Integrated Troupe Of Actors Both With And Without Disabilities To Perform In Union County This Weekend

submitted by Community Access Unlimited

The CAU Community Players, a very special troupe of actors both with and without disabilities, will be performing “Shrek the Musical Jr.” Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 26-28 at Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield. Tickets are available online at www.caunj.org.

The CAU Community Players, the first of its kind in Union County, was formed in 2012 to allow CAU members with developmental disabilities to engage in the pleasures of acting, singing and dancing side-by-side with people from the wider community and to be judged for their talents rather than disabilities. This year’s cast of 80 includes members of the community from as far away as Essex, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic and Hunterdon counties.

“Shrek the Musical, Jr.” is based on DreamWorks Animation film, “Shrek,” and is the story of the lovable ogre finding his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits who’ve been cast off by Lord Farquaad. Shrek sets off to face Lord Farquaad and is given the task of rescuing Princess Fiona from the dragon-guarded tower to regain his swamp. Romance ensues. As with previous productions of the CAU Community Players, the show carries a massage of inclusion, acceptance and believing in oneself.

Show times for Shrek the Musical, Jr.” are 7:30 p.m. June 26 and 27 and 2:00 p.m. June 28. Tickets are $10 and are available by visiting www.caunj.org and going to the News section on the home page, or by emailing Cara Pavia, CAU coordinator of marketing and fundraising, at cpavia@caunj.org. Donations also are welcome and can be made by contacting Pavia.

CAU is a statewide nonprofit providing support programs and services to more than 6,000 adults with disabilities as well as youth served under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to enable them to live independently in the community, in areas including vocational and life-skills training, education, advocacy and recreation and in-home services.

About CAU:

Community Access Unlimited (CAU), celebrating its 36th year of success in 2015, supports people with special needs in achieving real lives in the community. CAU provides support and gives a voice to adults and youth who traditionally have little support and no voice in society. CAU helps people with housing, life skills, employment, money management, socialization and civic activities. CAU also supports opportunities for advocacy through training in assertiveness, decision-making and civil rights. CAU serves more than 6,000 individuals each year. For more information about CAU and its services, contact us at 908.354.3040 or www.caunj.org, or by mail at 80 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202.