October 24, 2023

Is theatre an accessible art form for everyone? How do people with visual or hearing impairments experience the theatrical arts? How can we make theatre an accessible space? 

I am interested in creating a piece of experiential theatre that explores blindness and deafness, that asks the hearing and seeing audience to experience theatre in ways they maybe never have before, and provides a unique space for those with hearing and seeing impairments to experience theatre that has been created for them.

March 12, 2026

For the past 13 years, I have been making theatre. For the past three years I have been especially concerned about theatre’s future. As a part of the next generation of theatre makers, I am committed to innovating and experimenting with the form to ensure its longevity. Theatre has always endured, but not without evolution. This certificate in Social Justice and the Performing Arts has given me the tools to create with the future in mind. 

We currently exist at a time where the performing arts are universally inaccessible. The barrier to entry is beyond great, being exposed to theatre and dance is an incredible privilege, and the opportunity to take part is not widely given. I have been blessed with so many opportunities in the arts, and my experiences have made me keenly aware of who is prioritized in performance production.

For example, the current home of the Iowa Department of Dance, Halsey Hall, is plagued by un-navigable staircases and hallways, making it completely inaccessible. In the Theatre Department, the theater space that houses auditions, undergraduate workshops, and gallery productions, has a raised stage that is only accessible by stairs. These spaces are evidence of who has been thought about in their conception. Accessibility isn’t a priority when disabled people aren’t in the conversation.

Consider this a project for Theatre’s Future; proof that theatre can and should be accessible, because when it is, everyone benefits.