Theatre companies that are awesome.

There are some really stellar theatre companies out in the world doing cool work with and for people with special needs.  I want to list and discuss a few.

Boston is home to a really cool theatre company called Wheelock Family Theatre.  

Here is some of their mission statement: "Wheelock Family Theatre creates intergenerational and multicultural productions that provide a shared experience for the whole family... Among increasingly few institutions, we are committed to serving and supporting families of all kinds... We are especially dedicated to those who are historically under-served: people of color, people with disabilities, and low-income families... Our play selection, casting policy, affordable ticket prices, education programs, and access provisions for people with disabilities reflect an unwavering commitment to inclusive, community-based theatre..."

What is great about them is that they really are trying to make a difference.  I have seen a handful of productions there and while they are excellent in production value and performance, their commitment to giving any and all audience members a wonderful experience stands out most.  Every production has at least one ASL interpreted performance (possibly more than one), they have hearing devices for audience members who have hearing issues, their space is wheelchair accessible, select performances are also audio-described for the visually impaired.  They have braille playbills.  This place makes every effort to accommodate the diverse audience members that come through the doors.  While actors with disabilities have yet to really break through that particular glass ceiling, I can't imagine that they would discount someone with a disability if they auditioned and were right for the role (also, that is super illegal).  Time will tell, but they are a fantastic company.

Next up we head to Los Angeles, home to Deaf West Theatre.  

Deaf West has been making some awesome waves in the theatre community the last two years with their production of Spring Awakening, which transferred to Broadway in 2015 (and was nominated for a Best Revival of a Musical Tony Award).  Founded in 1989, Deaf West has been bringing hearing and deaf actors together on stage for almost 30 years.  Before their production of Spring Awakening, Deaf West made headlines when it's production of Big River came to Broadway in 2003.  What is so cool about these two productions, and others like them, is that they often have two actors, one hearing and one deaf, play each character.  This way their productions are still accessible to folks like me who can hear and whose ASL is a bit rusty.  Here is their 2004 Tony Awards "performance" of Big River.  Here is their 2016 Spring Awakening performance from the Tony Awards.

Here are some other really cool companies:

4th Wall Theatre Company in Michigan

Center Stage Theatre Company- Tapestry Company in Colorado

Exceptional Theater Company in Florida (their actual website is down, so get more info here)

Special Gift Theatre in Illinois

Actors Anonymous Theatre Company in Texas