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Dreher plays role in film premiering in Fond du Lac
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KEWASKUM- Free SPIRIT (Special People In Riding therapy) Riders, Inc. of Fond du Lac announces the Premier Showing of the Wisconsin made and produced movie, “Something For Stevie” at the UW-Fond du Lac Prairie Theater, on Friday, March 23, 2007 at 7 p.m. Featured in the movie is Joshua Dreher a senior at Kewaskum High School who is a participant in therapeutic riding at Free SPIRIT Riders, Inc.
“Something For Stevie” is the heartwarming story of a young man with Down syndrome trying to make it in the work-a-day world. Employed as a busboy at a truck stop diner, he experiences rejection, pathos, comedy, and is even beaten up by a street gang, and taken advantage of by a Wino. He eventually finds acceptance and love, and the movie has an encouraging ending.
The premier showing of “Something For Stevie” that has been produced entirely by Wisconsinites and shot in Milwaukee, is a fund raiser for Free SPIRIT Riders. As one of their program participants, Dreher plays the role of Stevie’s friend and best man in his wedding.
Dreher’s family gets in on the act and are present in the church scenes of the wedding. Dreher is the son of David and Nancy Dreher, they reside in Campbellsport.
The movie was written, produced and directed by William Tucker of Milwaukee and will be released for world-wide distribution after the Fond du Lac premier.
“Something for Stevie” is out-of-step with the usual theater fare in that it is a heart-warming, family-friendly, spiritually-uplifting, feel-good movie suitable for people of all ages.
Wanting his movie to be authentic, Tucker approached the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee and asked them to review his script for authenticity. They approved of the script saying that it was true-to-life, with some obvious enhanced dramatic scenes for story-telling sake.
“What I thought would be the hardest part,” Tucker reports, “would be finding the required 154 actors, many with disabilities, for the movie, but that proved to be miraculous. We held open auditions, and exactly 154 want-to-be amateur actors showed up, and each was perfect for the part they were trying out for. Especially encouraging was the casting of locals Mike Noonan and Nicky Saeger in the starring roles of the boy and girl with Down syndrome. We had about a dozen young people with Down syndrome try-out for the starring roles, and we were able to place them all in the movie as extras,” Tucker reports.
“The Milwaukee Transit System was so taken with the movie, they bent over backward to help us film the bus scenes,” Tucker says, “and then went so far as to publicize our movie to similar transit companies across the nation. Everyone was helpful and excited to be part of a movie. I hope the viewing public will sit through the credits to see the list of the local Milwaukee companies and people who helped make our movie a reality.” To that end, Tucker has included some funny out-takes after the credits roll.
Free SPIRIT Riders, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to enriching the lives of children and adults with disabilities from Fond du Lac and the surrounding community through safe therapeutic interaction with horses. The program is uniquely qualified and prepared to offer recreational activities to those whose disabilities prevent them form engaging in sport and recreation that is so readily available to others.
The storyline can be seen on the movie’s website: www.somethingforstevie.com. Tickets will be available at a number of outlets including Geidel’s Piggly Wiggly in Kewaskum and will be available at the door, $10 for adults and $7 for children under 12. More information about tickets or Free SPIRIT Riders is available by calling 920-924-9920.
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