FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Jesters program of the University of Saint Francis welcomes registrations for the 2021-22 year. The program accepts those ages 8 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
The performing arts program will begin Saturday, Sept. 11 and will meet each Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the USF North Campus, 2702 Spring St. Morning activities will include dance/movement, theater/improvisation, storytelling and music (instrumental and voice). Children and adults with IDD are welcome to attend the morning session for a fee of $100. Optional afternoon sessions in visual arts, choir, dance and theater will be offered from 1 to 2 p.m. Only those enrolled in the morning program are eligible to attend the afternoon classes.
The Jesters will meet Saturdays from Sept. 11 through Dec. 4, except for Nov. 27. The program will break for the holidays on Dec. 11, 18, and 25, and Jan. 1. The program will resume Jan. 8 and continue meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays through March 12.
The spring performance will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 12 and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 13 in the USF North Campus auditorium.
The Jesters program will follow USF protocol regarding COVID-19 precautions. At this time, masks are not required, and the program will not require or inquire about COVID-19 vaccinations. For those concerned about meeting in person, a virtual program option will be available.
Registrations will be accepted through Sept. 30. To request registration forms or scholarship forms, contact Molly McGowan in USF Creative Arts at mmcgowan@sf.edu or (260) 399-8064. For further information, contact Jesters Director Allison Ballard at aballard@sf.edu.
Sponsored by the University of Saint Francis since 1978, the Jesters is a performing group of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The Jesters program is made possible with funding provided by the AWS Foundation, the M.E. Raker Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, the James Foundation, Inc., Foellinger Foundation, Stucky Foundation, the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences, College of Arts, Sciences, and Business and College of Adult and Distance Education. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the university’s business and music technology programs while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis campus experience includes 18 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships and is recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution. Approximately 2,200 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.