[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 109 (Thursday, July 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE RAINBOW COMPANY: RECIPIENT OF THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE 
              FOUNDATION OF AMERICA'S 2010 MEDALLION AWARD

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                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2010

  Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, today I urge my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the Rainbow Company as the 2010 recipient of the Medallion 
Award from the Children's Theatre Foundation of America.
  In 1976, the Rainbow Company opened the first children's theatre 
company in Las Vegas. Patricia Marchese, the Manager of the City of Las 
Vegas' Cultural and Community Affairs Division asked Jody Johnston to 
teach drama classes that proved so popular they asked Jody to produce 
plays.
  The Rainbow Company's first production was Pippi Longstocking. Pippi 
toured locally and was later recorded and given the ``Best of the West 
Award'' for the best educational programming in the western United 
States.
  In 1980, the Rainbow Company produced a show that acquired national 
consideration. Odd Man Out, an original script by Brian Kral, focused 
on a dance teacher and her class of disabled students. The play 
featured both disabled and non-disabled children and was preceded by 
months of drama classes with disabled young people. This led to a 1981 
People magazine article that noted the Rainbow Company's achievement as 
``the first theatre in the U.S. to totally integrate handicapped and 
non-handicapped'' students.
  In 2001, the Rainbow Company began to put on workshops that became so 
successful they were expanded to full-day camps that last for 8 weeks. 
In addition, they provide outreach classes for at-risk children at 
local elementary schools and shelters.
  Rainbow Company has obtained several other accolades including the 
Nickelodeon's Parents' Picks' 2009 Award and the National Recreation 
and Park Association's first-place Dorothy Mullen Arts and Humanities 
Award.
  As the Representative for Nevada's First Congressional District, home 
to the Rainbow Company, it gives me immense pride to recognize this 
outstanding and unique company for their achievements in providing the 
children of my district with unparalleled touring and main-stage acting 
opportunities, outreach programs, educational programs and annual 
workshops. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this 
outstanding organization for their contribution to the arts and 
education and for their 2010 Medallion Award from the Children's 
Theatre Foundation of America.

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