What You’re Here For

Singer Ruston Kelly meets Melissa Smith, who runs a performing arts program supporting intellectually disabled adults. Bonding over their pasts, Ruston writes a ballad celebrating Melissa's work and the good we can do when we realize our purpose.

Melissa Smith, founder of Backlight Productions, discusses the importance of her organization and what it means to both the actors and families of actors who participate. Singer/songwriter Ruston Kelly stops by to learn more about the organization and Melissa and even gets to jam out with some of the Backlight Productions band.

Singer/songwriter, Ruston Kelly and Melissa Smith, founder of Backlight Productions, discuss how their upbringings led them to similar changes in their respective career paths. We hear from some of the students/actors at Backlight Productions on what the program means to them. Ruston then gets the chance to perform some scenes with the actors.

Singer/songwriters Ruston Kelly and Kate York sit down to write a powerful song. The two discuss their reasoning behind key lyrics and even how certain chord progressions relate back to, and are inspired by, Melissa Smith and Backlight Productions.