There's no place like cooke

When the Cooke Center Academy Players began rehearsing for the Wizard of Oz, they weren’t sure they'd be able to see it through to opening night.

“They weren’t sure they’d be able to memorize, and they’re totally memorizing, they weren’t sure they could sing, and they can sing,” said Bethany Chase, Transition Department chair at CCA. “Basically they weren’t sure they could pull it off, and they’re awesome.”

Like the story’s characters, Cooke students had to learn for themselves that their inner gifts would carry them where they want to go. This was the case for Sam Montgomery, a.k.a. the Tin Man.

Sam was born prematurely. His developmental disabilities had made finding the right school difficult-- until his family found Cooke. "We finally found a place that learned how to teach Sam," said Sam's mom Deborah Patton, "and made Sam feel reallty comfortable about learning."

Despite his incredible tenor voice, Sam wasn’t confident he’d earn a major role in the show. “I thought I was going to be someone else,” said the over six-foot senior. “I thought maybe I’d be a munchkin.”

Not only did he sing his way into audience’s hearts, he boosted his own courage along the way. In the midst of rehearsals, he applied and was accepted to the Berkshire Hills Music Academy, a program for musically gifted students with disabilities.

“I think part of him realizing that that was something he really wanted to pursue came about because of how good it made him feel to be in Wizard of Oz rehearsals,” said Ms. Chase.