National Disability Theatre
The National Disability Theatre (NDT) [1] launched in 2018 to elevate the exposure of and opportunities for disabled performers and other theatre professionals to a national level. This company is not based in any one location but aims to partner with established companies around the nation to put on professional shows by and for disabled people. The company is backed by support from public figures, including founders, autistic actor Mickey Rowe and Talleri A. McRae who has cerebral palsy, as well as Micah Fowler of Speechless and Jamie Brewer of ''American Horror Story''.
Mission and Values[edit]
The National Disabled Theatre has set out to hire exclusively disabled theatre professionals of all types of disabilities to create an autonomous platform and community through which they can have opportunities to showcase the diverse stories within the disabled community, as told by the disabled community, on a nation-wide scale. The company plans to commission disabled playwrights to make this happen from the beginning stages of a production. NDT sees itself as having a creative asset because of the factor of disability in its members.
All of this is with the aim of demonstrating that disabled people can be full and robust professionals and produce work that is “sexy, physical, and virtuosic and so aesthetically different than anything that they’ve seen before,” according to Mickey Rowe [1].
Overall, the goal is to make all people feel welcome, heard, understood, and accepted. The company welcomes feedback to continue to improve its accessibility. NDT also hopes to foster mentorship through its activities.
People Involved[edit]
Co-executive Directors: Mickey Rowe and Talleri A. McRae Advisory Company Members • Zach Anner, known for writing and acting in Speechless • Micah Fowler, actor in Speechless • Jamie Brewer, actress in American Horror Story and Amy and the Orphans • Lawrence Carter-Long, activist known for generating conversation on disability rights in major news outlets including ''Associated Press'' and ''The Daily Show'' • Josh Castille, actor in Broadway production of Spring Awakening • Kelsey Fowler, actress in ''Grey Gardens'' (musical and ''Sunday in the Park with George'' • Haben Girma, first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School • Ryan J. Haddad, actor in Hi, Are You Single? • Nicole Kelly, Miss Iowa • John McGinty, actor in ''Children of a Lesser God'' (play) • Gregg Mozgala, actor in Teenage Dick • Ali Stroker, actress known for ''The Glee Project'' and Spring Awakening • Nic Novicki, actor in ''Boardwalk Empire'' • Katy Sullivan, paralympian • Maysoon Zayid, comedian • Danny Woodburn, actor in ''Seinfeld''
Productions[edit]
The National Disability Theatre has not put on any productions yet, but is set to debut with ''A Midsummer Night’s Dream'' in fall 2019 at a yet-to-be-announced theater location. The company’s productions are meant to be fully accessible throughout and will integrate measures such as open captions, interpreters, and audio description, among other accommodations into the productions, not merely as add-on features. The NDT plans to partner with existing theaters and performing arts institutions as a resident company to put on its productions.
References[edit]
- ↑ cite web |url=https://www.arts.gov/art-works/2019/spotlight-national-disability-theatre |title=Spotlight on the National Disability Theatre |last=Sutton |first=Rebecca |date=February 6, 2019 |website=Art Works Blog |publisher=National Endowment for the Arts |access-date=February 27, 2019
Clement, Olivia (December 4, 2018). "Mickey Rowe, Talleri A. McRae, Ali Stroker, Gregg Mozgala, Jamie Brewer, and More Launch National Disability Theatre". Playbill. Playbill. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
Parrotta, Madison (December 23, 2018). "An Introduction to the National Disability Theatre: In Conversation with Mickey Rowe". The Theatre Times. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
Sutton, Rebecca (February 6, 2019). "Spotlight on the National Disability Theatre". Art Works Blog. National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
National Disability Theatre[edit]
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