“You see the energy when he comes on the rink and you see all the smiles on our guys’ faces,” says Huskies coach Jerry Keefe. Simon will attend practices and games through next year. So began a two-year therapeutic relationship with the hockey program that complements Simon’s medical treatments, allowing him to develop relationships and skills that are clinically designed to empower him with a sense of belonging and team camaraderie. Last month, he visited practice for the first time without stepping onto the ice. Simon began receiving birthday videos from Northeastern hockey players in September. Photos by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University Simon will be spending the next two years around his new friends at Northeastern ice hockey. Team IMPACT is grateful for Northeastern’s dedication to our program and their support of children living with serious and life-altering illnesses.” “We are proud to continue this meaningful work with Northeastern, their athletic department, coaching staff, and student-athletes to establish even more lifelong bonds between courageous children, families, and teams to make a true impact on our community. “Team IMPACT and Northeastern University have had a strong partnership for nearly a decade, matching 14 children with teams, including their newest Husky, 8-year-old Simon,” said Ryan Irwin, Team IMPACT’s executive director for the Northeast. The children have been matched with varsity teams at more than 700 colleges and universities throughout the U.S.īased on her relationship with Northeastern, Maria asked that Simon become a member of the men’s hockey team. Two years ago, Simon’s social worker at Children’s Hospital nominated him to participate in a program run by Team IMPACT, a decade-old charitable organization that has assisted more than 2,300 kids who are dealing with serious and chronic illnesses. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University Admission is $12 per person or $6 with a student ID.Simon helped Maria get through the emotional ceremony. 17 and 24 at Cyrus Pavilion Theatre at the University of Maine. Orono Community Theatre’s production of “The Miracle Worker” will take place 7 p.m. “I’m really glad that I took this role because I get to work with one of my best friends,” Mullins said.
It’s just the two of them.”įor Mullins and Ireland, the roles are special because of their depiction of a relationship between student and educator and because of the incredible lives they document. So for almost 10 minutes on stage there is no speaking. … The breakfast scene in the middle of the show is a five-page fight - no lines. “This show is physicality from the moment it begins to the moment it ends. “Most shows that I’ve done that have violence in them happen at the big, climactic moment of the show, and maybe there’s some occasional incidental stuff, but you spend all the time on the big thing and then you’re done,” Bonacasa said.
Mullins and Ireland are about the same height, which has created some difficulty because of the very physical and violent nature of the acting Mullins is required to do with Ireland. Their duties in this show have challenged them intellectually and physically.
The two became friends after Ireland left her position, which led them to attend the audition with the hope they would be cast in their respective roles. Ireland met Mullins while she was the director of education at Penobscot Theatre Company. The two auditioned together after Ireland, who acts as Sullivan, encouraged Mullins to try out for the role. Perhaps most important was her established relationship with castmate Jasmine Ireland. Mullins has been acting for eight years, participating in more than 20 productions at Penobscot Theatre Company as a member of their Dramatic Academy. “I can almost relate to her in a way because I have that fire.” “She had a fire in her belly,” Mullins said. However, despite their difference in physical limitations, Mullins saw something in Keller that she could relate to. “I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to portray her greatness,” Mullins said of her initial reservations about the role. “To get to see pictures of them, see things that they touched, see the influence they had over education of the blind in this country, was a unique opportunity that you don’t often get with plays that are based on historical people,” Bonacasa said. The cast also visited the Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts to learn more about Keller, Sullivan and the background and achievements of the two.