 |
NEWS |
West Virginia University at Parkersburg |
WVU Parkersburg to host disability awareness and education events, including an evening of comedy.
CONTACT: Nancy Nanney, chair of
Humanities Division, 304-424-8361.
|
|
NEWS |
West Virginia University at Parkersburg |
WVU Parkersburg to host disability awareness and education events, including an evening of comedy.
CONTACT: Nancy Nanney, chair of
Humanities Division, 304-424-8361.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Two nationally known, physically challenged comedians will be featured at a day of disability awareness and education Saturday, March 26, culminating with an evening of comedy at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
Michael Aronin and Brett Leake are motivational speakers whose comic presentations touch on overcoming physical limitations and improving mental health.
They will be featured at an evening of comedy for all ages at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 26, in the college's multi-purpose room followed by a question and answer forum.
Earlier in the day, Aronin will conduct a 1 p.m. comedy workshop in the multi-purpose room. Using humor as a catalyst for community dialogue, he raises audiences' awareness of challenges faced by people living with disabilities and the achievements possible. Aronin demonstrates the value and benefits of humor as a problem-solving device and as a way of breaking down social and workplace barriers experienced by those who have a disability.
The Disability Awareness and Education Day is being presented by the Actors Guild's Stage Too theatre company with the support of WVU Parkersburg. The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation is providing funding assistance for this special event.
Aronin
who has cerebral palsy is a nationally acclaimed speaker who teaches his
audiences how to get past personal shortcomings and move forward productively in
their careers. Being both a comedian and motivational speaker, he is able to
make this difficult topic both entertaining and enlightening.
Leake worked as a standup comic from 1983 until 1997 when he began working as
a sit-down standup
comic. Brett has facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. In 1991, he
became the first disabled comic to appear on NBC's Tonight Show. In 1998,
he began working also as a motivational speaker adding to his standup act,
personal stories and what have been called "philosophic lecturettes," that
address using humor as a problem-solving device, and as a means to get more out
of life. He has performed at the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, and Wolftrap.
Corporate clients include IBM, Toyota, and Ford.
A ticket for either the comedy workshop or the evening of humor is $15. A combination ticket (the comedy workshop and the evening program) costs $25. WVU Parkersburg students will receive a $10 discount on any ticket, and WVU Parkersburg faculty and staff will receive a $5 discount on any ticket. For information about reservations, call the college's Business Office at 424-8223. For other program information, contact the WVU Parkersburg Humanities Division at 424-8301.
WVU Parkersburg is fully ADA compliant. For information regarding any type of accommodation or questions about the physical access provided, call 485-9322 or 424-8337 TTD in advance.
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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations
WVU Parkersburg
(304-424-8203)
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