We Are PHAMALY

PHAMALY (Physically Handicapped Amateur Musical Actors League) is an amateur theater troupe that strives to mount the most professional productions possible, with many of its members expressing the hope that the audience won't even notice that the cast members all have disabilities of one form or another. Producers/directors Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher concentrate on three veteran actors in the group, following them from auditions through rehearsals to the opening of their production of Once Upon a Mattress: Stephen Hahn, born with spina bifida; Tara Cowan, who uses a motorized wheelchair following a spinal injury; and Troy Willis, legally blind from diabetes and recovering from a kidney transplant. The trio's efforts to master their roles and maximize the appeal of the production gradually overshadow any physical limitations the actors might have, and in the end viewers are truly at or near the realization of the cast's frequently stated goal of noticing only the performances (quite simply, these are good actors, excellent singers, and engaging personalities). As in all good backstage stories, the director despairs of the production's progress as the opening nears, but in the end the audience is wowed and cast and crew share the incredible high of a production well-mounted and well-received. A powerful, inspirational tale of personal determination and art triumphant, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (M. Tribby)