By Eva Trieger in La Mesa, California
If you were a theatre kid growing up in San Diego prior to 2016, you most likely performed in, or dreamed of being on the stage of Mt. Helix Amphitheatre. The 1,600-seat venue was the stomping grounds for actor, director and producer, Christopher Rubio.
As a featured dancer, Rubio performed Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Grease in the summer of 1999.
Summer shows drew crowds to the Mt. Helix community and those who lived near the “hill” began to resent the congestion these productions created. Over time musicals became too costly to produce and the venue became known for other facets. The amphitheatre, built in 1925, was gifted to the County of San DIego in 1929. The Mt Helix Foundation was formed in 1999, in an effort to maintain the landmark. With the improvements, there also came a hefty price tag to rent the space, but that did not deter visionary, Chris Rubio and his team of committed lovers of the arts.
In 1983, Chris’ big brother, Josh, was diagnosed with autism. At that time the diagnosis was not well understood, and the Rubio family had to do their own research and learned to navigate the opportunities that existed. The tight-knit family shares a bond of unconditional love and support of each other, and the focus for every family member is to excel in their lives.
Growing up observing how differently abled individuals may struggle and triumph caused Rubio to create a non-profit to benefit and “enrich the lives of children and adults with special needs.” Arms Wide Open was founded in 2008, to ensure that these individuals would have a home in the performing arts. Rising Stars was formed to bring this mission to life and has been quite successful. Watching these actors and their families kvell, was certainly fulfilling, but Rubio was thinking even bigger.
A new branch of Arms Wide Open, Inspire, is designed to provide a true spectacle. By combining the talents and drive of differently abled actors with professional neurotypical actors and mentors, the quality of the production would be off the charts. With this model everyone learns from each other and everyone’s abilities are celebrated.This is the forefront of the mission.
In its inaugural year, Inspire produced Newsies. Their second show, Tarzan, Beat of the Jungle will make Rubio’s dream a reality. This show will include professional sets, a professional artistic team and stilt walkers! The choreography is high calibre and innovative and the music, entirely original.
“Tarzan, Beat of the Jungle follows a young boy raised in the jungle by gorillas, who grapples with his identity. When a human expedition arrives, he faces a life-altering encounter, torn between his animal upbringing and his human heart. Featuring live percussion, mesmerizing dance and vibrant singing, this spectacular show celebrates the power of music, movement and community.”
In addition to dance and acting, Chris is also a percussionist, as is his father, Ignacio, and grandfather before him. And lest you think the talent only runs in the Y chromosomes, Chris’ mother Yvonne is the tour de force behind the organization. She runs the office, oversees merchandising, and while she is incredibly supportive she “makes sure I’m not dreaming too big.” Chris’ sisters, Nancy and Crystal Ruby, were also involved in Chris’ dance studio and helped him grow towards this overarching vision of providing an inclusive arts program.
As you can imagine, the cost of such an extravaganza and bringing musicals back to Mt. Helix is exorbitant. Rubio was told by many that he would not be able to pull it off. However, he sought out grants, appealed to donors and put in plenty of his own blood, sweat and tears. The overhead expenses were massive and the entire venue needed to be built from scratch to make it functional for Tarzan, Beat of the Jungle.This was not a typical rental of an auditorium. In order to keep the quality first rate, the professional actors also need compensation. The rehearsal spans five months!
Inspire’s production at Mt. Helix Amphitheatre will certainly be a unique experience for the audiences, as well as all cast members. Best of all it will unite the community and expand the demographic by spreading awareness and respect for an inclusive performing arts platform. Arms Wide Open is attempting a courageous mission and its success relies on the cooperation of so many individuals and the community pulling together to bring Tarzan to life.
Tarzan, Beat of the Jungle will run from July 17th through August 2nd at 7pm Thursdays-Sundays.
Tickets may be purchased at www.armswideopensd.com
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the arts.