UNLABELED THEATRE COMPANY
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to use live theatre to provide performing, vocational and life skills opportunities for adults (21+) with disabilities. Our organization models and helps create a more inclusive world. Unlabeled Theatre creates opportunities for actor-artists with disabilities, volunteers, and community members to experience what people with disabilities can do. Our work allows people to truly be seen, and be genuinely included. Unlabeled Theatre Company, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, builds on the successful ‘Theatre For All’ model, which was created and developed nearly a decade ago at Edina High School. We produce unified theatre performances. Two actors perform each role — one actor-artist with a disability is paired with a partner who does not have a disability. That pair performs each role as a partnership, and each partnership is unique — based on the specific needs and abilities of each actor-artist. The experience of working together to create and perform live theatre is nothing short of life-changing for everyone involved — our actor-artists with a disability, their partners, and people who experience these incredible performances as an audience member.
About This Cause
The full scope of Unlabeled Theatre Company work includes: 1. Our inclusive theatre performances, featuring artist-actors with disabilities 2. Meaningful employment for adults with disabilities across our organization; also intentionally hiring freelance artists with disabilities for photography, graphic design, layout, artwork, etc. 3. Daily arts-centered classes designed to increase life skills in community involvement, personal independence, health & wellness, vocational abilities and more. 4. Developing and marketing inclusive theatre programming to high schools and colleges across the United States 5. Using our (eventual) space as a resource to help other disability-focused organizations (fundraising galas; concerts and events; speakers and conferences, etc.) There are just ten inclusive theatre programs for adults in the United States. And of the nearly 27,000 high schools in the United States, fewer than 20 offer inclusive theatre programs. We know art helps connect people to new experiences and expands ways of thinking. However, current theatre programming is largely inaccessible to most people with disabilities and doesn’t meet the demand. People with disabilities make up the largest ‘minority’ group in the world - approximately 20% of the population. It is the single largest group with the least visibility, AND the least-represented voice. Clearly, ’disability’ should be part of every discussion about diversity, equity and inclusion. Yet it rarely is — or is an afterthought, at best. While the COVID pandemic shut down much of the world, it disproportionately impacted disability services. More than 80% of day programs for people with disabilities shut down. And the vast majority of those shuttered programs have not and do not plan to re-open — leaving another significant need unfilled in our community. Unlabeled Theatre’s daily educational classes focus on creative awareness, building life skills and fostering independence. Our programming builds community, provides enrichment, vital independence and skill-building. As the largest minority group in the world, disability is ‘the great equalizer.’ Regardless of race, class, geographic location, gender, or language, disability lives within all of our communities. Working with both volunteer partners in performances, audience members, and partners, we work to expand general awareness around disability inclusion and expand accessible arts communities for all. But, why theater? Studies show that art moves the mind across multiple fields. Remember ‘left brain’ versus ‘right brain’? Art and music actually connect what are usually separate parts of the brain. Singing and movement can ‘wake up’ and reconnect different parts of the mind for people with disabilities. A 27-year-old actor-artist who had barely spoken his entire life was able to sing a song in a performance of Oklahoma! This new pathway of expression was debuted to family, friends, and a full audience. And our volunteer partners’ lives are changed by the experience of focusing and helping someone else.