FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The Jesters program of the University of Saint Francis welcomes registrations for the 2024-25 season.
The Jesters, a performing group of people ages 8 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), meet weekly during the school year to co-create an original, culminating performance presented in March.
Registration continues through Sept. 30. Registration fee is $100 and scholarships are available. To request registration forms, contact Saint Francis Creative Arts Coordinator Molly McGowan at mmcgowan@sf.edu or 260-399-8064. For more information on the program, contact Jesters Director Allison Ballard at aballard@sf.edu.
The Jesters program will begin Saturday, Sept. 7 and will meet each Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Saint Francis North Campus, 2702 Spring Street. Morning activities will include dance/movement, theater/improvisation, storytelling and music (instrumental and voice). Optional afternoon sessions in visual arts, choir and dance/theater will be offered from 1 to 2 p.m. Only those enrolled in the morning program are eligible to attend the afternoon classes.
The Jesters will meet Saturdays from Sept. 7 through Nov 23. The program will break from Nov. 30 through the end of December. The program will resume Jan. 4 and continue meeting on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through March 8. The spring performance will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 8 and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9 in the North Campus auditorium.
Sponsored by Saint Francis since 1978, the Jesters program is made possible with funding provided by AWS Foundation, M.E. Raker Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, Foellinger Foundation, Plymouth Benevolence Fund, Surack Family Foundation, Arnold Foundation, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne and the Indiana Arts Commission.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 20 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. Approximately 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.