Album Notes

Once they had their big break, there was no stopping
The Famous PEOPLE Players!

It was the great comedian, Bill Cosby, who suggested the exploration of black light theatre to the young solo puppeteer named Diane Dupuy. The advice proved to be worthwhile when she became interested in working with people who had developmental disabilities.

Liberace was the inspiration for what was to become the Famous PEOPLE Players. In 1974, Liberace saw one of their first performances, immediately fell in love and invited the company to perform with him in Las Vegas. Most importantly, he did not know the performers were developmentally challenged individuals. When he found out, he was adamant in explaining to them that he wanted the Famous PEOPLE Players to join his act because they were brilliant entertainers, not because of their disabilities. In October 1975, the Famous PEOPLE Players saw their name on a Las Vegas marquee.

The recognition the company received and their proud dedication helped them remain professional through all of these years. In 1980, they re-opened Radio City Music Hall in New York City, toured the People’s Republic of China in 1982 and were featured in a CBS Movie of the Week, Special People, broadcast in 1984. In 1986, the company performed on Broadway with the show A Little Like Magic, and again in 1994 with A Little More Magic to rave reviews.

They broke records with a seven-month run at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. They have toured internationally to Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Chile and Hawaii. Television appearances have included A&E, the Jerry Lewis Telethon, the Academy Awards, the Phil Donahue Show, Regis and Kathie Lee, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight and the television program, 7th Heaven, where Diane Dupuy appeared as herself.

Ann Margret hosted an Emmy award-winning CBS documentary, A Little Like Magic, based on the Famous PEOPLE Players. They also appeared in the ABC Feature Film, Different. Most recently, CBC-TV filmed a 25th anniversary documentary, Black Light Dreams, which celebrated the Famous PEOPLE Players’ illustrious history and included guest appearances by Phil Collins, Paul Newman and Tom Cruise.

The hard work and ambitious dreams of the Famous PEOPLE Players came true on February 18th, 1994, when the Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Ray Hnatyshyn opened the first dinner theatre centre in the world dedicated to people with special needs. The Famous PEOPLE Players also has an excellent international reputation in training people with developmental challenges. This Canadian treasure provides people with first hand work experience in the restaurant, theatre, and the visual effects department where they learn professional and life skills in their Dine and Dream Theatre.