This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Theater Group Expands to D.C. to Entertain Sick Children

New York-based non-profit "Only Make Believe" will have its first D.C. perform at Children's National Medical Center on March 14.

D.C. is getting its own branch of a New York-based theater organization that entertains chronically ill children by involving them in a world of acting and make believe.

"Only Make Believe" (OMB) started in New York in 1999 and is expanding into Washington, D.C. with its first performance at Children's National Medical Center and an expansion party both planned for March 14. The opening celebration will be held in Georgetown at Puro Café (1529 Wisconsin Ave NW).

"We feel a program like this fuels the children's imaginations and is important is the healing process," executive director Maricha Miles said. "After all, laughter is the best medicine."

Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Founder Dena Hammerstein said the reason she created OMB is because she wanted to bring theater to children. She has been an actress, writer and producer throughout her career.

"Making the kids happy and smile is the greatest accomplishment," Hammerstein said. "It's wonderful that it works in New York, and you want a successful program like this to reach children on a global scale. I'm really looking forward to coming to D.C."

Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

OMB hires and pays three actors to perform over six weeks. The organization does not charge the hospitals or parents of the children, and instead hosts fundraisers, and pursues grants and sponsorships.

"The results are amazing," board member and Georgetown resident Sarah Rosand said. "During the first show I saw, I was in tears because we helped these children have fun. I have the same reaction every time I leave a show and feel deep in my heart I can make a difference."

Rosand recently moved to D.C. from New York and has helped the organization expand to her new city.

One professional actress, Tamela Aldridge, who has acted in mainstream shows such as "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" and "One Life to Live," said working with OMB is one of the most rewarding experiences of her career.

Her most memorable experience she recalls is when the actors performed "Hocus Pocus", the story about a little boy who is granted three wishes, but at the end still doesn't learn his lesson.

"The kids said, 'We have to create a new ending,'" Aldridge said. "The next week, they performed their ending for us. They sold tickets and everything. It blew me away, and I was so touched."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?