The Access To Theatre Program (ATT) of Partners for Youth with Disabilities, in partnership with the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) will again take up residence in the Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts this summer. During a two-week residency, ATT will work with an inclusive group of youth with and without disabilities to create an original production that will include improvisation, stories, dance/movement, visual art, music and comedy to share with the public on Friday, August 4th, 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm, at the Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street in Boston's South End.
Created by, with and for young people ages 13 to 24 with and without disabilities, ATT provides fully accessible participatory theater arts experiences, enabling youth to develop creative expression, self-esteem, friendship and leadership skills. Participants work with professional artists to stage and create original theater productions and interactive audience experiences.
Moe Finnerty, ATT's Movement Director shared: "It's a diverse, organic group of artists...everyone is equal, doing it together...every child gets to decide on his or her own voice."
Since partnering with the BCA in 1997, ATT has worked with hundreds of young people in annual original productions viewed by thousands of audience members. Through these programs, participants explore movement, dance, visual arts, music, spoken word and the countless combinations that can be created in artistic experiences. Young participants also gain self-esteem and life enhancing skills. Almost eight out of ten young participants report enhanced team-working skills and more than 9 out of ten of ATT youth report significant improvement in their comfort levels with meeting new people.
The ATT residency runs from Monday, July 24th to Friday, August 4th and culminate in performances of original work on Friday, August 4th at 1pm and 6pm in the Cyclorama at the BCA. This year, ATT is delighted to welcome volunteers from Tufts Health Plan who will participate in several aspects of the summer institute and at the performances. All events are free and open to the public as well as wheelchair accessible, ASL interpreted and Audio Described. Donations are accepted. After the performances, guests are invited to enjoy a Ben & Jerry's Cream gathering with the cast.
More information at www.pyd.org