To enhance the lives of learning-disabled adults and through the theater arts make their world larger. To create in all the players strong self-image and pride in themselves, by developig skills and talents not heretofore tapped. To cooperate and coordinate with other organizations, agencies, and associations which share our purposes

Our company of learning disabled adults has been in existence since 1985, performing plays throughout the East End of Long Island with the help of a part time staff of three, including an Artistic Director, Production Coordinator, and Production Designer. We produce (on average) one new play a year, which may be staged several times in different locations. Always eager to incorporate the talents of local artists, and have done so with great successon many ocassions. Our active Board of Directors meets once a month, and our group of players rehearses every Saturday at a senior citizen's center in Bridgehampton, New York.

We receive grants from Suffolk County Decentralization through The Huntington Arts Council to supplement local funding from the Towns of East Hampton and Southampton. Together with individual donations, these make up our operating budget.

In 1987 we were invited by then Governor and Mrs. Mario Cuomo to perform Mikado in Mime at the Governor's Mansion in Albany as part of the Very Special Arts Program.

In 1999 we produced a unique version of Cyrano de Berjerac with narration. In 2002 we produced an ancient Irish folk tale, The Legend of Deirdre, with a group of Irish Dancers, an Irish vocalist and musicians. That same year we also produced a live broadcast on LTV and WVVH reaching an audience of over 600,000.

2005's production was Scams of Scapin in the style of Comedia dell'arte and featured a mime from the Marcel Marceau School and a chamber quartet. We traveled to Rockland County to perform Scams for Camp Venture.

Our current production is You Are A Petunia In My Garden, written by the Players themselves about their lives, hopes and dreams.


It is our goal to reach out to other groups throughout the United States and Europe. Toward this end we have made contact through the World Wide Web with companies in Ireland, Italy, England, Canada and here at home in Pennsylvania. We would like to travel and perform for and with other groups and bring more visibility to this invisible segment of our society through increased funding for special projects.

The East End Special Players, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) Corporation sponsored in part by the Towns of Southampton and East Hampton and private donations.