History:
DreamStreet Theatre Company was founded in 1998 by Karuna Heisler, a social worker, dancer, and performer. While working at the Young Adult (no s here) Institute, Karuna saw that individuals with special needs have limited access to much-needed services. She sought to change that and to bring joy to the lives of special needs adults through theatre. Despite Karuna’s untimely passing, her family and a group of passionate professionals continue to support her legacy, and the special needs community, through the DreamStreet Theatre Company. From those beginnings the Dreamstreet talent show has developed into a multitude of musical theatre productions of poetry, dance, music and mime. In addition to a core cast of 30 performers with Special Needs, Dreamstreet also has an outstanding group of professional community artists, writers, musicians, and board members who support this important mission. The company has developed a large repertoire of original materials and unique adaptations. Over the years Dreamstreet Theater artists have performed/appeared at:
– The Central Park Bandshell
– The Tribeca Film Festival
– Disabilities Awareness Month, at City Hall,
– The Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
– Sesame Street Workshops
– Madison Square Garden
– The set of Law and Order and NYPD Blue
– Symphony Space on Broadway
– The Roulette Theatre in Brooklyn
– The Green Building in Brooklyn
– BRIC Arts Media
– The Rosemary Kennedy School for students with developmental dissabilitites
Dreamstreet offers workshops in theatre, dance, visual art, and more to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Dreamstreet looks forward to the continued growth and development of our organization, and the opportunity to expand its programming to the Special Needs community.
