State Street Miracles Set To Perform For Pennsylvania Lawmakers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- March is Intellectual Disability Awareness Month, and one group from the Delaware Valley is preparing to represent the community in an inspirational way.
Every Monday, a performance troupe of 14 warms up inside the Media Theater on State Street. Before you know it, the State Street Miracles are letting loose, singing some of their favorite tunes.
"I like all the people in the theater, they're real nice to me," longtime member Maryjo D'Allesandro says.
The Miracles are best friends.
Together they've been making each other and audiences smile for years now.
"They go on stage and they shine, they just shine," founder Trish Cofiell says.
But the group doesn't just sing. The State Street Miracles perform.
Trish Cofiell founded the adult performance troupe a decade ago. She wanted a creative outlet for her son Jake and others with disabilities.
"I just love music," Jake says.
Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake and One Direction are his favorite artists.
Jesse Cline, the artistic director of the Media Theater, stepped in to give the Miracles time and space to practice.
"What they bring here is an inspiration," Cline says. "To me, that's what the theater is all about, it's very inclusive. There's a home here for everyone."
All these years later, the Miracles have performed throughout the Delaware Valley, for lawmakers in Washington, and now members are memorizing 20 songs to perform for legislators in Harrisburg.
As part of Intellectual Disability Awareness Month the State Street Miracles will perform at the Rotunda. They are proud to have the chance to represent their community and show off their progress.
"It's improved their self confidence, their articulation, they speak better," Cofiell says. "People that aren't exposed to people with disabilities can see them in their greatest joy and their best light."
The State Street Miracles embark on their next big gig on March 16th.
