On the Other Side of the Fence

Don't miss this warm-hearted documentary about acceptance and diversity.

On the Other Side of the Fence chronicles the 30-year partnership between Philadelphia’s HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy and the Germantown Friends School of Philadelphia, who together stage a musical each year that teaches and celebrates diversity. Discover the power of music and its ability to create friendships in this moving documentary on WXXI-TV on Sunday, April 26, 2015, at 3 p.m.

The idea for the musical originated in 1982 when teacher Teresa Maebori and her class saw a skit that mocked children who had physical
disabilities. Determined to turn the encounter into a positive learning experience, Maebori went to her principal at Germantown Friends School to discuss what she could do to expose her students to children who were different from them. He connected her with Philadelphia's HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, where she met composer, playwright and music therapist Andrea Green, and thus, a musical collaboration was born.

The program, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the musical's debut, includes rehearsals and clips from the final show. It also features interviews with students and alumni who discuss the impact the project has had on their lives and how the musical has taught them lessons in compassion, acceptance, and embracing differences.

On the Other Side of the Fence has been been performed in other cities and states across the country, including at Theatre With a Twist in Acton, Mass.

This film is presented as part of MOVE TO INCLUDE, a partnership between WXXI and the Golisano Foundation designed to stimulate community dialogue about the perspectives of people with physical and intellectual disabilities. Its mission is to ultimately build a community that celebrates abilities.

Watch the trailer:

'On the Other Side of the Fence' TRAILER TRT: 1:50 from Henry Nevison on Vimeo.