In an effort to offer a fun, personally satisfying and educational outlet for the visions and perceptions of the mentally and physically challenged and to expose the general public to their fresh and creative world, Wise Fool New Mexico has been working with developmentally disabled adults through the arts programming of Challenge New Mexico since 1998.

Over the past three years we have worked with the participants at Challenge to create giant puppets, shadow puppets, props, sets, songs and scripts for seven original theatrical pieces. During this time we have also been instrumental in the creation and artistic direction of a weeklong summer intensive theatre arts camp for adults with developmental disabilities.

For the past two summers Challenge Performing Arts Camp has drawn participants from across the state and culminated in full-length performances at the Greer Garson Theatre. The Challenge Theatre group has also performed their works at local cultural events such as the La Voz Festival of Latino Arts and The Snowball Cotillion.

Their theatrical works include:

• Tales under the Full Moon—original fairy tales. Spring and winter 1999
• Circus Bizurkus—collaboration with members of the One Railroad Circus. Winter 1999
• Weaving a New World—original plays and songs for the new millennium. Spring 2000
• Elements—summer camp production of original dance, theatre and song. Summer 2000
• Dream On—shorts and songs of dreams come true. Winter 2000
• Blue Velvet Meets Elvis—a short musical play chock full of Elvis Impersonators. Spring 2001
• Seasons—summer camp production of original dance, theatre and song. Summer 2001