PORT TOWNSEND — A Saturday show at The Upstage will combine attributes of Special Olympics and “American Idol.”
“But with respect,” said Barbara Hammerman, the North American director of United by Music.
The Special Olympics, established in 1968, was designed to encourage participation in sports by people with disabilities. It has grown into a worldwide program that provides athletic options for people who were previously left on the sidelines.
Along the way, participants learned that crossing a finish line can be as much of a reward as earning a ribbon.
Or to use the cliche, it’s not whether you win or lose but how you play the game.
The United by Music tour — which will perform from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in a free concert in Port Townsend at The Upstage Theatre and Restaurant, 923 Washington St., in Port Townsend — strives to apply the same principles to music and dance.
Toured four countries
The program of music by the mentally disabled began in the Netherlands as the idea of health care executive Joris van Wijngaarden, who has taken the tour to four countries.
This tour represents its debut in the United States, and the featured musicians are Dutch, although American singer Candye Kane is serving as the master of ceremonies.
Its purpose is to demonstrate the success of the idea and encourage the development of similar programs on a local level, Hammerman said.
Hammerman is friends with Upstage owner Mark Cole, paving the way for the tour to stop between visits in Tacoma and Seattle.
It also fits The Upstage mission to be a blues music venue, as the performances follow that template.
“Singing the blues is all about facing challenges and crossing the boundaries of what people say you can or cannot do,” Hammerman said.
“The famous blues musicians grew up picking cotton and rode the rails to the city where they found success,” she said.
“The similarity is that the musicians learn to express themselves on their own terms.”
Hammerman said she hopes the show will attract educators and musicians and inspire them to create similar programs.
She also would like to draw disabled people, inspiring them to seek out and participate.
Hopes for local program
Cole hopes to use Saturday’s show as an immediate jumping-off point to create a local program.
“We are looking for volunteers to get involved in this,” he said.
“We are looking for musicians who can act as musical coaches and local organizations like the Kiwanis Club to provide support.”
Hammerman said that teaching people to perform is a valuable skill that can help people in any occupation.
For disabled people it is an invaluable way to learn self-confidence, she said.
Hammerman said that audiences might not know that the performers are disabled by just listening to them, but they often discuss their disabilities as part of the show.
“We want to teach people how to play, but not just by themselves in a room or with their tutors,” Cole said.
“We want to give them the confidence to actually get onstage and perform in front of a crowd.”
Reservations are recommended and available by phoning 360-385-2216.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
