Theatre Adventure is a non-profit organization in West Brattleboro, Vermont offering year-round online and in-person inclusive theater arts programming.
Mission: Theater Adventure is a caring and creative community for artists with disabilities to claim the stage with distinction.
Our long-term vision: People with disabilities are valued as members of their community and recognized and respected as artists.
Our Core Beliefs
Everyone deserves respect.
A nurturing and welcoming community provides a sense of belonging and is the foundation for building self-confidence, friendships, and leadership.
Everyone has the ability to grow and learn new skills.
The arts offer many powerful ways to express oneself
Bringing stories to life in theater has the power to dissolve the edges that separate us
Inclusive theater inspires new and positive attitudes about people with disabilities
Once upon a time… many years ago in the land of ideas and visions, a group of actors with and without developmental challenges dreamed of expressing themselves with an unusual mix of costumes, music, storytelling and whimsy. Inclusive and inventive Theatre Adventure was born.
The disabilities that many of our students live with include: Autism, Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, deafness/hard of hearing, blindness, and intellectual and other developmental issues. However, we believe strongly first and foremost in honoring the talents and passions of our students.
We are dedicated to helping our students advocate for themselves and others
Belief in everyone’s ability to express self in a variety of ways runs deep in Theatre Adventure. The actors’ ideas helped to create our productions. Their passion for performing and their commitment to supporting one another is inspiring.
Expressing Self
Theatre Adventure actors take an empty stage and create dynamic theater from their burning desire to act, to sing, to dance, to astound, to express self. The person revealed! Theatre Adventure performers claim the stage with artistry while claiming their lives with conviction. Audiences are inspired. Communities are enriched.
PHILOSOPHY
As an organization we are rooted deeply in a dedication toward inclusion and our refusal to permit any acts of bullying, exclusion, intimidation, or name calling during all classes, rehearsals, and performances. We insist that all students are accepted and that only kindness to others is permitted. We take seriously our job of teaching: all are welcome, all are valued, and all have a place. Valuing diversity is at the core of our work.
We love surprises! Creativity abounds in Theatre Adventure. We recognize that there are many ways to communicate and that everyone has a different voice with unique abilities and ideas. Finding moments for each participant to shine (both on stage and off stage) continually guides our work. We enjoy one another in a spirit of playfulness, creativity, and acceptance while bringing stories to life and basking in the magic of theatre!
Meet our Board of Directors and learn about their commitment to empowering youth and adults with disabilities in an inclusive theater arts environment.
Our Director and Disabilities Specialist would be happy to discuss accessibility or accommodation questions. Please email info@theatreadventure.org or call or text 802-387-0765
Inclusive Programming
We are dedicated to an on-going design of our inclusive programming that is responsive to each of our student’s needs and interests.
We offer a nine-month school year program that culminates in the presentation of two different spring productions. Additionally, we have a three-week summer seminar exploring expressive arts.
Passionate Performing Artists
WEDNESDAY TROUPE
Our Wednesday Troupe is designed for a mixed age grouping of youth and adults.
There are currently ten actors in the Wednesday troupe, in addition to six Mentors. As veteran actors with Theatre Adventure, the Mentors participate in a Leadership Training program while serving as role models for the Wednesday Troupe students.
Performance
Since 2004 we have produced original stories, Shakespeare, King Arthur Tales, classic children’s literature, fantasy adventures, and original musicals.
THURSDAY TROUPE
Our Thursday Troupe is for adults. There are twenty-one actors in the Thursday Troupe.
Many actors are accompanied to class with Support Professionals from local agencies. The Support Professionals offer one to one support throughout class.
Our Theatre Adventure staff consists of two Directors and three teachers. We have a full time volunteer costumer, two technology consultants, and several dedicated community volunteers who provide extra help at show time and during fundraisers. We are also fortunate to have visiting artists for dedicated periods of time. Musicians/songwriters, dancers/choreographers, and scenic/fabric/visual artists bring a depth of skill and artistry to our students that benefit all. A core belief in Theatre Adventure is that everyone is a learner and further, discovering one’s growing edge provides inspiration for creating remarkable theater.
SENSORY Friendly
For many people with developmental challenges, being quiet in an audience can be difficult. Feeling comfortable in new situations can be challenging. Making sense of the theater lights, amplification of voices, characters that might seem scary, stage fighting, and more can be overwhelming. And yet, live theater is an opportunity that should be available to all. We offer “Sensory-Friendly” performances. The production remains the same. The difference is that special care is taken to prepare audience members for the experience of attending a live theater production. Before the show begins, the Director talks about the lights, sounds, costumes, and characters of the play in order to support the comfort level of audience members. There is a break room across from the performance hall for audience members who might need quiet space during part of the performance. A social story to help prepare audience members for the theater experience is available upon request anytime before the performance.
