Youngsters break bond of hearing impairments

No Limits acting troupe to present shows in New Brunswick

By dave benjamin

A group of children who strive to overcome their own hearing loss every day will prove that a theater group with which they perform, called No Limits, is an accurate description of their own achievements.

An original play, Timeless Journey, will be performed by No Limits, a theater group consisting of 11 deaf and hard of hearing children, ages 7-13, along with Tony Award actor Ben Harney of Dreamgirls and Peggy Lee Brennan, of the Actor’s Studio, New York City.

Performances of Timeless Journey will take place at the Crossroads Theater, 7 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, on May 20 at 2 p.m. and May 21 at 4 and 6 p.m.

An outreach educational performance will be held on May 19 at 11 a.m. for local schoolchildren and college students studying education. A question and answer period will follow the performance.

"It helps to bridge the gap and break down a lot of the fears," said Eileen Lee Nelson, a Manalapan resident and director of the production. "When the children in the audience ask the performers how they memorized their lines, you know they’ve already forgotten about the hearing loss."

Timeless Journey

, a ride through American history, begins with the ratification of the Declaration of Independence and brings the audience through history to the present.

"It introduces the audience to characters like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and all of the forefathers," Nelson said. "It takes us up through modern times and there is a moral to the story, people who make history are just like you and me."

Nelson added, "Tom Edison, before he had all the great inventions, had many that failed, but he never got discouraged. Eventually, he succeeded."

Nelson said all of the stories are inspirational and have a great message.

There are no limits to the abilities of these young actors as they take their audience through time on an educational and comical trip.

Children who are involved in the program come from Manalapan, Bridgewater, East Brunswick, Jersey City, Basking Ridge, Closter, Clark, Livingston and South Orange. They are taught the importance of hard work and the need to be team players by giving each other support.

The No Limits performers are James Protopapa, Elana Buchalter, Scott Burns, Alexis Cohen, Eric Cohen, Henry Greenfield, T.J. Hacker, Brandon Kohn, Christen Lee Nelson, Angela Philipsheck and Teresa Silva.

Nelson noted that all of the children are hearing impaired. Their losses range from a mild to a profound level of hearing loss and they wear either a hearing aid or a cochlear implant and they have all chosen to be oral. They do not use sign language.

"Children who perform must take an intensive six-week workshop program to prepare themselves for the spring production," the director said. "This is the time where the children learn to take risks, build self-esteem and build long-lasting relationships with other hearing-impaired children."

Nelson said the children are able to excel in motivating and creative surroundings which build confidence.

"The program is so successful because the workshop is such a positive environment and support group," she said. "That’s what it’s all about and the children just rise to the occasion."

After involvement in two New York performances, Nelson said she saw the need to expand the No Limits program into New Jersey.

"As a mother of a hearing-impaired daughter who has been involved with No Limits (in New York) for two years, I have personally seen the growth in her language and her confidence level has gone through the roof," Nelson said. "Christen’s development has inspired me to introduce No Limits to a New Jersey audience. It is so important that families of hearing impaired children know that there is a safe place for their children to expand their horizons."

No Limits was founded in 1996 by Michelle Christie, who is a teacher for the deaf. According to literature from the organization, it is the only theater group in the nation that meets the needs of deaf children learning to speak.

Based in Los Angeles, No Limits has received numerous accolades and awards, among them, Parents Magazine award for the "Best Arts Program in the Country" out of 1,100 nominees, "The Service to Mankind" 1998-99 award given by the Sertoma Organization and a "Special Recognition Award" from the California Educators for the Deaf.

According to Nelson, Christie was honored on the Oprah Winfrey show on a segment called Remembering Your Spirit.

"Oprah invited her to talk about how it all started in Los Angeles and how (No Limits) became a national company," said Nelson. "She brought the children to be on the program as well."

Nelson said the Remembering Your Spirit segment will air sometime during the week of May 15. She recalls that Christie’s goal was to bring the production company to a national level.

Christie told Greater Media Newspapers, "The kids are absolutely inspiring and delightful to watch on stage. I’m so very proud of each and every one of them."

"We are pleased to have the No Limits company with us," said Andre Robinson, executive producer of Crossroads Theater. "It enables us to reach a community that we don’t normally serve and that’s a big plus for us. It also creates a very valuable partner, the deaf community, in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area."

Robinson said the young performers are wonderful and very talented.

"We’re looking forward to a really great show," he said.

Nelson added that she wants to make people aware that, except for the hearing loss, deaf children have the same abilities as other children.

"They’re smart. They’re funny and they have so much to give," she said. "They’re kids just like anybody else."

Tickets for the performances are $20 and $25; children under 13 are half price. For ticket information or additional information about the New Jersey No Limits program call (732) 972-8874.