Everyoneâs got a busy schedule- between schoolwork, sports, clubs, and other activities, it can be hard to stay organized as a Unified Theater student leader. And when organization gets tough, communication often goes with it.
Communication is probably the most important element in being an effective student leader, and heading a successful Unified Theater program. Not only is it imperative to be on the same page with your fellow leaders and advisor, but with the cast and crew as well. When the leaders arenât all communicating effectively, ideas can often get lost in translation, people may not be heard, important tasks might not get done, and miscommunication can lead to hurt feelings.
 In my own experience as a UT leader, Iâve seen how communication can be vital to the entire production. My leadership team met on a bi-weekly basis, however we tended to formulate great ideas during our meetings, only to fail to follow-up on them in between our meetings. As the year went on, there was often confusion between the student leaders. Additionally, communication between the student leaders and the cast and crew is extremely important in ensuring that everyone is having a good experience with UT. Asking for feedback, building relationships with everyone involved, and tailoring to everyoneâs interests is key to keeping your production functioning well. If the student leaders are getting wrapped up in their responsibilities, it can be easy to ignore the castâs needs and miss the point of Unified Theater altogether!
If your production experiences communication issues, try these helpful tips:
1.    Start a student leader group chat to discuss ideas and check in on everyoneâs progress with tasks. If someone in your leadership group doesnât have a phone, apps like Facebook Messenger and even Instagram have group chat features!
2.    Setup a Facebook Group, Google Classroom, Email system, or Remind App Alerts to get in touch with your cast and crew members!
3.    If you encounter an issue with a fellow leader, address it with them respectfully and in due time! At Unified Theater, the only drama weâre interested in is the kind that happens onstage đ
4.    If youâre feeling like thereâs a lack of communication between the leaders and the cast, invite a cast or crew member to a leader meeting and let them share how they feel the show is going. Remember- even though we have leader roles, it doesnât mean our opinions are any more important than those of the cast or crew members.
5.    If there are leadership positions that donât require much work during rehearsal or the show, keep those people involved in the cast! This way, they will directly relate to how the cast is feeling about the production.
6.    Always stay optimistic! Talk to your advisor if you are having serious communication issues after trying these tips, but remember to have patience and positivity!
by Abby Condon & Emily Camargo, UT Alumni and current UT Advisors
This year, the UT Staff realized something very exciting - we had two new advisors who are also Unified Theater Alumni! Both attended Conard High School and are back in West Hartford teaching middle school and continuing the UT tradition for a new generation! We asked Abby and Emily to reflect on their UT experience and why they wanted to become advisors!
by Abby Condon, Advisor at King Philip Middle School
I joined Unified Theater during my freshman year at Conard High School after participating in Unified Sports throughout middle school. I knew I had found a group I wanted to be a part of when the focus was on encouraging everyoneâs ability to shine, opposed to competing against each other by focusing on our differences. According to the Mean Girlsâ categorization, our group included the band geeks, the varsity jocks, the math nerds, and the freshmen. However, at Unified Theater, those labels do not matter. We all collaborated, cooperated, and contributed towards our final production. We danced, we sang (in Sign Language, too!), and we acted. I was continuously reminded that imperfections should be embraced. I was shown that there are multiple ways to communicate, whether it be facial, via an iPad, or through movement. I learned how to lead a large group of people toward a common goal. It was in those moments that I decided to become a special education teacher. I wanted to help people realize their true potential while defying the limits of their labels. Now, I am beginning my first year as a Unified Theater advisor and I could not be more excited. Itâs like they say, everything happens for a reason.
by Emily Camargo, Advisor at Bristow Middle School
My name is Emily Camargo and I am now an alumni and soon to be a teacher advisor at the wonderful Bristow Middle School in West Hartford. I participated in the very first middle school UT performance. From that point on, I was hooked. At the age of about 12 years old, I loved the feeling that I had as I was able to work with people of all different kinds of abilities. UT helped me see that those with disabilities are more alike then people may think. After two years of UT at middle school, I moved along to take part in the UT program at my high school where I was really able to engross myself in the program. During UT in high school, I loved it so much that I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. FAST FORWARD. I am back from a short college break and am going to be introducing and leading many wonderful children into the new UT program at Brisow Middle School. I look back and think how grateful I am to have had UT to guide me into my passion of working with those with amazing abilities. I can't wait to pass that passion onto my students.
In almost every Unified Theater production, there is a need for props. Usually, it is easier and cheaper to make these props instead of buying them all. However, some props may seem impossible to achieve without going to great lengths or buying it. Maybe you donât know where to find materials, or are having trouble getting everything you need. If thatâs the case, here are some tips and tricks to help you out!
