When we look back on the previous 5 years of Theatre for All, we are filled with wonder, pride, and love. The greatest gift of this class has been meeting the most beautiful human beings on the planet. Students who take this class pour themselves into their characters and commit themselves fully to their fellow students. Parents and staff members volunteer their time and talents with no complaints. This class is art and service in action, and it is the essence of collaboration.
As many of you have witnessed for years now, the premise behind Theatre for All is that each role onstage is performed by two people, working in a close partnership. Although emphasis is placed on the students working with a disability, audience members are also able to see and hear the work of the partner. What captures the attention of many audience members, and what we love cultivating as directors, is the relationship and chemistry between the two partners.
Labels melt away during our semester of work. Terms such as: disabled, able, special education, general education, student, teacher, different, normal - become meaningless and arbitrary. We learn that no one gets through this life alone and we all need help at some time or another. Everyone has an opportunity to lead and everyone has the right to ask for assistance. In the end, we are all human and all our lives have worth.
Our two primary goals of the class have always been to:
1. Help students who feel lost and voiceless in society to find a sense of community and a place to use their voice.
2. Create meaning for students by providing them with a true opportunity to serve another.
By combining the transformative power of the performing arts with the uplifting gift of service, we have created a class that provides students with the "highlight of their day", if not "their life." In this class, students have their abilities spotlighted for the community, instead of the focus being on what they can't do. Many students have told us that this class has helped them to learn "the type of person I want to be" and has "shown me how to embrace compassion and to use my talents to better the world." What more could we ask for as teachers and directors?
A heartfelt thanks to each person who has worked with us over the past five years (as a parent, a paraprofessional, a teacher, a nurse, an administrator, or as a volunteer) to create this program. Truly, we couldn't have done it without ALL of you! Nothing in our entire careers has given us as much joy as this class and program. Thank you all for showing us the true meaning of community.
We owe our biggest debt and final thank you to all of our students, past and present. Whenever we doubt the future of the world or worry about the state of humanity, the students in this class give us hope. Being vulnerable and patient is hard enough, but to do it in front of an audience takes real courage and we are in awe of you all, every day. Thank you for inspiring us! We love you!
With gratitude,
Jessica Froehlich & Lisa Hanson
If you are inspired at all by the performance, please consider donating to our program. Donation boxes are located in the lobby and checks can be made out to EHS THEATRE FOR ALL. Everything you see onstage (including the scenic projections) are made possible through generous donators, big and small.
