[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 13889-13890] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING THE RAINBOW COMPANY: RECIPIENT OF THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA'S 2010 MEDALLION AWARD ______ HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY of nevada in the house of representatives Thursday, July 22, 2010 Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, today I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Rainbow Company as the 2010 recipient of the Medallion Award from the Children's Theatre Foundation of America. In 1976, the Rainbow Company opened the first children's theatre company in Las Vegas. Patricia Marchese, the Manager of the City of Las Vegas' Cultural and Community Affairs Division asked Jody Johnston to teach drama classes that proved so popular they asked Jody to produce plays. [[Page 13890]] The Rainbow Company's first production was Pippi Longstocking. Pippi toured locally and was later recorded and given the ``Best of the West Award'' for the best educational programming in the western United States. In 1980, the Rainbow Company produced a show that acquired national consideration. Odd Man Out, an original script by Brian Kral, focused on a dance teacher and her class of disabled students. The play featured both disabled and non-disabled children and was preceded by months of drama classes with disabled young people. This led to a 1981 People magazine article that noted the Rainbow Company's achievement as ``the first theatre in the U.S. to totally integrate handicapped and non-handicapped'' students. In 2001, the Rainbow Company began to put on workshops that became so successful they were expanded to full-day camps that last for 8 weeks. In addition, they provide outreach classes for at-risk children at local elementary schools and shelters. Rainbow Company has obtained several other accolades including the Nickelodeon's Parents' Picks' 2009 Award and the National Recreation and Park Association's first-place Dorothy Mullen Arts and Humanities Award. As the Representative for Nevada's First Congressional District, home to the Rainbow Company, it gives me immense pride to recognize this outstanding and unique company for their achievements in providing the children of my district with unparalleled touring and main-stage acting opportunities, outreach programs, educational programs and annual workshops. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding organization for their contribution to the arts and education and for their 2010 Medallion Award from the Children's Theatre Foundation of America. ____________________