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IDAHOFALLSMAGAZINE.COM 69 The Power of BYERIN NAZARIO,IDAHOFALLSYOUTHARTSCENTRE members. It is about how theater gave this little girl a voice, expression and a way to communicate with the world around her when she couldn't understand how to speak above a whisper to 95% of the world. This is a story about Miss Abbey Jolley. Abbey had a condition called selective mutism. Selective Mutism is "a complex childhood anxiety dis- order characterized by a child's inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings, such as school," (Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum; SMart Center). Abbey was 7 years old when her mother took her to see a Taylor Swift concert. Jennifer, the mom, never expected that concert would be the catalyst to a life-long love and an appreciation of the performing arts for her daughter. As Abbey watched Taylor sing and entertain the crowd at the Colonial Theater with a song about an old truck, she grew more and more excited. Finally, she tugged on her mom's sleeve to get her attention. Jennifer leaned over to listen to what her daughter had to say. The next words out of Abbey's mouth changed the course of her life forever. "Mommy, I want to do that," Abbey said with hope in her eyes. Abbey's stage debut was singing with her sister, Melissa, at a Singers On Stage (SOS) showcase. When the idea of this duet was proposed to Abbey, her biggest fear and looming question was, "I don't have to talk, right?" After the SOS concert, Abbey wanted to do more. Her sister was already participat- ing in IFYAC programs, and Abbey's family thought it would be good for her to be a part of something bigger than herself. Abbey was always fascinated by theater and loved to see a story come to life on stage. Once Abbey started with IFYAC she never stopped until she went off to college at Southern Utah University in August of 2018 — where she is currently studying theater. She has participated in almost every aspect of the Idaho Falls Youth Arts Centre; from her first role as a Who in Seussical the Musical Jr. to being a mentee in the mentorship program for the choir. Abbey has played a tremendous role (no pun intended) in the organization. Her pos- itive attitude and willingness to help give younger children a voice has been incred- ible to witness. "As much as she loves being on stage and the magic of storytelling, Abbey has a spe- The smell of the theater. The heat from the stage lights. The sound of the orchestra tuning. The sight of performers preparing for their performances. The sound of set pieces being moved into place. The trail of sequence and glitter from intricate costumes. The feel of nervousness and excitement backstage as the rustle of audi- ence members take their seats… all of this is what gives theater life and power. There is power in transforming an empty stage into a whole world full of vibrant colors and char- acters. There is power in taking an audience on a journey together through storytelling and music. There is power in watching chil- dren who at the beginning of the rehearsal process could not move or sing loudly, walk onto the stage and sing and dance with con- fidence even they did not know they had. That is the power of theater. There is one story of such power that is inspiring. It is a story of a little girl with selective mutism; a little girl who would only speak to her mother and select family n YOUTH | JOURNEY TOGETHER WITH IFYAC