FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Jesters program of the University of Saint Francis will present its spring performance, “All in Awe,” on March 12 and 13 at the USF North Campus Auditorium, 2702 Spring St.
Performances begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 12 and 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 13. Tickets for the annual spring event are $10 and will be available at the door or can be purchased in advance by calling USF Creative Arts at 260-399-8064.
The Jesters is a performing arts group for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD), ages 8 through senior citizens. “All in Awe” will use music, dance, theater, improvisation, visual art, storytelling and animation to explore the historical figure of Saint Francis, and Franciscan values, as classic video game characters strive to become real.
Each year, the Jesters program’s teaching artists and participants co-create an original, interdisciplinary performance that is relevant to participants’ lives and highlights performers’ strengths. Participants collaboratively select a playlist, develop storylines and characters and participate in casting decisions. This focus on co-creation is the key to the program’s success.
Sponsored by USF since 1978, the Jesters program is made possible with funding provided by the AWS Foundation, the ME Raker Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, the James Foundation, Inc., Foellinger Foundation, Stucky Foundation, Arnold 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, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 18 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. Approximately 2,200 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.