Our Fall 2021 Semester is underway! On today’s blog, learn more about our plans for our latest digital project and get a peek at all the talented folks who make up our ensembles.
What are we working on?
We’ll be spending the semester on Zoom devising an original project we’re calling The Forms of Things Unknown. This title comes from a line in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which, you might know, takes place in a forest enchanted by fairies, sprites, and other magic beings. We’ll journey into that forest to meet these and other creatures - including Centaurs, Thunderbirds, and Kelpies! Each ensemble will be responsible for developing 4 magical characters, and creating the settings and plots that weave them together. The result will be 8 original stories that we’ll share with you around our virtual campfire in a digital festival that will premiere in January 2022.
Who is involved?
This semester, A.B.L.E. is hosting 4 ensembles. Each ensemble will meet once a week for 10 weeks to create our stories. Each ensemble has between 16 and 19 people - these people might be ACTORS, TEACHING ARTISTS, or FACILITATORS.
This semester, ABLE is hosting 4 ensembles each week, serving a total of 36 actors with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ABLE's actors range from age 15 to 37 and represent a wide range of backgrounds and experience. Some actors have been with ABLE for several years, but we are also excited to have two brand new actors join us this semester - welcome Veronica and Dan!
Each ensemble is led by 2 teaching artists. They are responsible for leading rehearsals each week and shaping the final pieces that will be created by each group. Our teaching artists have a wide range of experience as performers and educators, and they have been hard at work designing a new Zoom curriculum, visual aids, and resources for #ThingsUnknown.
Facilitators are an integral part of our ensembles. They ensure all of our actors have a safe, fun, and productive session. Facilitators volunteer their time to join us in rehearsals and help to model participation, demonstrate activities, lead warm ups, and offer invaluable tech support on Zoom. This fall, we have a record breaking 28 Facilitators supporting #ThingsUnknown, including 5 new facilitators - Bill, Camila, Erica, Julianne, and Rachel!
How will we do it?
To make our virtual rehearsals more engaging, we sent out 72 boxes - one to each of our actors, facilitators, and teaching artists - with sensory objects, resources, and activities that will bring this project to life! We even have ultra soft shirts thanks to our friends at Anchorfish Printing. Take a peek at our Story Kits on Instagram:
