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"Disability On Stage": The DisAbility Project (USA) and Graeae Theatre (UK) Theatre's Impact on Disabled Actors: A Comparative Study

Kochensparger, Jonathan Wayne
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1574727755697283

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Theatre.
ABSTRACT Few opportunities and many challenges exist in professional theatre for performers who have disabilities in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Joan Lipkin leads a community theatre group in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States that provides opportunities for disabled actors to perform live theatre encompassing original material that is focused on bringing disabilities to the forefront of each production. Likewise, Jenny Sealey leads a professional theatrical company in London, England called The Graeae Theatre. Graeae hires disabled artists as actors, writers and producers. Graeae is leading the way in changing perceptions of non-disabled people and showing the world that disabled artists have important work to perform. This dissertation examines the impact theatre has on the quality of lives of disabled actors and civil rights gains achieved for them by examining the history of disablity theatre in a comparison study of the DisAbility Project of the United States and Graeae Theatre of the United Kingdom. It covers work by disability scholars in a field that is in its beginning stages historically and shows how far this discussion has come since the passage of the ADA in the United States in 1990. My research delves into the perspectives of disabled actors in The DisAbility Project from St. Louis as well as representatives of The Graeae Theatre Company in London. These interviews include perspectives from Joan Lipkin and Jenny Sealey as each one circumnavigates the political climates of their respective countries as well as dealing with funding issues. I also draw from scholarly works from Petra Kuppers, Bree Hadley, and Carrie Sandahl to illuminate where the research began and where it is heading as we move into a time in history where communication is instantaneous and lack of awareness is inexcusable. The continual evolution of media allows information to flow by a click of a button. I compare and contrast the work of Graeae and DisAbility Project and show how the work of the aforementioned scholars helps both companies attain more exposure and become well known in the world of theatre.
Lesley Ferris, Dr. (Advisor)
Beth Kattelman, Dr. (Committee Member)
Joseph Brandesky, Dr. (Committee Member)
Karen Mozingo, Dr. (Committee Member)
338 p.
Theater

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kochensparger, J. W. (2019). "Disability On Stage": The DisAbility Project (USA) and Graeae Theatre (UK) Theatre's Impact on Disabled Actors: A Comparative Study [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1574727755697283

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kochensparger, Jonathan. "Disability On Stage": The DisAbility Project (USA) and Graeae Theatre (UK) Theatre's Impact on Disabled Actors: A Comparative Study. 2019. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1574727755697283.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kochensparger, Jonathan. ""Disability On Stage": The DisAbility Project (USA) and Graeae Theatre (UK) Theatre's Impact on Disabled Actors: A Comparative Study." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1574727755697283

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.