#StaffChat: Accessibility in Theatre

Staff chat posts feature articles and news that the C1 team discusses as part of our weekly all-staff meeting. We’d love to hear your thoughts too — hit us up on Facebook or Twitter!

♦♦♦♦♦

Believe it or not, the C1 team is already gearing up for our upcoming summer show, COLOSSAL by Andrew Hinderaker! To prep for our early conversations about the play, we’ve been looking for resources about accessibility. It’s important for all of us to feel comfortable with the language we’re using as we head into the audition, workshop, and production process for the play. This week, the staff is looking at a few articles and tips for interacting with people with physical disabilities:

One thing that’s key is making sure you’re using person-first language — language that puts the focus on the individual, rather than on a disability. Here’s a helpful chart!

 

Screen Shot 2014-11-26 at 5.55.20 PM

As Zachary Fenell, the author of this article from Huffington Post writes:

No matter the word you use, aim to showcase the person. Ideally a person’s name will always come before his or her condition. So I’m Zachary Fenell, an author with cerebral palsy. Not, an author with cerebral palsy, Zachary Fenell. Introducing name first, condition second will maintain a person-first narrative.

11-27CATA_standard_600x400

Margaret Keller (l), executive director of Community Access to the Arts, applauds along with teachers and students after a poetry reading in Pittsfield, Mass. last July. CATA provides access to visual and performance arts to people with disabilities

Continue reading

#LinkRoundup! — 11/21/14

Link Roundups feature articles and bits of internet goodness that our dramaturgy team digs up. If you find something you want to send our way, drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter!

♦♦♦♦♦

Toni Morrison appeared on an episode of The Colbert Report this week and shared some lovely perspective about why she writes the kind of stories she does:

You know, I thought everything in the world that I wanted to read had been written. And then in my 30s, I wanted something else. I wanted to show how painful this constructed, horrible racism was on the most vulnerable people in the society – girls, black girls, poor girls – and that it really and truly can hurt you, so that’s what I was looking for. And no one, I thought, had written that book. So since I really wanted to read it, I thought I should write it.

You can view the full interview below:

♦♦♦♦♦

This week, HowlRound is featuring a fabulous series on ensemble theatre, curated by Boston artist Meg Taintor. Continue reading

#LinkRoundup! — 11/14/14

Link Roundups feature articles and bits of internet goodness that our dramaturgy team digs up. If you find something you want to send our way, drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter!

♦♦♦♦♦

Definitely check out this awesome post from author and illustrator MariNaomi:

longform-original-2263-1415111992-10

♦♦♦♦♦

The Clyde Fitch Report has this important reminder about the class and economic factors at play in the development of young artists:

It begins in high school. If you are fortunate enough to grow up in a wealthy suburb, you are likely to have the benefit of a drama teacher (or two) at your school and a well-financed and active drama program where you can begin to develop your talents and gain experience in front of an audience. If your parents are wealthy enough, they will notice your theatrical interests and send you off to drama summer camps for further arts training, and perhaps they will pull whatever strings are necessary to get you enrolled in a high school of performing arts, where you will receive more attention, more training and more experience.

Continue reading

#StaffChat: Supporting Arts Education

Staff Chat posts feature articles and news that the C1 team discusses as part of our weekly all-staff meeting. We’d love to hear your thoughts, too — hit us up on Facebook or Twitter!

♦♦♦♦♦

Kristen Engebretsen, arts education program manager for Americans for the Arts, wrote an article about ways to support arts education for ArtsBlog that was recently posted by The Alliance for Student Activities:

C1’s educational programs are a huge part of the company’s mission, so this issue is near and dear to our hearts. We are passionate about our Stage One and Apprentice programs, and always looking for ways to increase the visibility of the work our students are doing. This article is a good reminder to think about how we can ensure the future success of our educational programming and initiatives, and a solid resource for anyone who is passionate about keeping the arts in our schools.

Here are a few suggestions from the article that especially stick out: Continue reading

C1 Featured in Emertainment Monthly

15430750839_c9e496ddcc_k

 

“Performance can engage audiences in current issues, introduce them to new cultures and ideas through storytelling, and create memorable experiences. Company One, with its highly ambitious philosophy that mixes artistic excellence with admirable values, has managed to create a community of artists interested in making meaningful connections with their audiences. The company has received numerous awards and accolades for its work, such as Elliot Norton and IRNE awards. Currently in their 16th season, the company stands strong with productions like The Displaced Hindu Gods Trilogy and Colossal.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE:
THEATRE IN BOSTON YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO