Sunday June 14th
10:00am - 3:00pm
The Menomonee Club Drucker Center - 1535 N. Dayton St, Chicago IL 60642
In this interactive session, A.B.L.E. Founder and Executive Artistic Director Katie Yohe will share A.B.L.E.'s ensemble-based approach for generating new stories and material with a neurodiverse cast. You'll experience A.B.L.E.'s rehearsal format first hand, and learn best practices for scaffolding inclusive rehearsals including inclusive language, differentiating instruction, and tools for emotional and sensory regulation. Participants will come away with a series of games and activities they can use to build characters, settings, and plot without relying on literacy or verbal communication.
Who is this session for?
This session is ideal for Teaching Artists, Directors, or Program Administrators who are interested in build their creative toolkit, or those who would like to expand their existing practice to include disabled and neurodivergent participants.
About the Presenter
Katie Yohe is a multi-faceted performer, director, producer, and educator with credits ranging from musicals to Shakespeare both in the U.S. and abroad. Katie holds a BFA in Drama from Syracuse University and a Masters with Distinction in Applied Theatre from The Royal Central School for Speech and Drama in London. As the Founder and Executive Artistic Director of A.B.L.E. - Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations - Katie specializes in collaborating with performers with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). She enjoys working collaboratively with performers to devise their own stories, or to find themselves in classic pieces, through a multitude of performance styles ranging from music to movement to puppetry. With A.B.L.E., she has produced and directed over 30 productions including stage plays, feature films, and digital projects all featuring neurodiverse ensembles. Katie has adapted 8 stories from the classical canon, including the critically acclaimed Frankenstein produced in partnership with Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In 2023, she was part of a delegation of artists who toured to Poland with the Center for International Theater Development. Katie has developed and led accessibility training for Northlight Theatre, UIC, Paramount Theater, and The Lyric Opera, among others. As a leader with a nonapparent disability, Katie centers accessibility throughout the creative process, and approaches her work with the ethos that the arts belong to everyone.
About A.B.L.E.
A.B.L.E. - Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations is a Chicago-based nonprofit with a mission of providing performing arts opportunities through which individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) can share who they are and all they are A.B.L.E. to do. Since 2016, A.B.L.E. has been creating innovative theatre, film, and digital projects for, with, and by actors with a range of disabilities including Down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy. A.B.L.E. has built a methodology rooted in fostering agency and independence, and celebrating the creativity of individuals of all abilities, both in person and virtually. By placing participants with disabilities in the spotlight, A.B.L.E. strives to shift societal preconceptions, and build more inclusive, empathetic communities.
Accessibility
- You will receive a social story before your session so you know what to expect.
- ASL interpretation will be arranged as requested by registrants.
- If you have additional access needs, please let us know!
Registration
Due to the interactive nature of this session, space is limited. Please register early to avoid disappointment.
Registration is Pay-What-You-Can. Please choose the pricing tier that works best for you at this time. If you need additional financial assistance, a limited number of free sessions are available. Please contact us for information.
Registration will close on Wednesday June 10th at 5pm
Questions?
If you need additional information, please contact A.B.L.E.'s Executive Artistic Director, Katie Yohe