Finding the Ability in Disability: Performance and Panel November 10, 2011

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) and Identity Theater Company present Finding the Ability in Disability: Performance and Panel on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 7:00pm at Joria Stages, 260 W 36th Street, 3rd Floor, New York City. Joria Stages is handicap accessible.

Hosted by Nicholas Linnehan, Executive Director of Identity Theater Company, panelists will include Debra Otté, Professor at Montclair University; Ike Schambelan, Artistic Director of Theatre Breaking Through Barriers; June Rachelson Ospa, Director of Youth Programming at AMAS. Disabled artists, academic personnel and activists will discuss barriers for disabled artists and how to overcome them, as well as how to increase visibility, among other topics.

Immediately preceding the panel discussion, disabled actors will take the stage in a scene from Shakespeare’s Richard III, performing in traditionally non-disabled roles. Conversely, Richard III will be performed by a non-disabled actor, which in turn becomes his disability.

Following the panel discussion, there will be a full reading of Richard III for anyone who wishes to stay.
There is a suggested donation of $10 for the panel and performance, which will go directly to the Identity Theater Company. Please RSVP to [email protected] or (212) 714-7628.

TRU was founded in 1992 to promote a spirit of cooperation and support within the general theater community by providing information and a variety of entertainment-related services and resources that strengthen the business capability of producing organizations, individual producers, self-producing artists and other theater professionals. The company holds monthly seminars on a wide range of subjects important to theatrical producers and artistic directors conducted by panels of experts from both the commercial and not-for-profit segments of Broadway, Off-Broadway and the motion picture industry. These educational forums have been a core program of TRU since its inception, and in recent years executive director Ost has partnered with Back Stage to generate topics of interest to both TRU members and Back Stage readers. “Through TRU, Back Stage is able to reach beyond its actor base to a wider theater community,” said Ost, “and we get more visibility through the Back Stage connection.”

TRU also publishes an email community newsletter of services, goods and productions. In addition, TRU presents the TRU VOICES Annual New Play Reading Series and the TRU VOICES Annual New Musicals Reading Series. These are new works series in which TRU underwrites developmental readings to nurture new works as well as new producers for theater. In 2001, TRU began giving annual scholarships to The Commercial Theater Institute, to encourage the development of aspiring producers, created a Producer Development & Mentorship Program whose mentors are among the most prominent producers and general managers in New York theater, and also presents Producer Boot Camp workshops to help aspirants develop the business skills they need. In March ‘08, TRU was associate producer of its first Equity showcase, Missives at 59E59 Theatre, a play that was developed in the 2006 TRU reading series. TRU programs for actors include an Annual Audition Event; and TRU partners with Weist-Barron Studios to offer quarterly Resource Nights and “Speed Dating” as well as free monthly actor workshops. The next Resource Night is scheduled for Friday September 23rd. Actors may inquire about this and other actor programs by contacting Jaye Maynard at [email protected]

Identity Theater Company is a group of differently abled artists devoted to exploring and challenging issues of the human condition. They strive to present work that cultivates understanding, promotes tolerance, and engages its participants in meaningful discussions.

Programs of Theater Resources Unlimited are supported in part by public funds awarded through the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, as well as generous support from the Friar’s National Foundation Association.

For more information about TRU membership and programs, visit www.truonline.org or call 212-714-7628.

Official Website: http://www.truonline.org