Celebrating Ability: Acting Without Boundaries

By: Safiya Totesau and Elizabeth Morales-Torez 

Students living with disabilities, ages 6 to 18 took center stage for their junior showcase with Acting Without Boundaries (AWB) for their spring show. Acting Without Boundaries, founded in 2004 by Christine Rouse, is a nonprofit theater organization that transforms lives and builds confidence through inclusive performing arts that celebrate ability. 

This year’s show, ‘The Great Race: The Tale of the Chinese Zodiac” was co-written by music director Maria Ceferatti and student Yehezkiel Widjaja. The idea emerged when Widjaja realized the organization had never performed a play that involved Asian culture. 

Acting Without Boundaries works with 180 people living with physical disabilities from the greater Philadelphia area. Managing Director, Kim Lengel says students carry the skills they build in AWB into their lives, and for some, into Philadelphia’s theater community.  

“Most of our actors, what they discover about themselves and the skills and the excitement and the joy of acting is empowering for their life,” Lengel said. 

This is one of the reasons founder Christine Rouse created Acting Without Boundaries. “I wanted to create my passion for theater while supporting the dreams of young people with physical disabilities,” Rouse said. 

Rouse’s inspiration comes from having participated in a theater program herself and her lived experience with cerebral palsy. This ties into the mission of AWB, building self-esteem and empowering the community of people with physical disabilities through performing arts that champion ability. 

​The impact Rouse has seen directly highlights the mission of AWB. 

“They have better self-esteem and self-confidence,” Rouse said. “They have developed lasting friendships. The program has also had an impact on the larger community. Volunteers learn how to work and learn from the actors, and audience members see the actors in a new light. They see the ability and not the disability.” 

This year’s showcase marked Apollo Garner’s first time with AWB. At six years old, he is the youngest participant. He shares his experience in the following audio story.  

Rouse hopes to see expansion in AWB’s future. “I would love to have our own theater and a residential facility for the actors. I would also love to have programs in different areas in the country.” 

Serving children and adults, Acting Without Boundaries offers a safe space for people with disabilities to learn, thrive, grow, connect and strengthen their abilities through performance.