On Dec. 31, Steve Wilson resigned as Artistic Director of Denver’s nationally acclaimed Phamaly Theatre Company. Over 14 years, Wilson created countless professional performance opportunities for actors with disabilities – 200 in 2014 alone.

Wilson is a graduate of the DCPA’s National Theatre Conservatory masters program, and last month was named the True West 2014 Colorado Theatre Person of the Year.

Friends gathered at the Garner-Galleria Theatre on Jan. 12, not to say goodbye, but to say thanks. It was particularly poignant when Lucy Roucis, who has advanced Parkinson’s Disease, thanked Wilson for treating her like a peer.

“Most important, you saw me as an actor,” she says. “You treated me like someone who gave a (bleep).”

Others featured in the video include Chris Silberman, Bryce Alexander, Maureen Ediger, Harper Ediger, Mark Dissette, Jeremy Palmer, Mickey Mauck, Kim Jackson, Laurice Quinn, James Sherman, Carol Kelly-Rohach, Paul Behrhorst and Kathi Gibbs Wood.

Video by John Moore.

Previous coverage of the Steve Wilson story:

Wilson resigns from Phamaly Theatre Company after 14 years
Wilson named 2014 Theatre Person of the Year