All Aboard the Orient Express at Floata Restaurant

Vancouver, BC March 2007— Did you know there is a little theatre company doing big things for people with disabilities? Since 1985 award-winning Theatre Terrific Society has been producing original theatre productions, featuring the voices of challenged artists who confront notions of who can create great theatre.

On Thursday, March 29, 2007 Theatre Terrific will be staging a gala fundraising dinner- All Aboard the Orient Express- at the Floata Restaurant. The evening starts off with cocktails at 6pm and dinner at 7pm. The event will raise money to support Theatre Terrific's acting classes, original productions and its recently launched professional theatre troupe, The Company.

All Aboard the Orient Express will be hosted by David C. Jones, voted Vancouver's best comic entertainer, and will feature a short speech by Hedy Fry, MP For Vancouver Centre. The evening will feature a live performance by the Theatre Terrific actors, a dance routine performed by Diana David, silent and live auctions and service theme around the Orient Express, a 1930s luxury passenger train.

Theatre Terrific was formed in 1985 and is a Vancouver based not-for-profit theatre company for people with disabilities. Theatre Terrific offers classes for youth and adults and is especially inclusive of those persons with developmental, physical, mental health or other challenges. Students at Theatre Terrific gain team-building and communication skills and gain self-esteem and confidence to empower their lives.

Susanna Uchatius, Theatre Traffics artistic director, notes that Theatre Terrific is unique in the city for the theatre it showcases.

“We bring together a very diverse group of performers and open up channels of communication that have never been opened before. We look at universal human issues from a multi-dimensional point of view, with a group of people you don't normally see on stage.”

Erica Kemp, an actor with Theatre Terrific, believes that her life was dramatically changed after attending theatre classes.

“Theatre Terrific has given me a lot of confidence and self-esteem. It opened the door for me to not be so nervous around other people. It is motivating. I really go for things now,” she said.

Last year Theatre Terrific’s programs benefited 300 students in Vancouver, North Vancouver, New Westminster and Burnaby. Sadly Theatre Terrific was unable to respond to many disability groups interested in a theatre classes, due to a staff shortage and lack of teachers trained in the Theatre Terrific’s inclusive methods. The purpose of this year’s event is to fund raise and meet a goal of $15,000, which will maintain current programs, mentor two new teachers and pay for a part-time staff person, benefiting 100 new students.

The gala dinner will also be the kick-off to the upcoming production doGs. The production doGs is an exploration of the essence of belief; what is it, why is it and where does it originate in the human psyche. The production is being co-directed by Susanna Uchatius and Stephen Drover.

Media Contact:

Nicholas Pavlich
Fuelled Communications
604-833-3887
info@fuelledCommunications.com

Cathy McDonald
Theatre Terrific Society
604 222-4020
info@theatreterrific.ca

Theatre Terrific “Beyond Disability”
4397 West 2nd Ave
Vancouver, BC V6R 1K8