Theater Arts Expansion for Disabled Actors
- Justin Borses
- Apr 15, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: May 5, 2022
NORTHRIDGE, CA- The arts is expanding its outreach to the disability community in a theater production called ‘Cost of Living’. The American Lives Theatre is hosting the event in Indianapolis, Indiana. It will run from April 15th to April 30th at the Fonseca Theatre. People with disabilities rarely get roles, which makes this event important and extraordinary.
Martyna Majok brings a Pulitzer-prize-winning piece which centers on the need for human connection. Its story is one of heartbreaking nature. A truck driver helps his ex-wife after she suffers an accident and a student who hires an overextended caregiver.
The theater’s founder Chris Saunders says, “it was an opportunity to expand our casting and use disabled actors for these roles that tell the stories of disabled people that's not in a stereotypical sort of inspiring way.
A GLAAD study done for the 2020-2021 season says that broadcast series regulars were represented by only 3.5% of disabled actors. Local member Olivia Mozzi is one of a four person cast and lives with a disability.
She says,” The fact that actors with disabilities are invited to this table, not just because we have disabilities but certainly because of it, is incredibly special. I hope that it'll serve as an example for other companies."
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ALT was created in 2019 and wants to show content that the state has not experienced. Regardless of what the concept of disability tells you, the show has surprises up its sleeve.
"My character is the exact opposite of a lot of the stereotypes that you see about the disability community. So I think it's going to surprise people, but in a good way," Mozzi said. The hope is that more companies follow in their footsteps.
Audio: A Theater Community in Indiana Provides Hope for the Disabled Community
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