“Well I have a dream too, but it’s about singing and dancing and making people happy. It’s the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with. And I found a whole group of friends who have the same dream, and that makes us sort of like a family.”
Our family started with 6 young actors with Down syndrome performing Romeo & Juliet in a tiny black box theatre in 2011. Through word of mouth, our ensemble grew organically and quickly and we now have a great and diverse cast of 20 actors ranging in age from 14 to 20 with a wide spectrum of interests and strengths. It’s been incredible to see the growth and changes that have taken place in our actors through the years, and we are working hard to expand programming to reach even more individuals with special needs.
As A.B.L.E. continues to evolve, we want to share the work we’re doing with a wider audience, and help build a community. This blog will be a place to do just that! Watch for weekly posts every Monday where you can:
- Stay up-to-date with our latest news and celebrate our accomplishments.
- Go behind the scenes and follow our process from pre-production through rehearsals all the way up to staging a production.
- Most importantly, get to know the different members of our ensemble – our actors, teaching artists and facilitators – and hear their stories and their unique voices.
And we want you to share too! Please use the comments section to share your own stories and ideas or ask questions. But remember to keep it kind and productive – we ask that of our actors in class, and we expect the same here.
Maybe you’re a parent or family member of a child with special needs. Maybe you’re a teacher or occupational therapist. Maybe you’re a performing artist or staff member of an arts organization. Whoever you are, if you’re here, it’s because you believe, like we believe, that everyone has a voice; that everyone is ABLE to connect, ABLE to contribute, and ABLE to create. You’re one of us.
Welcome to the A.B.L.E. family!
-Katie