When you first get together a list of all the props you need, try to see if any props are similar or can have a double use. For example, one year my group needed both pillows and marshmallows for our performance. So, we used a few small, white pillows for both. Additionally, the scene was written so that the actors mentioned the marshmallows/pillows when they came to the part where the props were in use, so that the audience would not be left guessing. This tactic can be applied to many things. A laptop can double as a book, and a long table can be seen as a bench. Just be sure to clarify this in your scene by stating what it is to the audience! Â
Props from previous years can be reused or re-purposed. Look around, see what your group has stored up. If you can reuse them or alter them slightly, go for it! Also, ask around. Perhaps the drama club or another theater group has something to spare. If you are going to re-purpose a prop, make sure itâs in decent condition, but donât use something brand new. Use parts of different props to create a completely different one. For example, you could use some old rope and green paper to create a vine or some other plant. All you would need is a little glue. You could also take a board with something painted on one side and turn it around and put something on the other side.
Re-purposing isnât limited to old props. You can also use old household items, or things marked for the trash can. A shoebox can be turned into a treasure chest. A Whitmanâs chocolate box can be turned into a TV. Old clothes hangers can be transformed into a hook. The possibilities are vast. Take the list of props that you need, and see what can come from what. Look around your own house for possibilities.
Of course, you wonât always be able to find exactly what you need. When that happens, you can poke around for deals at your local craft store, or dollar stores. Places like party stores and thrift shops are also great places to dig up a good deal. First, make a list of what you need. Look over that list. See if anything on it can be replaced with a cheaper item. Then, check the clearance area first. There is always a chance that you will find a hidden gem. But, if you are looking to save money, use this as a last resort. Even then, look for the best deals you can and buy only the bare necessities.
For the past two months, employees from The Hartford and clients from HARC, Inc (creating The HARCford) have come together for about 90 minutes each week to write, rehearse and produce an original piece of theater called âPostcards from Hartfordâ under the guidance of Unified Theater. Thanks to a grant from the Greater Hartford Arts Council, UT was able to partner with HARC and The Hartford to pilot our very first adult, community program.
Yesterday was the final performance of âPostcards from Hartfordâ and a few of our new friends from The Hartford blogged about their experience. Thanks to Carrie and Brian for sharing their thoughts!
My experience with HARCFord
by Brian Quagan, employee of The Hartford
Today I got beat up by Batman because I was defacing the Mark Twain House. During work hours. It was part of an original theater production put on by some folks from The Hartford and folks from HARC, an advocacy and service organization for people with various disabilities. HARC employees as well as clients joined us here every Wednesday for the past ten weeks. It was facilitated by a wonderful, national non-profit (formed at Conard High) called Unified Theater. Unified Theater normally goes to various schools throughout the country and helps them produce an original piece of theater from scratch with a "Spotlight on Ability" and focusing on what people CAN do rather than what they can't. And all are welcome.Â
This approach to life means so much to me. About four years ago I got involved with Sea Tea Improv in downtown Hartford and learned about improv comedy, inclusiveness, building a real community and saying "Yes.'â To build a good scene you need to accept your scene partnerâs ideas and build upon them, no exceptions. We "Yes, And" our partners, we treat them like they are geniuses, artists and poets (to quote the late Del Close). And the more we treat each other like that, the more likely we are to become that on stage.Â
Day 1 of writing in our groups for Postcards from Hartford:
"What do you guys want to do, who do you want our scene to be about?"
Ernest responds "Batman."Â "Alright let's do Batman in Hartford." (Yes &Â In Hartford)
"Where in Hartford should we do it?"  Charles responds, "He should fight the Riddler!"Â
"Totally, how about the Riddler defacing the Mark Twain House?" (Yes & The Mark Twain House)Â
"I hope you guys know you're both going to be Batman and Robin."  Huge smiles all around.
 Not everything has to be well thought out. We can honor each otherâs ideas and have fun with the mistakes and blunders along the way because they are always GIFTS. These are the lessons I've learned in improv and as I become an almost real adult of 27 years. Just make a decision and go, we'll figure it out along the way and as long as we are all being honest and supportive of one another, everything will be great. We have a responsibility to one another to have fun while we are on this earth, fun is contagious. Try having some fun and other people are gonna poke their heads around the corner and might even join you.
Beautiful Example: Yesterday, Lou from HARC. We are all in 2 lines doing our dance to Stevie Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Lou breaks convention and moves to the front of the stage and proceeds to break it down. HARD. Dancing like a fool. Was it part of the plan? No. But, was it the more fun and better option? Certainly. We all laughed like crazy and then he joined our group instead of his own for the bow.Â
I had such a great time seeing co-workers and new friends getting so comfortable being uncomfortable which is a great way to live, isn't it? Knowing that things probably won't go as planned and that's okay? Because it could be even better. Jump into the unknown! Grab onto an opportunity like this if it comes your way because you might look like a fool and you might have the time of your life. Or you might set the stage for someone else to have theirs. What a fun 10 weeks. Thanks to everyone at The Hartford, HARC and Unified Theater for making this production possible.
