The ARC Showstoppers took on the bright lights of the historic Saenger Theatre last Sunday, March 27, with their first performance since COVID halted their public appearances.
Made up of 15 members, the Showstoppers is a show choir group from the ARC of Southeast Mississippi, a community-based service organization for those with developmental disabilities. The group is around 10 years old and is open to anyone receiving services from ARC. Abigail Lenz Allen with the Hattiesburg Arts Council is the Showstoppers current organizer.
Their returning show’s theme, “Forget About Your Worries and Your Strife”, was meant to encourage audiences after two years of stress and lockdowns.
“I think we’re all feeling that right now,” said Cindy Pennington, director of The ARC of Southeast Mississippi. “We’re ready to put some worries behind us and move on. We featured the title song, and we ended with ‘Lean On Me’, which is a cast favorite to perform. The show was just fun and uplifting.”
Audience members were also able to purchase handmade pottery by the ARC members and learn more about the services the ARC provides.
“We’ve been in Hattiesburg since the 1950s, so I think that speaks volumes about the organization that we’ve been in the community that long,” Pennington said. “We serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our mission is just to get them fully included in the community and to help them take active roles in the community.”
Services include an adult residential program and after-school activities, weekend and summer camp programs for kids. They also provide resource information for families with special needs dependents.
“We had a great turn out for the Showstoppers return show,” Pennington said. “The performers had fun, and they loved being on the stage again. We’ll be planning more shows in the future.”
While the Showstoppers have not scheduled their next performance, Pennington said there are other upcoming events to support the ARC members.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of the Hattiesburg Half-Marathon that’s going to be April 2,” she said. “That’s huge for our community! We are one of the charities, mile 11, that will benefit from the proceeds, but this year we also have a group of about 25 to 30 ARC members that are going to participate in the race. They aren’t going to be timed, but each participant has been assigned a peer to walk with them and help them stay on the route.”
Following the race, the ARC will host its special needs prom on April 11 in partnership with the Hattiesburg Junior Auxiliary and the USM Psychology department.
To learn more about the ARC of Southeast Mississippi and the Showstoppers, visit www.hattiesburgarc.com or follow the group on Facebook.
