on site at the
Metropolitan multi-service
Metropolitan multi-service center and this
was fun.
was fun. >> Founded by a woman in 1996.
So when did you guys the turn
of the Stars become involved
with it.
with it. >> Yes Kathy been sucked out of
the river 1996 because her
youngest daughter when she was
3 years old was taken dance
class and no dance school,
a taker. So her mother quite
courageously decided that every
child deserves richness of an
arts education and found the
river with one dance class and
7 little girls and tusk and the river came together starting in
2008. We started collaborating
on one-day workshops twice
a year. We had students with
disabilities in a river who
would partner with countries
school musical theater students
at Tufts and would sing dance and act in a one-day workshop
together is our first workshop
was it’s a Wonderful Life
and after 2 years of working
together and collaborating with
decided to merge emerged in 20
10 and the river as part of
Tut’s
Tut’s education Department.
education Department. >> And Brennan you’re one of
the student for 4. As you call
them into student for farmers
to sell. How do you feel when
you step out on stage.
>> That’s a really good, I feel
like overjoyed in seeing the
audience just makes me feel
really happy inside.
>> How long have you been
involved with
involved with the river.
the river. >> Been involved since I was a
5 or
5 or 6 years old. And I’ve carried
on my theater life ever since
so I was born with a
brain disorder. My God gifted
me with the talent that I have
there like so because like when
I was a be a particular cure.
This voice like saying you’re
gonna make it out the
real world is going to be on
Broadway in the town to one
day.
>> Rated their 50th anniversary friend was the
first disability casting a
principal or at dinner and a
starts to
starts to take shape. And beauty and the
Beast and was passes Jeff
because he was the best young
person for that. So that was
just amazing for him and as
well as everyone.
♪
♪ Supports the work of the river
>> The arts are
vital I think for everyone but
specifically for individuals
with disabilities and at the
Dir under the Stars we believe
the arts are for everyone,
everyone has a voice everyone
has value. Everyone has
something to give how do you
think the river
has helped.
has helped. >> You personally just grow as
a person or be more confident
in yourself.
in yourself. >> I don’t know if it’s the
first time I stepped on stage
at the river.
at the beginning it was kind of
nervous, but there was a sort
of like seen I feel I really
get so how
♪
♪ does it.
does it. >> Feel for.
To be a role model for even
young other students and even
younger ones coming up in
this program.
this program. >> I want is I want to
say like layer Lane from me in
like I want them to brought in
one day and join me one day.
the be in theater with what
is your also Michael amount to
go swimming on brightly after
finishing high school.
>> Eileen this program has
grown so much where would you
see it in the next 10 years or
so.
so. >> So the last 5 years
expanded a program to include
adults the river East only work
with students up to age 19 so
we have
we have adult programs. More recently
we’re partnering with other
high caliber arts programs like
writers in the schools
and use a center for
photography in the spring or
having spoken
having spoken word cost. With whips and we’re
having photography class that
is the 3rd time will be hosting
a talk to the class with
the professional teaching
artists from Isis Center for
photography I see more of those
aren’t collaboration. We see more student led student driven
in terms of.
Them to be involved the
creative teams that we have of
the river also we have a performance troupe and Britain
as part of our performance
treating they perform a
different community events.
So in and around Houston.
I think we’re starting to get
more known, but we would to
take that a national stage.
So that’s definitely hashtag
goals for the next 10 years.
>> Some of the student
performers from the river
including Brennan are
performing in Elf which