People’s Arc of Suffolk hosts Spring Showcase featuring ‘Oliver!’ production

People’s Arc of Suffolk hosted its first-ever Spring Showcase, featuring a cast made up entirely of Long Islanders with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a modified production of the musical “Oliver!” 

The performance was presented before a crowd of more than 100 supportive family and friends on Friday, May 30 at the newly opened People’s Arc of Suffolk Performing Arts Center in Northport. 

The event marked the culmination of weeks of hard work by a cast of about 20 performers, and also featured original art displays, music performances, and highlights from the organization’s innovative Arc TV program.

“It was so nerve-wracking. But it was so special. You know, I dreamed of this for so long since I was a kid — and to see it all come true, man, it’s special,” said Francisco Escandon, one of the featured cast members. “This is my dream, to be an actor. I’m not in it for millions of dollars or for trophies. I’m in it to act — to be an actor.”

Set in partnership with the Spirit of Huntington Art Center, the May 30 event welcomed family, friends, and community members for a heartwarming afternoon of performance and celebration.

The production included select scenes and songs from the classic musical, adapted to highlight the strengths and talents of the performers. 

“Their confidence is soaring, their relationships are building — not just in the community but with each other,” said Marisa Arbutina, vice president of adult day services at People’s Arc. “They’ve worked so hard. This is their end result. You can see it in their faces. Their smiles say it all.”

The People’s Arc opened their Performing Arts Center at 51 Scudder Avenue in Northport in October of last year. The center’s services aim to integrate the arts into the lives of people with disabilities, promoting inclusion and self-expression through programs such as TheatreAbility, MusicAbility, DanceAbility, and ARC TV.