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SGTxLA Presents "High School Musical Jr"
In September 2022, Loyola Academy launched a partnership with Special Gifts Theatre (SGT), a not-for-profit organization that provides individuals who possess a wide array of special needs (physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and learning) the opportunity to experience the joy and enrichment that theatre arts can bring. Now in its second year, the SGT x LA Peer Mentor Program continues to give Ramblers the opportunity to work one-on-one with a Special Gifts Theatre buddy in the beautiful McGrath Family Performing Arts Center. Together this spring they put on a magical performance of "High School Musical Jr" on March 2 and 3!
High School Musical Jr follows basketball team captain Troy Bolton and the bookish Gabriella Montez as they upend East High's social hierarchy by auditioning for the school musical. The adapted musical production featured an inclusive cast of Special Gifts Theatre actors with disabilities and Loyola Academy students as peer mentor volunteers.
Prior to the start of the program, Loyola student mentors received disability awareness training with one-on-one coaching and support with skill development in patience, empathy, compassion, leadership, and responsibility. Participating Rambler mentors include: Chelsea Antwi, Mary Balcsik, Sofia Bongiovanni, Mia Chupaila, Nadia Clifford, Karolina Doroszkiewicz, Lily Fitzgerald, Liam Gregg, Sean Gregg, Rose Harlan, Margot Hickey, Delaney Koval, Angela LeBlanc, Alana Livingston, Emily Noguez, Winnie Orth, Keira Paredes, Caroline Petrillo, Emily Plovanich, Lexi Samartzis, Eve Unruh, and Peter Winslow.
The mission of Special Gifts Theatre is to foster self-confidence, social, speech, and language skills in individuals with disabilities using educational and therapeutic techniques with the stage as the platform, integrating creativity and fun. Learn more at https://specialgiftstheatre.org/.
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Prior to the start of the program, Loyola student mentors received disability awareness training with one-on-one coaching and support with skill development in patience, empathy, compassion, leadership, and responsibility. Participating Rambler mentors include: Chelsea Antwi, Mary Balcsik, Sofia Bongiovanni, Mia Chupaila, Nadia Clifford, Karolina Doroszkiewicz, Lily Fitzgerald, Liam Gregg, Sean Gregg, Rose Harlan, Margot Hickey, Delaney Koval, Angela LeBlanc, Alana Livingston, Emily Noguez, Winnie Orth, Keira Paredes, Caroline Petrillo, Emily Plovanich, Lexi Samartzis, Eve Unruh, and Peter Winslow.
The mission of Special Gifts Theatre is to foster self-confidence, social, speech, and language skills in individuals with disabilities using educational and therapeutic techniques with the stage as the platform, integrating creativity and fun. Learn more at https://specialgiftstheatre.org/.
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