CPALIONS. ORG rience like none other. Audience members at Backlight shows often remark that they’ ve never cried and smiled so much at a performance in their lives. What Backlight has tapped into is that sometimes people with disabilities have the ability to elevate the message of a show beyond even what a group of professional, neurotypical actors can do. The uniqueness of what they bring to the table often makes a particular message or theme even more profound.
Melissa had a vision for CPA’ s involvement from the get-go. She wasn’ t just asking for a space to perform, she had a vision for how our students and our community could be involved on a much deeper level.
For the last two years, CPA students have served as Production & Performance( TICE) interns, working on a Backlight production. In 2024, Backlight presented“ School of Rock: The Musical” here in the Soli Deo Center and this summer, they were back with“ The SpongeBob Musical”. Each time we had students onstage working as aids and supporting the actors with disabilities. They are all assigned a
25