Brian is also performing at the Hartford Improv Festival this weekend, April 6th â 9th! Seateaimprov.com and hartfordimprov.com
I always wanted to be an actressâŠ.
by Carrie Langschultz, employee at The Hartford
âFor the past 10 weeks, I've had the opportunity to participate in the Unified Theater production of "Postcards from Hartford", working with The Hartford employees and HARC staff & clients to write and act in an original play. I remember driving in to work one morning a few months ago, listening to the radio and feeling sad â saying to myself, "I need a volunteer opportunity, some small way to help make a difference."Â
Lo and behold, when I got to my desk and opened my email, one of those emails felt kind of 'heaven sent'. It was titled "Take Center Stage with FAN's* Community Partners" and started off; "Looking for 10-15 volunteers to help put the Spotlight on Ability!"Â
Back in college during the summer I had worked for Saratoga County ARC in New York so I knew how rewarding and fun this could be. Wow, I thought â how perfect. I quickly looked at the calendar and checked some dates. âWell, I'll be 7 months pregnant and pretty round by the time our performance rolls around but 'what the hey' â I'm in!â I immediately emailed the coordinator to sign up and I also forwarded the email to a friendly new colleague of mine who I knew had experience performing on stage â with hopes she might want to get involved too. I was pleasantly surprised and thankful when she did (thanks again, Anne)!
Last Thursday was our inaugural performance at the Watkinson School in Hartford and in terms of my expectations, it did not disappoint. As Hartford employees and HARC staff and clients arrived at the venue I could tell how happy and excited all involved were. Michael Jones, one of the staff at HARC, further proved this in the stories he shared with me about HARC clients. Michael told me that one woman who was part of my scene had been approaching staff and HARC participants telling them to 'focus' and then encouraging them to practice the sign language we all learned that is weaved into the show. He shared that clients who were normally kind of quiet had come out of their shell and were engaging in animated conversation about the play â that they felt like they were part of a club, something special.Â
That's sure how I felt when I looked around me at all of the smiling faces of my fellow actors and actresses â that I was part of something special. I saw how all cast members who had lines to say were working right up until show time, checking out their lines, reciting them, thinking of their cues. This was new for all of us, not only the folks from HARC! One actor had his lines on flashcards bound by a metal ring and others had pieces of paper to guide them. And I was so proud of everybody, my fellow Hartford colleagues and HARC staff and participants as we came together on stage to make this unique show happen. When the actor with the ring-bound flashcards nailed his lines I felt myself grinning ear to ear, on the verge of tears, applauding him enthusiastically along with my new friends and the audience.Â
Just being a leader doesnât make people listen to you. Successful youth leaders have many qualities that make other members respect them and make them willing to follow the direction of that leader.
Among the many qualities of a successful youth leader, the top 5 qualities are: pursue your passion, listen and observe, know the time when you should be serious and when you can let loose, being organized, and admitting when you are wrong.
1. Pursue Your Passion
âChoose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.â This great quote by Confucius is still relevant today. As a youth leader, if you love your role or position you are more likely to lead with more confidence and more members will want to follow your directions because they know that you are enjoying yourself and are willing to do anything for your program. That will set an example so that they to, will be willing to do anything for the program
 2. Listen And Observe
If you can, take the time to step back and listen and observe your group as a whole. If you can observe as often as you give them direction, then you will have a better understanding of your program as a whole. A great leader has the patience to take a step back from the group and observe the image of your group. Pay close attention to things that could be improved, but also notice what is working. Share your ideas and observations with your fellow leaders and the rest of the group whenever possible. This short time can help avoid or fix  problems in the future.
      3. Know The Time When You Should Be Serious And When You Can Let Loose
There is always a time and a place where you should be serious or when you can be a little silly. A great leader knows the balance of when to be serious and when to be silly. A perfect example is if you are in the middle of a rehearsal and another leader is trying to make some improvements to a dance or scene you should be serious and should be paying attention. If you are in the middle of a snack break you can let loose and be a little silly.
       4. Being Organized
Being organized is one of the most important qualities to have as a youth leader. Being organized helps your program to be more effective. Being organized is not just having a schedule, being organized means you can stick to a schedule, are on time, have lists of things that you need (prop list, song list, scene list), and you are able to find anything you need at a moment's notice. Organization also means that other members of the leadership team are on the same page as you, in regards to the schedule and goals for each rehearsal. If you are organized, everything in your show should run smoothly.
       5. Admitting When You Are Wrong
   Being able to admit you are wrong is a great quality to have as a youth leader. You might not always be right, but if you have the confidence to admit you are wrong then you will gain the respect of your cast members and at the end of the day, you will feel better about yourself. You will also be able to learn from your mistakes and can make a better decision. When other leaders, advisors, or cast members correct you or make a suggestion, take the time to listen and correct yourself. Itâs not easy, but it is important.
