News & Press Releases
I AM YOU
Dramatic Monologues Written & Performed by Individuals With Disabilities
I AM YOU is a joint fundraiser for Stone Belt and the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP). There will be two performances of this year’s I AM YOU monologues at the BPP located at 107 W 9th Street, Bloomington, IN.
Join us:
Saturday, March 6 @ 8 pm
Sunday, March 7 @ 2 pm
Tickets are $20 and will be available for purchase through the Buskirk-Chumley Theater (BCT) Box Office.
In Person: 114 E Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington
By Phone: 812-323-3020
Online: www.buskirkchumley.org
For more information call 812-332-2168, ext. 314 or email us.
Download a PDF of the event poster.
Now in its second season, I AM YOU was originally the brainchild of Michelle Davenport, a former Indiana University student volunteer who worked with clients in 2008 to write and perform stories of their lives. The first production of I AM YOU featured nine individuals sharing their stories, along with a powerful slide show and outstanding musical accompaniment provided by a client musician. The performance took place in November of 2008 at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, a local professional theatre with a mission to encourage playwriting in the community. The sold-out show drew a crowd of more than 100 audience members, with several dozen unfortunately turned away at the door once the theatre had reached capacity.
Audience members heard stories that touched on the whole gamut of the human experience – love, loss, independence, work ethic, family dynamics. There was a tremendous range of emotion shared, from great sadness to joyful humor. Performers invited the audience to learn about their lives, and to understand who they are as multi-faceted, self-determined individuals with many interests, goals, and accomplishments. The evening was an inspirational success, and the agency immediately recognized the powerful possibilities of sharing this program annually with the community.
In October of this year, Stone Belt began working with four new volunteer directors for I AM YOU. Two of the directors joined the project via Theatre of the People, a new inclusive theatre company located in Bloomington. Hannah Moss and David Nosko bring great knowledge and experience to the project, having worked both in front and behind the curtain in many theatrical productions. With the establishment of Theatre of the People, their goal is to create theatre that is accessible to everyone, including actors and audience members. Joining Hannah and David are two Indiana University students, Jami Patton and Sara Rebmann, who were recruited by outgoing volunteer director, Davenport. They bring wonderful background in creative writing and programming for individuals with disabilities.
Performing in the second season of I AM YOU will be fourteen individuals who utilize Stone Belt services, representing all facets of the agency’s programs, including educational programs, residential life, and community employment; and performers represent all of our service areas, including Bedford, Columbus and Bloomington. The agency is thrilled to have such a broad representation of individuals in the production.
Client performers and directors will spend 15 weeks working together to craft their monologues and work on the dramatics. They will then take the stage for two performances of I AM YOU in March of 2010.
Partnering once again with Stone Belt this year is the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP). The Theatre was very pleased with the professional production last year, and was eager to invite Stone Belt back for a return engagement. They have extended an entire weekend to Stone Belt for performances, allowing the production to have both a Saturday night show and a Sunday matinee the first weekend of March. In addition to the partnership with the BPP, Stone Belt is honored to be collaborating this year with both the Theatre of the People (providing volunteer direction), and Trinity Episcopal Church, which is providing all rehearsal space. Working with three supportive community partners on this production strengthens Stone Belt’s outreach and educational efforts.
I AM YOU provides individuals with disabilities with the opportunity to share their stories and showcase their talents. Participation in a professional theatre production is an exciting chance to demonstrate to the community that all individuals have impactful stories to share, and that all people have artistic skills, dreams and aspirations. Audience members will surely be moved by the experience, and will come away with a greater understanding of the ways in which all people contribute to the building of community.
Stone Belt is a not-for-profit organization that provides education and support for individuals with disabilities. Established in 1958, we are the oldest and largest agency of our kind in south central Indiana. We offer educational, residential, employment support and clinical and health services for over 1,300 clients in Monroe, Lawrence, Owen, Bartholomew, and surrounding counties. It is our mission, in partnership with the community, to prepare, empower and support persons with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the life of the community.
The Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) is a nonprofit theatre company that strives to be a leading artistic force in the production and encouragement of new American plays and playwrights. The BPP provides opportunities for development, education, and production for promising and established writers and theatre artists in a professional atmosphere.
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