UNIFIED THEATRE / UNIFIED PERFORMING ARTS.... I just learned that term from this post and found these videos on YouTube.
Found this recent video, the conclusion of a series of conversations (July was Disability Awareness Month):
Disability awareness and inclusion in the performing arts Aug 5, 2024 [16 min]
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=inclusive+theater+disabilities+video#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:39921c42,vid:5APpXvF9eqM,st:0
One participant in the conversation talks about being choreographed for dancing in a wheelchair, and they are discussing a Deaf West production of Annie (with disabled actress playing Annie was in a wheelchair) on Broadway. Main lesson: mindset of "we can do this" as a company is even more important than resources.
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[Eve] [Sutton]
[Curriculum Designer]
[Mortgage Meltdown: The Musical
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54v8JiG42uU&t=16s][
Eve@mortmelt.com]
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 11:59
From: Brooke Phillips
Subject: Talking Unified Productions at Theatre Education Conference
I'm back in the bustling halls of my school building and everyone is making haste to prepare their classrooms for incoming students in just a few days. While I should be hanging my new show posters and replenishing my colored dry erase markers I find myself daydreaming about all the fun we'll have in my theatre season this year and all the wonderful memories that were made last year! I am especially thinking about my unified production of Frozen we did last Fall, starting around this time, featuring students with exceptionalities and special needs in many of the lead roles. I'm looking forward to how our boost through the United States of Frozen, has now made fully realized unified productions a part of our mainstage season! (We are doing Honk Jr! Unified this Spring.)
I'd love to hear from other folks who have started unified theatre programs to get more ideas and am excited to chat with people who are interested in getting started to offer some humble advice. I'm excited to be able to share more about my experience, and about how we built a unified theatre community at the Theatre Education Conference in September! If you haven't registered yet- these weeks getting back to school is the perfect time to get that support and get registration checked off the to-do list.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in Minneapolis!
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Brooke Phillips
Millard West High School
NE
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