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When COVID-19 forced Chicago theater to go dark, the A.B.L.E. Ensemble was one of the first to forge forward into the brave new world of digital programming. Not only did the plucky theater survive, in the face of the pandemic — their artistry thrived.
“You know I feel really humbled honestly because I think it’s been one of our strongest years and kind of our strongest seasons. Especially working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, any sort of social outlet is so important, especially for adults,” said A.B.L.E. Executive director Katie Yohe, of Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations (A.B.L.E.). The Chicago non-profit ensemble founded in 2016 that “creates theater and film for, with, and by individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities,” according to its website.
“The mental health toll of the pandemic was really strong for them so we saw a huge demand for programs and services, so we’ve been able to add workshops, add ensembles, and kind of keep pushing ourselves to do more just to make sure there was a place for our community to go.”
Though some theatermakers have groused over the limitations of Zoom, A.B.L.E. Stepped up to the challenge. “I think for the folks in the creative arts, it was sort of the ultimate test of all of our theatermaking skills, you know,” Yohe said. “It’s all of the improvisation skills that you’ve acquired, and your willingness to be adaptable, and say yes and keep trying, and work with your team and work with your community.”
And with that embrace of change came unexpected rewards for the actors. “I think having a little more control over their environment, being able to control the volume of class, the lighting in their room, and being in a comfortable familiar space, I think has helped some of our actors to become a lot stronger working virtually than they may have done in person.”
Their talents will be showcased in “Romeo and Juliet Remix,” a new take on the Shakespeare classic that combines the original work with original monologues and songs created by the cast.
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“The team working on ‘Romeo and Juliet Remix’ is Zooming in from about 10 different states… We have many actors with Down syndrome, we also have actors who are autistic, we have some participants with cerebral palsy, and then some with a general developmental delay,” Yohe said. “So currently in our ensembles, or at least those folks working on ‘Romeo and Juliet Remix,’ that’s 38 actors ranging in age from ages 15 up to 37.”
A.B.L.E. Ensemble allows actors a large measure of agency in their roles. Yohe delves into the classical adaptation creative process, facilitated in conjunction with their longtime partner, Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
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