An Interview with Only Make Believe founder, Dena Hammerstein

Monday night marked the 10th Anniversary of Only Make Believe, a non-profit organization that creates and performs interactive theatre for children in hospitals and care facilities.  The organization celebrated the occasion with an evening of music, theatre and Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in New York City, hosted by the charismatic and highly entertaining, Sir Ian McKellen.  Performances included a variety of Broadway hits from the cast of Disney's The Lion King who performed, One by One; to the cast of Hair who performed, Good Morning Sunshine; and a number of solos, including a very powerful performance by Montego Glover of Memphis' Colored Woman.  The gala event honored Chris Wearing of Capital Markets North America of Accenture, with the OMB Founders' Award; songwriter and XM Sirius Radio Host Seth Rudetsky with the OMB Volunteer Award; and Bernadette Longford of Disney Worldwide Outreach with the James Hammerstein Award.  Also on hand to present the program were OMB supporters, actors Christopher Meloni of Law and Order and Jude Law, currently staring in Hamlet on Broadway.
 
I had a chance to interview another star of the event, Dena Hammerstein, who shared her inspirational journey from dedicated volunteer to compassionate founder of Only Make Believe.
 
Hammerstein's roots were planted in theatre from a young age where she acted on stage, in her home country, England.  She later moved on to television, film, writing and eventually landed in New York City where she met her late husband, James Hammerstein, son of Broadway legend, Oscar Hammerstein II.
 
Today Hammerstein's career has two focuses, one as an independent theatrical producer as president of James Hammerstein Productions and one very hands-on creative role at Only Make Believe, both causes closely tied to her late husband's memory.  Hammerstein began volunteering in the early nineties with various children's hospitals and shared, My husband was very supportive and took great pride in all I did; he was extremely kind and encouraging.  When James died in 1999 she became a woman on a mission, seeking to keep his memory alive by focusing on a cause that really mattered.  One program Dena fostered was keen on taking the children out to the theatre.  With her access to theatres and friendships with actors, she was able to make these outings very special events for the children.  Getting to the theatre, however, appeared to overwhelm the children and so Dena thought, Why don't we do it the other way around?  Dena was allowed the opportunity to experiment with the idea and given her constant presence in the wards, knowing what the children would relate to and what would work, she was able to develop the concept that eventually evolved into Only Make Believe, which has now reached over 21 000 children in 43 hospital and care facilities in the New York Metropolitan area.
 
Only Make Believe is dedicated to the principle that freeing a child's imagination is a valuable part of the healing process.  In a truly collaborative effort, trained actors arrive two times a year for six consecutive weeks fully equipped with script, costumes and props to rehearse and produce a quality production of song, dance and movement with the children as the stars' and a focus on having fun.  Certainly the children benefit from immersing in the magic and imagination of the theatre in the moment but the effects are lasting.  The children remember the songs, the actors and can't wait to see them again, shares Hammerstein. A kid will sing a song he learned about trying to be brave while going into surgery.
 
Hammerstein is very humbled by the success of Only Make Believe. That in this economy we are still able to develop and grow is an amazingly gratifying testament to what we are doing and an endorsement to carry-on.  The theatre was packed to the seams with an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, an indication of the devotion towards the cause.  And there are no signs of slowing down as the organization is projected to double their services over the next three years.  As Hammerstein's motto goes, Get everyone to believe in make believe!
 
So much of Hammerstein's story inspires me: hailing from abroad, having a successful career, raising a family, founding an organization and truly making it in New York- and doing so inspired by compassion and love.  What was the best advice she ever received?  To volunteer; it allows you to feel absolutely connected to the city you live in.  It's gratifying to be in places where you feel needed and helpful.  I feel like a true New Yorker. 

By Katia Tallarico 

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Katia Tallarico, Relationships 2.0
		About the author:
		Katia Aurora Tallarico, born and raised in Toronto, currently lives in Manhattan. As an undergraduate at McGill University, she lived in Montreal where she studied Psychology and later pursued a graduate degree in Counseling Psychology at Columbia University in New York City. Katia integrates both Western and Eastern approaches to her mental health practice and credits her own well-being to a dedicated meditation and yoga practice. She has worked servicing chronically mentally ill adults in lower Manhattan and currently works as a Mental Health Counselor with foster children in the South Bronx. In addition, Katia is an active supporter and Young Benefactor Committee member of Free Arts NYC (www.freeartsnyc.org).
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