âPersonal Song Share: Prepare to bring a song into class that has had great meaning in your life in either the past or present.â This was my most recent assignment for my Overview of Music Therapy class as a first semester Music Therapy major at Temple University. I was stumped at first; music has accompanied me through a lot in life and no single song seemed to stick out as the most impactful in my life. Then, I sat down to write this blog and instantly knew what song I would share with my peers. A song many of them have likely never heard before, but which has touched thousands of lives from coast to coast. âWe Are Unifiedâ, a song that is inextricably linked to this amazing program that has impacted my life in amazing ways for over 5 years, and will undoubtedly continue to shape my life for the better as I move through college and beyond. No other song encompasses so many memories with so many amazing people, and no other song best explains what led me to choose music therapy as a career.
The idea that music and the arts have undeniable power is central to both Unified Theater and music therapy. When both performing onstage along with my peers in the many different UT performances and when observing music therapy sessions Iâve had the same feeling of âthis is itâ. This is truly making music and magic together, this is positive change, this is inspiration, this is happiness. There is plenty of scientific research behind music therapy, including how music affects our brain and allows for physical, emotional, and cognitive improvement. But what makes music therapy so powerful and special to so many therapists and clients is hard to pinpoint with scientific proof, just as the way performing for the first time or crossing an imaginary bridge created by different abilities is hard to describe.
The first time I sang the lyrics âwatch how we shineâŠâ in eighth grade, I had yet to realize the new direction my life was being taken by joining Unified Theater. Up until then, I had little to no experience with my peers with disabilities, or any sort of disability awareness or activism. I was shy, unsure of myself, and unsure of how to interact with those who at first seemed so different from me. Fast forward 5 years, I was singing the lyrics I knew by heart for the last time with my Simsbury High group, fighting back tears as I held hands and took a bow with some of the most amazing people I have ever and will ever have the privilege of knowing. Iâve made connections with other teenagers through the Spring Tour, CampUT, and the YLC, and I can only hope Iâve touched some of these peopleâs lives as much as theyâve touched mine.
As I shared a video of âWe Are Unifiedâ with my class, I was filled with immense pride and gratitude. My professor commented how nice it was of me to get involved in a program like that. But I knew my peers, especially those with disabilities, gave so much more to me than I could ever have given them. Iâve learned patience, compassion, the importance of a smile, and that even when oneâs brain or body works a little differently, that does not affect their ability to shine. I hope that as a future music therapist, the musical experiences I share with my clients help them to each find their own unique light to spread through the world.
Have you ever had trouble coming up with a good theme for your Unified Theater production? Or making sure that everyoneâs ideas are heard? By following these 5 easy steps you can increase the effectiveness of your brainstorming sessions.
1) Get Inspired
Research topics and themes that you might think are interesting and come to the meeting with ideas. It also might be worth it to go over the pros and cons of last yearâs production to find a theme that better suits your school's needs. Using the UT Forums on the Spotlight Center is also a great way to learn about other productions and common questions. It also might be helpful to reference other schoolâs themes and productions to get back in the UT mindset.
2) Create an Open-Minded Atmosphere
Often the crazy ideas are the ones that work. Remember to keep the UT attitude of no judgment and inclusion and everyone will have a great time. If you notice negative talk such as âNo, that wouldnât workâ Â or âThatâs a bad ideaâ, remind everyone that there are no bad ideas and to turn the conversation in a positive direction.
3) Make a List
It seems like the opposite of creativity but by creating a numbered list you can easily refer back to ideas and create a group goal. By having a numerical goal the group can become motivated to reach a set goal and come up with awesome and innovative ideas. This is best done on large paper or a whiteboard so that everyone can see and add in. My school likes to use giant sticky-notes when coming up with ideas.
4) Everyone Has a Voice
You might encounter some quieter kids in your UT group who donât want to participate in the discussion. Ask them their opinion and see if they have anything to add. People on the shyer side often have great ideas but donât necessarily feel comfortable speaking up. It might be helpful to enforce a âOne Conversation at a Time Ruleâ so that people do not get sidetracked with other conversations or talking about multiple themes at once. By keeping everyone engaged and on the same page, the group will be much more productive.
5) Agree As a Group
When it comes time to finally pick out the theme for your production, you may encounter conflicts between members. Remember that everyone is in this together and by picking a theme that not everyone agrees on, it can be difficult to get their participation later on. If there seems to be no one theme that the group can agree on, try combining the themes or coming to a compromise.
Have you wanted to play a game with your fellow students but not been able to find a game? Well, I have some ideas for you! Theater games and having fun are a large part of Unified. They improve skills and are extremely enjoyable!
Some of the games I like to play with my Unified group include Bus Stop; Dream It And Be It; and Pass the Pulse! These games require team work positive energy and acting.
Bus Stop is an improv game played by having a bench or two chairs and two members sitting in them. The object of the game is to get the person in the left chair out of the seat. You act as though you have never met each other. You can not touch the person you have to be very creative to come up with a creative way to get the other person out of the chair. This game can be used the entire term! This really builds teamwork and acting skills.
Dream It And Be It is basically a game of charades. You choose an occupation and act it out. Someone will raise their hand and they can guess! This has been a great icebreaker for us. We use this in the beginning when we don't really know everyone. The improves acting and cooperation skills.
Finally, Pass the Pulse is a game where everyone holds hands in a circle and you squeeze the person on your right sides hand and pass it around the circle as fast as you can. Make it a challenge to go faster and faster! We normally use this towards the end of Unified rehearsals, especially before shows. This improves teamwork and cooperation.
Often, the cast will want to work harder if they take a game breaks or are able to play a game during the session. It burns some energy and gets creative juices flowing. They encourage teamwork but also helps with active listening.
I definitely know Middletown Unified Theater loves our games. I am sure your group will too!
UT Staff Note: You can also check out the Forums on the Spotlight Center for TONS of different theater games!
Originally, I was a person who was more of an introvert and really didnât have many friends. Â I was one of the few kids in my school who was in a wheelchair.
Although I was in the mainstream classes I think sometimes the other kids in school didnât know how to relate to me because I was different from them. After school one day, while in my freshman year of high school, I was approached by a teacher who told me about an opportunity called Unified Theater. Â It sounded interesting to me. So I went that day and I actually had a very good time.
At UT I met a lot of new people who became fast friends. It really did change my life by allowing me to discover that other people in the same age range as me have some of the same interests as I do. I think the other kids also learned that I was really just another one of them.
 Unified Theater has now been a part of my life for the past six years and it has continued to help me make new friends even after high school. In UT, the differences disappear.
UT Staff Note: Unified Theater is a staunch advocate for actors with disabilities being cast in more roles across the board - those written as characters with disabilities and those written without. The disability community has been advocating for years for more representation of disability in Hollywood and especially for actors with disabilities to be cast when a character is written as having a disability. Thanks to Maddie for taking on this important issue!
According to a new study conducted by the Ruberman White Paper, 95% of roles for characters with disabilities are actually played by actors without disabilities. But, there are some shows and movies who have cast actors with down syndrome, hearing loss, and cerebral palsy to play characters with a disability.
Recently, I have been watching the show Switched At Birth. This show on Freeform is about two girls whose ID tags were switched when they were born. As a result, their parents were accidentally sent home from the hospital with the wrong babies. Fifteen years later, one of the girls, Bay Kennish discovers that the parents she has been living with are not her biological parents. The other girl who was switched is deaf. In this drama series, Katie LeClerc plays Daphne Vasquez, a 15 year old who went deaf when she was three years old due to meningitis.
Actress Katie LeClerc is actually hard of hearing in real life. In fact, all of the lead characters who are deaf are played by deaf or hard of hearing actors! The following actors in Switched At Birth are deaf or hard of hearing in real life.
Katie Leclerc (Daphne) - Meniereâs Disease. Because of this disease, she experiences hearing loss and sometimes she hears a roaring sound like she is listening to a seashell. Some days, Katie can hear pretty well, but some days she can hear nothing at all.
Ryan Lane (Travis) - Deaf
Marlee Matlin (Melody) - went deaf when she was 13 months old
Sean Berdy (Emmett) - Deaf since birth
Berdy believes that casting him and his fellow Deaf and hard of hearing castmates brings a realistic aspect to the show. Berdy, who is Deaf, also says that the way Deaf culture is portrayed in the show is very accurate. Casting actors with disabilities has made this show more deep and realistic. It is great how the Freeform network has made a show that is so realistic by incorporating a vast amount of deaf culture and education into one show.
Other movies and shows have incorporated actors with disabilities into their programs. Lauren Potter is a 26 year old actress with Down Syndrome. She played a returning character, Becky, on Glee.
Potter is a strong activist for people with intellectual disabilities, and she has even traveled all around the United States to speak against bullying. Lauren Potter was bullied all throughout high school for being different from everyone else. By speaking out, she feels as if she is making a difference in the world. Luke Zimmerman, an actor who also has Down Syndrome played Tom Bowman on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Freeform and Fox cast actors with disabilities on their shows. By doing this, they made a more inclusive environment and didnât exclude anyone.
Speechless, a new ABC show first aired on September 21st, 2016. It is about a family who moves to a new town with their three kids, two without disabilities, and one child that has cerebral palsy. This new sitcom focuses on an average family who does whatever they can to find the best school and environment for their child with a disability. Â JJ DiMeo, a teenager with cerebral palsy is played by Micah Fowler, a new-to-the-screen actor who also has cerebral palsy. He says that he hopes that by watching the show, people begin to see his character JJ as a normal person and forget about his disability all together.
By watching Switched At Birth, I learned some sign language, since all of the actors sign when talking. So, by spending so much of my time watching this show and picking up on some sign language, I can use some of my knowledge to communicate with Deaf and hard of hearing students in my schoolâs Unified Theater program! By watching Glee and Switched at Birth, it also showed me how kids my age with disabilities really arenât any different from me and other teenagers my age without disabilities.
Every time I see a Unified Theater performance, I immediately remember participating in some of the first shows 15 years ago. For as much as the organization has grown into a nationally recognized leader in inclusion, at its heart, it is still a small, community-driven program that has retained its student-led roots.
