FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The Jesters program of the University of Saint Francis welcomes registrations for the 2022-23 season.
The program is open to participants age 8 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Registration continues through Sept. 30. To request registration forms, contact Molly McGowan in USF Creative Arts at mmcgowan@sf.edu or 260-399-8064. For more information, contact Jesters Director Allison Ballard at aballard@sf.edu.
The Jesters program will begin Saturday, Sept. 10 and will meet each Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the USF North Campus, 2702 Spring Street. 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 and dance/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. 10 through Dec. 3, except for Nov. 26. The program will break for the holidays on Dec. 10, 17, 24 and 31. The program will resume Jan. 7 and continue meeting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through March 11. The spring performance will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 11 and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 12 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 vaccinations. For those concerned about meeting in person, a virtual program option will be available.
Sponsored by USF 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, Plymouth Benevolence Fund, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne and the Indiana Arts Commission.
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 and the College of Arts, Sciences and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the music technology and graduate health sciences 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.