This was our first visit to the Freed Center for the Arts but the last time we were here was almost 10 years ago! The shows has changed so much since then (and so have we). This visit was very different from the last time.
On Friday night and Saturday morning, we made the drive from New Lenox, IL to Lima, OH, got checked into our hotel, and almost immediately met up with one of the teachers from Marimor School. This is a special school for students on the Autism spectrum and those with developmental disabilities. I conducted a 2-hour inservice program for about 20 teachers from this school. On Monday, I worked with the students in the classrooms to demonstrate in practice what we learned in theory.
After the workshop on Saturday, I made my way over to the Freed Center for the Arts where the rest of the guys were. They had already begun unloading the truck and getting things set up. We spent the next several hours setting up the show. Sunday we had two shows – 2pm and 7:30pm. the crew at the Freed Center was great to work with. We had fun while also getting everything done that needed to be done. We left the theatre a little after 7pm to get dinner and some rest for the night.
Sunday morning started around 10am when we returned to the Freed Center to finish up the last of the details before the 2pm performance. With two shows (2pm and 7:30pm), it was good not to have to be here any earlier than this! Both shows went really well. The audiences were great – enthusiastic and energetic!
Today (Monday), I returned to the Marimor School to work with the students. Alan and Chase were with me so we could give more individual attention to the students. It was an amazing day. The kids were totally awesome learning and performing their magic tricks. The teachers and aids were amazed at the way the tricks improved their attention to talk, motor skills, and behavior issues.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT THE FREED CENTER, MARIMOR SCHOOL, and the towns of ADA AND LIMA FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!