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The Presence of the Gimp: A Study of the Complexities of Putting Disabled Actors Onstage

Summerville, Jill Ellen
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1417009068

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Theatre.
I examine the obstacles, both practical and theoretical, that keep gimp actors from finding work. In the first chapter, I reveal core concepts about what is considered “good” theatre, and how the ready acceptance of those standards works against gimp actors. In the second and third chapters, I apply a phenomenological lens to contemporary productions with gimp characters, played by either norms or gimps. In the fourth chapter, I provide examples of how gimp stand up comedians can make self-deprecating comedy. In the fifth chapter, I show how these techniques become more complex for a gimp character in a dark comedy, using A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. In the epilogue, I remind any discouraged theatre makers that the frustrating “truths” discussed throughout are fluid.
Jennifer Schlueter (Committee Chair)
Joy Reilly (Committee Member)
Beth Kattelman (Committee Member)
233 p.
Performing Arts
disability, gimp, wheelchair, theatre, phenomenology, stand up comedy

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Summerville, J. E. (2014). The Presence of the Gimp: A Study of the Complexities of Putting Disabled Actors Onstage [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1417009068

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Summerville, Jill. The Presence of the Gimp: A Study of the Complexities of Putting Disabled Actors Onstage. 2014. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1417009068.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Summerville, Jill. "The Presence of the Gimp: A Study of the Complexities of Putting Disabled Actors Onstage." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1417009068

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1417009068
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© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.