Arms Wide Open, headquartered in El Cajon, is a nonprofit that enriches the lives of individuals with special needs from throughout San Diego County by fostering caring social environments and creating opportunities for recreation and participation in the performing arts. AWO now offers more than 200 individuals a wide range of classes, including a new class, Arms Wide Open Kiddels for young children, and its new inclusive program Inspire.
Under the Inspire program, tickets are now on sale as AWO will be performing “Newsies” the Musical at Sonrise Church in Santee from May 10-19.
Founder Christopher Rubio said AWO was founded in 2007 to get people with special needs exposure and experience in the performing arts.
“Over the years we have expanded the program we have been able to do these shows,” he said. “We have done many Disney Jr. titles with AWO. Over the years we have found that the students have become so great at what they do by doing so many productions and gaining so much experience, I really wanted to create a new theatrical program under the AWO banner. The program I created is Inspire. Inspire is our inclusion program, which is offered to everyone of all abilities. In this production we have about 11 typical professional dancers and adult singers who have amazing backgrounds and who are working alongside the all-stars of AWO. The ones who have been in this for a long time know how to handle the next level of performance. Rehearsals move quicker. Their choreography is harder. And the show is really, really big.”
Rubio said AWO has always large spectacle shows, but this is biggest production AWO has done.
“The goal is to give these individuals at AWO more experience working with high-caliber performers who are professional dancers and singers,” he said. “But in return, those professional performers are also learning about mentorship, patience, different abilities that everyone has. It also makes them feel good that they can mentor these young adults and perform side-by-side with them. It is a win-win for all parties involved. It has been a pleasure directing this new group. The ‘Newsies’ cast consists of about 30 performers.”
Rubio said “Newsies” has that New York “vibe and swagger” and is a story about fighting for your rights.
“I am telling many people who are coming out to see our new program Inspire in action, that it is more than just a theatrical performance,” he said. “It is really a mission that we are trying to convey. The importance of inclusivity. The importance of bringing people together is a beautiful thing no matter what your abilities are, no matter what your differences are, no matter what your beliefs are. Working hand-in-hand and trying to achieve the same goal is always going to be a successful experience. Now days, more than ever, I think inclusivity is a big topic and something that needs to be promoted more and exercised more in the community that we live in, set better examples, and try to teach people to appreciate other people’s differences and beliefs. And to the role we are called on in being a human being. Those are natural instincts we should have for each other.”
Rubio said with this performance, everyone is equal, putting in the same amount of work, and helping each other. “It is a beautiful thing,” he said.
Rubio said AWO is still going, and has named its program Rising Stars, which is just for special needs kids and adults.
“It is a beautiful thing because now because we can now get people to a level that they can really grow,” he said. “It also frees up opportunity in AWO’s Rising Stars program because some of the individuals who are high caliber performers are now in Inspire, which in return, gives someone who may not be as seasoned as a performer to land a lead role in an AWO production.”
Rubio said AWO is expanding its reach so that not all its participants in its programs must travel to El Cajon.
“AWO is such a rarity here in Southern California,” he said. “It is hard to find avenues and outlets for people with special needs in the performing arts realm. AWO is a gift to San Diego County, but because we are in East County, we can only reach so many of our patrons. We have been wanting to expand into North County for a long time. In the last year we have become a vendor with the San Diego Regional Center, which means the Center will show our program and what we offer. So, we have grown in our registration. So, we, the regional manager Yvonne Rubio, aka, mom, thought it would be wise for us to open a program in North County.”
AWO has now partnered with Escondido Performing Arts facility and is now offering a few classes a week. It is offering Hip Hop Class and Fitness and Musical Theatre 101.
“I started this program in January with about six kids and now I am already up to about 13 kids in class,” he said. “Enrollment is growing. The ultimate goal is to provide a sustainable program that can offer many more classes, similar to here in East County. Because there is the need, and AWO’s popularity is growing, I think this program by summer will have more than 25 participants. I believe in the next year we will have two areas producing musicals. I am excited to see this grow, and maybe in the future, we will have AWO South Bay. We want to give this gift to the community of individuals of special needs and disabilities because they deserve to shine like anybody else,” he said.
Barbara Broderick was introduced to AWO in 2016, when her daughter Kate, who has Down syndrome wanted to go see its production of “The Little Mermaid.” Broderick has a background in nonprofits, grant writing, and loves theater.
“I was blown away by the performance,” she said. “So, I began working with them.”
“So now, we are doing much more in grants and fundraising,” she said. “It has been extremely effective. We have received a two-year grant from the Conrad Prebys Foundation, making the new site possible, and in 2025 this grant will support a second new site, expanding AWO’s geographic location. It is not only that it is the population that they serve that is important, but also that what they do is remarkable. Artistically, it is excellent. My daughter is 41, and she loves to dance. She will tell you, ‘I was born to dance.’”
For ticket, programs, visit www.armswideopensd.com.
