ETC's Prelude spotlights unlikely young artists

The six young actors took their places at the front of the classroom, in costume and full makeup. There was Dr. Cow, Alice the Bear, Antwon the Rooster, Steven the Elephant and Sugar Bear.

At Chase Elementary in Northside, the small but mighty class of children aged 6 to 9 with multiple disabilities made Prelude history in December. After a 10-week residency with Ensemble Theatre Company's education outreach associate, Amy King Ruggaber, class members had written and rehearsed a play based on a message they chose. "They just wanted everyone to think about how to play nice with one another," says Ruggaber, who had never before worked with a class that used American Sign Language in its performance.

Their finished work, "At the Playground," drew raves from an audience of peers, teachers and family members. One class member, who is hearing-impaired, insisted on both signing and speaking her lines, quite a feat since that meant learning new vocabulary in two languages.

"They worked so hard," says Ruggaber, who teamed with occupational and physical therapists as well as an interpreter and classroom teachers at Chase.

She averages five residences per year, but does her best to work with as many students as possible. Typical classes include about 18 students, each of whom will have some kind of speaking part in the final performance.

"It's a really extraordinary opportunity to give these kids a voice, says Ruggaber, 28, a North Carolina native who started her tenure at ETC as an acting intern. "The skills that it teaches are so much more than how to be an actor."

Ruggaber shows students that learning comes in many forms and shows teachers creative ways to teach state academic standards.

Successful plays and slashed arts budgets have heightened demand for Prelude, and Ruggaber, ETC's one-woman education and outreach department, oversees four other programs, including the popular Fairy Godmother Program each winter.

Now in her fourth season at ETC, Ruggaber has expanded Prelude to include two classes at Rothenburg Elementary in Over-the-Rhine, one of a growing number of schools with no art or music teacher. The "play lady" wants to do more than generate an appreciation for the arts.  "We want to support these kids," she says.

The performance at Chase proves that each effort makes a difference. Ruggaber marveled as the children, who have been teased and bullied because of their disabilities, acted out a message of compassion and empathy.

"It's strange how small things become powerful, she says.

Do Good:

• Join the Entourage. You can usher at a show, buy juice boxes for the Fairy Godmother or find any number of ways to put your skills to use to promote ETC's education outreach efforts.

• Follow the blog. Ruggaber documents her ETC education outreach work, including Prelude, on this engaging and inspirational blog.

• Be an early bird. Subscribe to the 2011-2012 ETC season before March 15 and you'll not only support education outreach, you'll enjoy wonderful plays and performances.

For Good News Editor: Elissa Yancey (Sonnenberg)