When you’re driving and see a detour sign, you know you may have to go out of your way a bit, maybe go over a few bumps and perhaps take a little longer than you anticipated. But you still arrive at your destination. And sometimes you find remarkable surprises along
the way.
The same might be said of Detour Company Theatre, founded in 2000, which provides theater arts programming for adults with physical and mental challenges. The road may be a little harder and a little longer, but for those involved, it is worth all the extra time and energy – and the journey couldn’t be more beautiful or satisfying.
Joyce Lefco is the board president of this nonprofit and the proud parent of Jessie, one of the company’s actors. “When Jessie was 3 and had already been diagnosed as having special needs, I noticed she loved watching ‘Mary Poppins,’ over and over again. Then it was ‘Wizard of Oz.’ She enjoyed moving to the music and was fascinated by the stories. She loved all musicals, related to them and learned from them.”
The Lefco family was living in Milwaukee, but they would visit the Valley regularly. Joyce had attended the University of Arizona and always loved the area. She and her husband, Bruce, learned of an integrated program available for Jessie at Chaparral High School. They were also impressed with the offerings from the city of Scottsdale and the Council for Jews with Special Needs in the Valley. They wanted Jessie to have opportunities that were not available in Milwaukee, and Bruce was able to make arrangements with his company to commute on a regular basis. The family moved to Scottsdale in 2001.
Through an adapted recreation after-school program, Jessie went to see a performance of Detour Company Theatre. Jessie was hooked – she wanted to do that too! Jessie had to wait until she was 21, the age when young people “age out” of specialized programs for children, since Detour is for adults. Jessie is now 27 and has participated in Detour shows each year.
Theater is a collaborative art. It depends on casts and crews coming together as a family to achieve its outcome. And that’s what Detour is all about: being as inclusive as possible. In fact, Joyce is reluctant to list the types of disabilities the actors have. “We emphasize abilities,” she explains. “We allow and encourage our actors to utilize their strengths and talents to make our shows wonderful experiences for the actors and audiences alike. We become a family working together for a common goal.”
Joyce helps the organization to raise awareness and funding. Bruce is one of the vice presidents as well as Detour webmaster. The family belongs to Congregation Beth Israel. Joyce is a past president of the National Council of Jewish Women in Milwaukee, and they are both past board members of the Council for Jews with Special Needs.
Detour recently partnered with the education department of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, enabling them to produce their shows in the lovely Virginia G. Piper Theater. Joyce sings the praises of Detour’s founder, a multitalented woman named Sam. Sam has a master’s degree in theater from Arizona State University and is the former coordinator of the theater arts program at Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, as well as a certified ASL interpreter for many theater companies. She started the company in 2000 with a few actors and assistants. More than 25 shows later she is still directing and inspiring, but now the shows include 40 to 45 actors at a time.
Working alongside the actors are “coaches,” volunteers from the community who work one-on-one to assist and guide the actors on stage as needed. They are costumed as part of the show and add vocal support during the big musical numbers. Miki Safadi, administrator for Or Adam Congregation, has been a coach for four years. After seeing the company’s performance of “Seussical,” Miki says, “I was amazed and enchanted by their stagecraft. I was working for STARS, where many of the actors either attend the day treatment program or work in the work center. I’m continually amazed at the high caliber of acting Sam, the other directors, musicians and coaches draw out of people usually dismissed as ‘disabled.’ I treasure keeping up my relationships with the actors and being part of this wondrous company. There is no charge to attend Detour performances, though donations are welcome. Chick Arnold is a local attorney whose practice encompasses areas of mental health and disabled adults. “I have four clients who perform with Detour. I don’t miss a performance. It’s truly amazing what they do, and I feel enriched for attending,” he says. His office put together a group of 20 to see Detour’s January presentation of “Hairspray.”
Jessie, who performed in “Hairspray,” loves all Broadway musicals and can sing along with them all. She really enjoyed singing “Our Sister Ariel” in “The Little
Mermaid,” but calls “South Pacific” her favorite show “because of the costumes!”
The company invites the community to take a little detour with them along the road to a magical, theatrical ending!
