Posts tagged Bekah Harbison
How Community Theaters Can Be More Inclusive And Accessible

“I’ve learned that many able-bodied neurotypical people in the community have the perception that inclusion and accessibility are incredible insurmountable feats. They aren’t, at all. If you’re running a community theatre, you have a responsibility to find room at the figurative table for performers that reflect your community. I guarantee that your community is diverse in terms of how their bodies and brains work.”

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Defeating The Arguments Against Authenticity When Casting People with Disabilities

“There’s nothing about the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge that says he can’t be Deaf. There’s nothing that says that the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella can’t be blind. There’s nothing that pigeonholes anyone when you remember that folks with disabilities are people, just like everyone else, who can be misers or fairy godmothers or flirtatious townswomen. That openness is, inherently, authentic casting.”

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As theatre returns, we need to be mindful of predators in our communities

“As many of us prepare to return to in-person theatre, there’s been an emphasis on safety like never before. While COVID precautions are vital, we must also take precautions to keep our casts safe from dangerous people. Simply put, predators appear anywhere people gather. But over time I’ve found person after person who somehow thinks that we theatremakers are immune from incidents happening in our communities. The truth is, we’re not.”

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