I still see so much of those early days on the faces of the kids during the shows today â nervous excitement as the curtain comes up, laughter as scenes and songs are finished, and overwhelming pride as the audience rises from their seats in standing ovations as the stage lights dim.
Watching these shows, it is hard to contain a smile when you recall those exact same feelings as a teenager (particularly one who wasnât someone whoâd ever get a lead part in the school play, but felt included and empowered at Unified Theater). Making new friends at Unified was easy in a high school-world filled with social circles that were often difficult to navigate, even those that you were familiar with. I felt welcomed and unjudged from day one, and that feeling persisted until I graduated and moved away to college. What Unified gave me, very early on in my life, was an appreciation for approaching people with an open mind and arms, regardless of their outwardly apparent abilities or disabilities. People have a funny way of surprising you when given a chance, free from preconceived notions, and Unified Theater was instrumental in developing that mindset for me. Â
It brings me such happiness to know that the Unified Theater community has grown exponentially since the very first program at Conard High School, and has left thousands of participants, audience members, families and educators with a better appreciation for the power of student-driven inclusion. Itâs pretty amazing what kind of accepting and empowering worlds kids can create on their own, and ones that are often more educational than a classroom setting. Hereâs to another 15 successful years of Unified! I canât wait to see what is in store next!
(Brendan, center, at the 2014 UT Spotlight Celebration)
Hey UT Rockstars! Iâm Lauren, a Junior and a producer of Unified Theater at Conard High School. Today I want to teach you guys about how to learn sign language (ASL) for your show!
The first step to take is to pick the right song. Make sure the tempo is a little bit slower, especially if youâre signing the whole song. Make sure the song isnât too wordy (like a rap) or youâll have trouble keeping up with the music. Also, itâs important to make sure the song is engaging, no matter the tempo!
The next step is to find someone to teach you the sign language. Ask around your school to see if there is any one who knows sign language. You may have someone at your school who uses or knows someone who uses sign language to communicate. There also may be a teacher of the deaf or interpreter at your school or in your school district who can help. Also, see if there is someone at a school for the deaf nearby that can help you. Town recreation departments and community colleges may offer sign language courses, so those instructors would be a good resource.
Remember, these people are fluent, so they might sign too fast for you or your participants, so try asking them to teach you a simplified version.
If you canât find anyone nearby, try Youtube. Many people make ASL (American Sign Language) music videos and some of these people will also have instructional videos explaining the signs they use. Be careful to make sure the Youtuber is someone who uses sign language in their daily life, and not someone who is learning sign language.
Some great Youtubers for ASL music videos are: Rosa Lee Timm, Russell Harvard, Tina Sirimarco, Molly Bartholomew. Also ASL Anissa has a lot of instructional videos and they are accurate although she is still learning ASL.
If that doesnât work, ask other schools who have done a song in sign or bring back one you have already done. Other schools may be able to send you a video of the song they did in sign language or direct you to someone who can teach you.
The last option is using an online dictionary. You can use the dictionary to translate words, but the grammar of your song in sign wonât be super accurate. Using an online ASL dictionary is okay for the chorus of a song, but donât try to translate a whole song into ASL with a dictionary.
Here are some good websites to try: Lifeprint.com, signingsavvy.com, startamericansignlanguage.com, and ASL Nook.
Sometimes remembering all the signs is tough so ask about memory tips. All of the signs are the way they are for a reason. Water, for example is a âWâ at your mouth because you drink water. These little tips can help you and the participants with memorizing the sign language. Also, if you have a website or social media account for your UT group, post a video of you signing the song. This can help kids who were absent, afraid to ask for more help, or just confused!
Good luck on learning some sign language, I canât wait to see how all of yours turn out!
I joined Unified Theater as a sophomore in high school. Â My favorite part of Unified Theater was being included and not feeling like I wasn't part of a group.
High School can be really hard, but it was so great to have all the students come together.  Everyone was always so caring and kind and engaging.  Unified Theater gave students who normally wouldnât get the opportunity to perform the chance to be involved.  We just included everyone, whatever their niche was. My favorite show was New York or Broadway.Â
I cherish Unified Theater, and I am forever grateful. Â Thatâs why I continue to volunteer with Unified Theater whenever I can. Â And I still do theater whenever I can!* So thank you to all of you Conard/Hall alumni who participated in Unified Theater! Â I love you all!
*You can catch Matt Nelson in the West Hartford Community Theater Fall 2016 musical production of âBeauty and the Beastâ this November 11-20!
So you and your fellow leaders are in a predicament. You canât come up with your showâs theme. What should you do? First off stay calm, coming up with a theme is not an easy task and you and your fellow leaders should put careful thought into what it is.
To start, you should plan a meeting with each other where you will have time to discuss and give input about the theme. A good opportunity is during your school's Spotlight Summit or before/after school. Your advisor should also be included in this decision. For our school we met before school and came up with the theme at the summit but it ultimately depends on everyone's availability. Once you have a place and time to meet itâs time to get the ball rolling. The best way to come up with a theme is to generate as many ideas as possible, the more the better! Some may seem really weird, but all ideas are good ones. Other helpful things to think are: What worked for previous Unified Theater show themes? What didn't? What would you like to incorporate (whether that be a message or moral) throughout the show? What will the cast and audience interested in?
