Arts for All to Celebrate 35 Years

By Liz Tenney Jarvis

In celebration of their 35th Anniversary, Arts For All-Loudoun will revive the musical The Wizard of Oz. This is the same show that started decades of theatrical productions by the organization featuring individuals with disabilities. 

It was brought to Loudoun in 1989 after Cindy Welsh saw a presentation of Very Special Arts, sponsored by the Kennedy Foundation. Welsh, then Recreation Supervisor for Loudoun’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services, immediately said to herself, “I’m going to start this program in Loudoun County.”

Welsh says that coincidentally at around the same time, the County’s Special Needs Summer Camp was coming to a close. They had planned for the production of The Wizard of Oz at the end of camp and Very Special Arts took off from there. 

Welsh’s daughter, Lauren, was cast in the show as the little dog Toto with Welsh saying, “I shadowed her with the supportive role of ‘barking’.” In a full circle moment, Lauren will be part of the cast in this year’s The Wizard of Oz. Welsh states that in those early days, “we soon realized that we needed an individual that would be in charge of the growth of VSA and take it to the next level, and I knew no one but Alice Power would fit the job.”

VSA’s The Wizard of Oz is described by Alice Power as, “the first production done with so little beyond dreams!” Power says there was no money so the costumes, set and production know-how were based just on the drive to do the best they could. 

“I had been doing some children’s theatre at the community center [Purcellville] so she [Welsh] convinced me I could pull it off. We settled on The Wizard of Oz because it was everyone’s favorite story!” exclaims Power.  

According to Power, everyone in the cast had some kind of challenge but from the very beginning there were always supportive people to make sure that all could participate. “I was flying by the seat of my pants but there was such a beautiful spirit about the show that it could not help but be successful,” said Power.  

Welsh reflects on 35 years saying, “VSA became so important to so many parents. The smiles and fun that all the participants had made everything possible for the desire to grow. Seeing the cast perform on stage made all the hard work worthwhile as the love, kindness and support glowed in each and every actor/actress and the smiles on their faces couldn’t have been replaced.” 

Welsh sums up her sentiments by expressing that bringing VSA to Loudoun County was one of the best things that ever happened to enhance the lives of Individuals with Disabilities in Loudoun.

Kellie Goossens, Arts For All Programming Specialist II, and volunteer Coordinator has been involved with VSA/AFA for the past 19 years. “I have seen lives change by being a part of this organization. This is not just a place for individuals with disabilities to spend time in an inclusive environment – it’s much more,” said Goossens.  

She states that throughout AFA’s 35 years and to this day, friendships are made while supporting each other through teamwork on stage, self-confidence is boosted, and calculated risks are taken by the Artistic Team to challenge their actors to act, sing and dance more, and try something new, in a safe, friendly environment. Goossens’ daughter, Amanda Barr, was also involved over the years and she knew that theatre was the place for her.

Barr’s journey with VSA/AFA reflects many similar stories as told by Loudoun families participating in the non-profit’s 35-year history. Barr started 18 years ago when she was 10 years old. She said she continued to grow with the program and after performing for a few years, she moved on to be part of the backstage crew and then stage manager for Charlotte’s Web and Winnie The Pooh. 

Involvement in the program is continuous for many participants and familiar cast members will appear year after year. Barr decided to further her stage experiences by attending Radford University and graduating in 2018 with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Theatre. Shortly thereafter, Barr started directing for the program and with the upcoming The Wizard of Oz, she is now on her fourth show. 

Barr said, “The organization is so incredibly near and dear to my heart as it opened my eyes to so much love and understanding. As someone who is diagnosed and lives with ADHD, which is often overlooked and not taken seriously, AFA is an incredibly safe space and I strive to create that space for all of our participants. The arts is beyond important and the participants that I’ve watched grow over the many years brings me so much joy and warmth.”

The show will run from March 8-17at the Franklin Parks Art Center in Purcellville. For more information go to artsforallloudoun.org.