Only Make Believe Expands to D.C. Hospitals

Only Make Believe, the New York City based non-profit organization that brings laughter and imagination to children suffering from chronic illnesses and disabilities is expanding their reach to help children and families in Washington D.C.

Since 1999, this organization has brought interactive theater performed by professional actors to over 25,000 children and families in 50 hospitals in the tri-state area. With celebrity support from Jude Law, Mike Myers, Sir Ian McKellen, Julia Stiles, Rachel Weisz, Alan Cumming, Kathie Lee Gifford and more, Only Make Believe has brought joy and hope to the hearts of families and children facing hard times and will now have the opportunity to bring the healing power of laughter to children in Washington D.C.

Dena Hammerstein founded the non-profit Only Make Believe in 1999 in memory of her late husband, Broadway producer and director James Hammerstein, son of Oscar Hammerstein part of the legendary musical writing and composing duo Rogers and Hammerstein. The organization was created to bring live interactive theater free-of-charge to children living with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Only Make Believe provides theatrical workshops conducted by teams of professional actors, once a week for six weeks, free-of-charge to hospitals and other medical institutions. In only 13 years, this organization has expanded from performing at just one hospital for 100 children to reaching over 5,000 children in 50 hospitals.

Only Make Believe's interactive live performances encourage children to participate and perform alongside actors, transporting them from a hospital to the enchanting world of make believe.

Director of Child Life at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center explained, "It was truly wonderful to see the patients clapping, singing and dancing to the music when often times we just see them lying in bed."

While Only Make Believe does wonders to help bring happiness to the lives of children suffering from chronic illness and disease, it also helps to bring joy back into the hearts of parents.

One parent explained, "After each play, I feel like a new person who's ready to face life. This show helps me gain my sense of humor again."

For children and their families, Only Make Believe strives to uphold the principle that freeing a child's imagination is a valuable part of the healing process. For more information, visit www.OnlyMakeBelieve.org.

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