In my experience, the best themes are usually the ones that can offer tons of scene ideas. Last year, my school did Hollywood as our theme. The second we said the idea of Hollywood tons of ideas began forming and even song ideas were put in place. From there we developed an underlying message which was âEveryoneâs a Starâ we highlighted the positivity of Hollywood. While figuring out our theme we discovered that there are some topics that wonât work. We thought of doing Movie decades but felt for our school and age group would be too specific and another school had done a very similar theme. So we chose Hollywood because it was different and could give actors different opportunities. Your theme shouldn't be too specific or too broad and should fit well with the age group of the actors.
When coming up with the theme itâs important to listen to everyoneâs ideas. Be creative! You can always combine ideas. Keep in mind your Director is ultimately the one that decides so make sure you let him/her put their thoughts in. A good theme keeps the audience and cast entertained. The cast should enjoying writing and coming up with their scene and there should be tons of scene options. While discussing your theme take notes for each idea. Soon you will have a very long list, at this point go through the list. Think about what scenes can go with the theme, how universal the theme is, will people like it? Those are all important questions your group should think about. Once you have two to three themes in mind put it in the hands of your director and let him/her think it through and come up with the final decision. Now you have your theme, your school is one step closer to having an incredible Unified Theater show!
Oh man. Â It canât really have been fifteen years, can it?
I promise, the shock isnât simply because that makes me almost thirty (say what?!) or because it floods me with the realization that itâs been a very long time since I walked Conard halls as a student.... Â Itâs hard to imagine itâs been fifteen years since twelve of us, students with and without disabilities, crowded into my living room to talk about âthis thingâ that we were going to put together â this thing that became Unified Theater. Â
Itâs wild to think that a night tie-dying T-shirts in the Formanâs basement has multiplied into hundreds of shirt-decorating nights coast to coast. It makes my heart smile knowing that when we learned Bob Dylanâs âBlowing in The Windâ in sign language all those years ago, we were setting the stage for thousands of young people to create their own art and build their own productions. Â I donât believe any of us, particularly me, thought that little show we staged in a jam-packed choir room on a Friday night would become what Unified Theater has today.
But, Unified Theater still matters today, fifteen years after our founding, for reasons so much bigger than tie-dye shirts, and sign language lyrics, and standing ovations. Â Iâm still a theater kid at heart, and the boundless creativity Unified Theater lets participants experience is so important. Â But, itâs so much more than what happens on the stage. Â Unified Theater matters â maybe more than ever â because of what it does to inspire young people to be citizens and leaders who value inclusion. Â Not inclusion in a tokenistic way, or in an âIâll be nice to you because I feel bad for youâ way. Â Unified Theater trains young people how to value inclusion as a way of life. Â We learn how to look at difference as an asset, not simply a challenge. And, in a world thatâs not always focused on kindness and joy, it brings a lot of that awesomeness too. Â Itâs a place where performers, audiences, educators, and community members are reminded that perhaps the most important thing we can do is be nicer to and more supportive of each other â and have some fun while doing it.
If you had told me on that first show how Unified Theater would grow, or what a profound impact it would have on my life, I wouldnât have believed you in a million years. Â Unified Theater shifted the orbit of my life. Â Itâs led to life-altering relationships, new perspectives on the world, valuable insights, and memories Iâll never forget. Â
Still, when I reflect on the last fifteen years, it has little to do with big events or the big life-altering impact. Itâs the little moments that are burned in my heart. Â Itâs remembering Jamie saying âDo it again!â with air quotes. Itâs that time we all sang Kaiaâs âWeâre Unifiedâ Â in the rain at Six Flags. Itâs Katie and Dani posing out front of the PLL set in LA. Itâs singing for our supper at Salute. Â Itâs running into alumni on the streets in West Hartford who can still remember songs from their productions years ago. Â Itâs knowing Tori will take her Unified Theater experience into the classroom. Itâs Michael rolling his eyes and chuckling about what a generally frazzled crazy lady I was at every single Spotlight Summit (right before I almost fell off a chair doing the âWeâre Unifiedâ dance). Itâs that cupcake photo of Keenan and Ryan that Michelle took. Itâs eavesdropping on parents in the audience of Southingtonâs first production talking about the impact of Unified Theater on their kids. Â So many heart-exploding, simply wonderful, moments.
