ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A group of Georgia actors with special needs have taken on countless musicals, bringing joy to audiences again and again. They are breaking barriers with each show, each song, each script.

They said their shows are just as professional and well done as anyone else’s.

“It makes me feel wonderful!” actor Carmine Vara said of performing.

The theater is one of those places that takes you far, far away from your world.

“It means being able to portray a different character other than myself onstage,” said actor Luke Davis.

“It gives me confidence, like I am able to make friends now. And I like acting. You get to be somebody you’re not,” said actor Amy Kahn.

Whether it’s “The Wizard of Oz,” “Mamma Mia!” or “Cinderella,” an actor gets to be a part of something bigger than themselves and take the audience right alongside them.

“Bringing everybody together, once a year, for a super, fully produced musical like you would see at any other professional theater in the Atlanta area,” said Mary Nye Bennett, director of “Fiddler on the Roof” for Jerry’s Habima Theatre in Dunwoody.

These actors are bringing joy and adventure to audiences with every show. They’re also breaking barriers every time they take the stage.

“We are an all-special needs cast but we perform just like any professional group,” said actor Jonathan Roytenberg.

Jerry’s Habima Theatre is inclusive. They have been around more than 30 years, and are preparing for their next performance, “Fiddler on the Roof,” from March 6 through March 16.

“It is an experience you won’t forget, and it is a lot of fun just to be around people I enjoy,” said Vara. “It is amazing how people react to people with disabilities.”

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