Theatre Arts Center dancers from this past weekend's recital in Bristol.

As the school year comes to a close it’s not just all about books and final papers.  The Theatre Arts Center in Doylestown ended the year, as always, with their recital at the Bristol Riverside Theatre.  The recital gives students and parents a time to celebrate all the toe tapping, and line memorizing they have worked on, after the regular school day, all year.  One student who has been in the Theatre Arts family for 14 years, since the age of 4, has had a particularly tough time in 2014.

“My Mom always says I learned how to plié before I learned how to walk” says Jordan Abelson, 16 of Doylestown. She has been in and out of the hospital since October 2013, having suffered through an abscess in the back of her throat that needed surgery. Complications from the surgery led to her body rejecting solid food, causing malnutrition and problems with her heart.  All the while Jordan has continued to diligently attend 10 dance, vocal, and acting classes throughout the week at the Theatre Arts Center as well as assisting in classes with the younger students there, and was involved in her school play “Crazy for You” at Central Bucks West.

“I was on bed rest for most of the time in the hospital, you can't put a theatre kid on bed rest” Jordan was often being yelled at by the nurses for practicing her dance routines in the hospital and tapping during dinner. Even when she got home her mother had to hide her ballet slippers so she couldn't practice and could get the rest she needed. After months of missing school, sweet 16 parties, and pretty much most of her sophomore year Jordan remarked on what kept her going  “I think dance is the reason that I stayed so happy because I just missed so much for so long”.

Jordan Abelson, 16 of Doylestown

Though she still has to stay on top of her diet, making sure she eats right and gets regular check ups on her heart Jordan is, thankfully doing much better. She was featured in many of the numbers in the recital over the weekend and will be playing Gloria in Thoroughly modern Millie and Jack's Mother in “Into the Woods” this summer at TAC.

Kristine Lewis is the owner of the Theatre Arts Center. She and the TAC community have aided tremendously in Jordan's recovery. “The amount of support that I've had from my mother, my family, and Miss Robin (the arts center's business manager) and Miss Kristine here at TAC has been overwhelming. Miss Kristine has been one of the main foundations in my recovery since this all started on October 14th last year”

When asked what she wants to do when she grows up Jordan says, “I want to be miss Kristine”. She has a strong desire to own a dance studio, have a family, and keep performing “just like Miss Kristine does”.

Matthew Merlo as Jack from “Into the Woods” in the Theatre Arts Centers recital in Bristol

The dancing and singing is not just for girls though, one of the gentlemen in the program, Matthew Merlo, also had quite a bit to do in the recital and is busy balancing his Theatre Arts Life with sports as well. “I love theater, but I also love baseball.  Theater has helped me to be a better athlete and student by learning discipline, fitness and fun!  Singing and dancing on a stage make me feel alive!” says Matthew.

Don’t be surprised if you happen to catch some of these talented kid's names in light some day, after all the Theatre Arts Center boasts many former students who have gone on to excellent careers in the business including Jenny Stern who is currently in Rocky on Broadway, Christopher Hutton a Broadway house manager, and Carolyn Hutton who is still in college and an intern on the Broadway show “If Then” starring Idina Menzel.  It just goes to show that happening kids tend to become happening adults!

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