Itâs knowing that the impact Kelsey has had on my life has rippled out in the most spectacular way. Â
Signing off from Ireland, feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.  Grateful that Unified Theater has and forever will be part of my journey.  For fifteen years⊠and counting.
by Lindsay, Unified Theater Youth Leader Council member
Much of the focus of Unified Theater tends to be on the inclusion of students of all abilities and disabilities. Â What makes UT unique, however, is the diversity of a cast not just of ability, but of personality, interests, and backgrounds. Â In fact, 95% of our participants at Barrington High School do not participate in any other theater program. Â While we welcome those more experienced with open arms, the fact that so few of us are actors outside of UT creates a really cool environment in which weâre all learning together- student leaders included. Â Weâve found that, at least at BHS, the students who demonstrate the most growth through UT are the ones who join UT to help us unleash the power of inclusion. Â What they donât expect, however, is the impact that the power of inclusion will have on them.Â
Unified Theater is not just about inclusion of special and general education students. UT is beneficial for everyone- hereâs some reasons why :)
 1.   Theater Games: much of our rehearsal time is spent on theater games, and for good reason. Theyâre fun, theyâre great âice-breakers,â and they help to raise a castâs energy.  They also help us improve our listening, concentration, and improvisational skills.  Where else in life do you learn how to problem solve by being given the task of forcing someone off of an imaginary bench without touching them?
2.   My Voice is Powerful: This one is especially true for introverts or those who prefer to stay in their shells.  Participating in theater helps everyone to find his or her voice.  After performing in front of an audience of 600, speaking up in a classroom is a piece of cake.Â
3.   There are no mistakes: The best thing about Unified Theater, as aforementioned, is that we are all learning together.  No one comes to a UT show expecting Broadway, and the best moments are usually in the little quirks that inevitably happen during the show.
4.   Be Kim Kardashian.  We donât care. : At UT, we write our own show, so you can have as big or little and as ridiculous of a part as you want.  At BHS, weâve seen a student who didnât want to have a big role make her character capable of only âclickingâ for communication.  Weâve also seen a student go all-out as Kim Kardashian.  This is the ultimate form of creative freedom. No more âtree 1â roles for you.
5.   Itâs a relatively small commitment: High school athletes are used to spending almost two hours everyday practicing or competing in their respective sports. Those not involved in athletics are most likely busy with other commitments, whether it may be a particularly active club or even a job.  Unified Theater meets only a couple times a week (depending on the school).
6.   Everyone in UT is awesome: This might seem like too much of a generalization, but I promise itâs true.  UT attracts students who are dedicated to creating a more inclusive environment at their schools, and what could be better than that? UT rockstars are creative, goofy, and fun. Â
7.   Inclusion...Duh: At each UT rehearsal, you will be 100% accepted and included, regardless of how goofy you get during theater games or how silly your scene is.  You also get to meet and develop friendships with people completely different than you in ability, interests, background, etc.  A Unified Theater cast is a tight-knit team made up of a broad range of personalities.  And you donât even have to try out.  Just come be part of the family.Â
Youâre on stage. Thereâs a bright light in your eyes, cameras are flashing, and itâs your shot. Your line has finally come up. Suddenly you freeze. Your whole body tenses up as you see the entire audience watching you. What do you do? You canât remember the line you had practiced! Â No need to panic! With a little time and practice, going on stage will be as easy as can be!
Step 1: Relax. There is nothing worse than going on stage stressed out. If you go on stage stressed out, you are setting yourself up for stage fright. Instead of tensing up and getting stressed, take deep breaths and talk to a friend close by to keep your mind off your fear of the  audience.
Step 2: Reassure yourself. Instead of doubting yourself and thinking that youâre going to be afraid, imagine that youâre going to blow the audience out of their seats. The more confident you are with yourself, the better the audience will like you. I personally had this happen to me and I kept telling myself that I was going to mess up my lines, but I went out there and realized that I could do it and I became more confident.
Step 3: Donât doubt yourself. Itâs human nature to doubt yourself. We all think of the worst case scenario, but try to not do this. Saying to yourself that you will mess up your lines is going to stress you out. Instead of doubting yourself, come up with backup plans in case you forget a line.
Step 4: The Audience wonât know! Everyone thinks that if they make a mistake on stage that the audience will judge them, but thatâs not true! If you make a mistake, the audience most likely wonât know. They werenât there for every rehearsal and they may think that itâs just part of the show. If you make a mistake, Â just go along with it.
Step 5: They wonât judge. Although you are most likely in front of a fairly large crowd, they are not judges. They are people who came to support you. They are friends, family, and others who just simply want to see a play. Worrying about them watching you will only frighten you more. Remember, they are going to see you and others perform a great show that you have worked hard for.
Step 6: Donât be afraid of the lights. The big bright spotlight may be scary, and if you have a fear of everyone watching, donât sweat it! From my personal experiences, when a spotlight is pointed at you, you canât see anything except light. All the people in the audience are blocked out and you are free to perform by âyourselfâ, since everyone is blocked by the light. If you think the light is scary, itâs nothing more than a big lamp. It is only there to help people see.
Step 7: Help others even if you have stage fright. Sometimes one of the best cures for stage fright is talking to someone else who also gets stage fright. Talking about it may make you feel like you are not the only one going through these fears and that it is normal. Just chat with some close friends quietly right before your time to go on stage.
