University of Lethbridge drama professor Lisa Doolittle is excited to present a new show in the new year featuring and developed by her students including several mentally disabled students.
“Unlimited,” to be developed in the new year and debuting on stage in March is the natural progression from her Drama 3850: Dance for All Abilities class and inclusive education and social change initiative which included students with learning disabilities. The class ran from September to Dec. 14.
“To my knowledge that is the first time that has happened here,” she said adding the class had 12 time students and six handicapped students who don’t qualify as full time students, but enrolled in the class as open studies or part time students.
She has been working with the Southern Alberta Individualized Planning Association and with the Lethbridge Association for Community Living in research about using arts-based methods to make social change to put together her program. Her upcoming show, to be called “Unlimited,” which will be based around a party including a variety of interesting attendees with unique qualities.
“ We have some really great partners,” she said noting it was a highlight watching everybody working together to make the class work.
“ It’s been a really supportive environment. We’ve created a really great learning environment and everyone is really collaborating more,” she said adding the concept of inclusion fascinates her as handicapped students have more inclusion from Kindergarten to Grade 12, but not at the university level— yet.
“ I wanted to explore that idea so much,” she said.
“The arts are special because they make a link between the head and heart. They are so expressive. It’s an ideal place for them to go,” she said adding people with disabilities can make great art.
“They have a lot of capabilities that are under-utilized,” she observed.
“ I’ve been surprised over and over again by what they have achieved. I regret not challenging them more,” she said adding the students have a range of disabilities like Aspergers and Autism.
“They are very high functioning,” she said.
She hopes some of the students from the class will be involved with the production as well.
The new production “ Unlimited” to run in the University Theatre, March 17-21, will expand on that idea.
“ There will be a cast of 20 people. The objective is to create a really great piece and highlight a mixed disabilities and students. There’s no script,” she described adding the production will include a lot of movement, choreography and dance.
Doolittle has been working with a Calgary artist, Pamela Boyd, former artistic director of MoMo, Calgary’s mixed ability theatre and dance company. Boyd has worked with students taking the class and she’ll also work on Unlimited.
“ It’s going to take place at a party which is a great opportunity to bring a variety of characters together. A party is a great place to see a lot of different types of people,” she said adding rehearsals begin in January.
She sees this achievement as the evolution of people.
“People with special needs have been represented by other people on stage. I think people with disabilities should be able to represent themselves. In Shakespeare’s time women were represented by men, now women represent themselves,” she said.
