2022 ReelAbilities Film Festival Denver

There's Still Hope for Dreams, A PHAMALY Story

Expired May 9, 2021 5:30 AM
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This film is offered with Open Captioning

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Synopsis: “There’s Still Hope for Dreams, a PHAMALY Story,” is a documentary film following the journey of the theatrical group PHAMALY (Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League pronounced family). Filmed on location over a 12 year time period in Denver, Colorado, this takes you on a journey of hope, where dreams are pursued and great challenges are overcome despite physical disabilities.


In Denver, CO, there is a theater group that is unique to the world called PHAMALY, comprised entirely of disabled performers. Because they found rejection in the mainstream artistic community, they built a theatrical group of their own. Each summer, since 1990, PHAMALY has mounted a major musical production with a group of amazingly talented cast and crew. Despite their disabilities (Parkinsons, Cerebral Palsy, blindness, paralyzation or amputations, plus many other disabilities),PHAMALY tackles theatrical productions that were originally choreographed for people who can move both feet and arms, dance freely across the stage, who can see, hear and talk. Come with us on our journey following the PHAMALY cast as they mount their latest productions,“Urinetown, The Musical” and “Side Show.” It is a path that will challenge and alter how you think and feel about the creative world and the world of people with disabilities. “There's Still Hope for Dreams - A PHAMALY Story” reveals the beauty of a dance with seven blind actors or the gracefulness of a wheel-chair moving across the stage. In a world that resonates with the pain and suffering in reality, we reveal that There’s Still Hope For Dreams.


Image Description: A full cast of theatrical performers sings on stage with their arms up or out at different levels. Performers face the camera, and away from the camera. They are in a "theatre-in-the-round" setting.


Community Partner:



Phamaly Theatre Company is an award-winning professional disability-affirmative theatre company in Denver, CO. Founded in 1989 by five theatre artists with disabilities, Phamaly produces musicals, plays, and original work that exclusively feature actors with all nature of disabilities - physical, cognitive, intellectual, and emotional. Phamaly gives actors a supportive space to explore and develop their craft, empowers artists within their disability identity, educates the community about access and inclusion, and provides audiences with high-quality theatrical experiences. This summer, Phamaly will be staging an original world premiere adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, featuring music by Denver's own Wheelchair Sports Camp. Alice in Wonderland will be presented in-person and virtually.

LOGO DESCRIPTION: Left hand side: Letters "P T C" Clumped together, a vertical line separates the letters from the text, Phamaly Theatre Company.

  • Year
    2010
  • Runtime
    70 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Director
    Mark Dissette
  • Screenwriter
    Mark Dissette
  • Producer
    Mark Dissette, Jay Wyss
  • Executive Producer
    Terry Austin
  • Editor
    Anton Antokhin, Rob Christensen, Denver High Def, Mark Dissette, Jay Wyss