Class Description
Ever wondered how disability is portrayed in theatre—or how it should be? This 4-hour workshop explores the connections between Disability Studies and theatre, challenging you to think critically about how disability is represented on stage and the impact of those portrayals.
Introducing concepts like narrative prosthesis and representational conundrums, this course is suitable for beginners in playwriting to those who are established playwrights. By integrating selections by Chicago-based disabled playwrights, such as Susan Nussbaum’s Mishunganismo, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how disability has been portrayed in local playwriting and what those representations do for disability.
Working in pairs or trios, you’ll develop a monologue or soliloquy exploring themes of disability, in a provided template of the standard Dramatists’ Guild format. You will have the option to cold-read in class with your fellow playwrights.
Access notes: There will be a 10-minute break taken every hour, the classroom will have a SA600 air purifier from Smarter HEPA, and access copies will be provided for any materials used in the workshop.
Amelia-Marie Altstadt, a PhD student in Disability Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, researches disability culture, children of disabled adults, and dramatic portrayals of disability. When not leading art access with Bodies of Work or authoring plays like Up the 5 and ADHD Ballet, you can find them loving on their two cats.
What to Expect
Format: In Person
Class Capacity: 18
Class Style: Workshop; participation- and assignment-based
Materials List
Required
- Instructor-Distributed Materials
First Assignment
- Please write a short pre-course reflection on what you hope to learn and engage in during this course.
Cost and Registration
1 Session, $135 ($121.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($135), Community Supported ($125), and Sponsor ($145). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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