We are still glowing from ABLEfest! Over the course of one weekend, over 482 audience members joined us across 5 different events at The Edge Theater.
Our end-of-semester performances are such an important opportunity to bring our community together, and celebrate the incredible potential within every individual. Thank you to everyone who joined us to support our ensembles and commemorate our 10th Anniversary!
Events like ABLEfest – from our joyful showcases to our full-length original creations like The Time Capsule – can’t happen alone. From our 78 ensemble members to our Front of House Volunteers, to our dedicated Stage Crew and Access Team, theater is truly a team effort, and that includes YOU! Ticket Sales account for less than 3% of A.B.L.E.’s annual operating budget – we rely on generous individuals who care about our work and want to help us build more inclusive communities to make the donations that sustain our mission.
Scroll for a recap of all the amazing work we created together during our spring semester and then make a donation to our annual campaign to set the stage for more boundary breaking performing arts opportunities!
Movement Showcase - Thursday April 30, 2026
The Movement Ensemble met every Monday to explore creating stories with little to no words. They used techniques like Viewpoints and the Frantic Assembly Method to practice making bold physical choices, building original characters through movement, strengthening trust with scene partners, and embracing a spirit of “yes.”
- Directed By: Braden Cleary and Maddy Grady
- Actors: Christian Boyd, Sean Grynberg*, Natalia Janik, Emily Lavin, Anna Luzadder, Maggie Marren, Matthew Marren, Lucas Miezal, John Miksis, and Sam Radinsky
- Facilitators: Andrea Bazzoli, Margo DePorter*, Julia Clavadetscher, Shannon Diegel, Paige Henderson, Erik Prather, Margaret Sheils, and Lindsay Stock
Devising Showcase - Saturday May 2, 2026
The Devising Ensemble met every Sunday this spring to develop solo pieces. Using personal memories and past A.B.L.E. performances, their work spans a range of storytelling styles and a variety of emotions brought to life through individual creativity and collaboration.
- Directed By: Ruby Gibson and Lawrence Kern
- Actors: Colleen Altman, Colin Baar, Marissa Bloodgood, Gabe Felshman, Samuel Floersheimer, Xavier Juniel, Matthew LaChapelle, Maggie Leal, Kimmy Smith*, and Jake Solworth,
- Facilitators: Lewis Beaver, Claire Buckley, Sarah Haley, , Avery Lareau*, Haley Schroeck, Kate Vargulich*, and Connor Wiles
The Time Capsule - Friday May 1, Saturday May 2, and Sunday May 3, 2026
While searching the deserted remains of planet earth in the year 2126, a team of humanitarians discover something buried in the dirt. When they open it, the memories come spilling out…
A neurodiverse cast of 11 performers used movement, object work, music, and personal reflections to devise The Time Capsule – an original story about the memories we hold onto and the connections we keep.
- Directed By: Kiaran Hartnett and Katie Yohe
- Actors: Jack Butler, Benjamin Collins, Sophie Earvolino, Ryan Foley, Peter Grzeslo, Erin Harvey, Emily Kwidzinski, Carlos Mejia, Jr., Claire O’Leary, Kevin Smith, and Zachary Wandel
- Facilitators: Amy Bahr, Lauren Berquist, Alexandria Bressette*, Mike Falevits* Kate McDuffie, Steve O’Connell, and Carly Sells*
Virtual Ensemble - coming soon!
The Virtual Ensemble Zoomed in from 8 different states around the country to film monologues and movement pieces inspired by Shakespeare’s most studied work, Hamlet. Their original pieces will be shared in weekly posts on A.B.L.E.’s social media channels starting in June. Look for them on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
- Directed By: Kaylie Honkala and Lawrence Kern
- Actors: Rachel Buchanan, Sophianna Bressette*, Samuel Floersheimer, Jonathan Jennings, Fletcher Jones, Andrew Kosnik, Lily Lundin*, Kira Perdue, Dorsey Schroeck*, Tommy Shimoda
- Facilitators: Nette Angelini, Ashlyn Horein, Chelsea Hosler, Kaitlynn Milvert, Julianne Shea, Susan Sjodin, Julia Waits*, and Polly Yukevich
Thank you to our Behind the Scenes Team!
- Executive Artistic Director: Katie Yohe
- Company Manager: Haley Schroeck
- Lighting Design: Lea Davis
- Stage Management for The Time Capsule: Caroline Uy
- Captioning: Efficiency Reporting
- Director of American Sign Language: Peter Wujcik
- ASL Interpretation: Veramarie Baldoza, Sabrina Cienfuegos, Rachael East
- Audio Description: Jason Harrington, Equipment Loaned by Cultural Access Collaborative with special thanks to the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
- Production Photography: Justin Barbin, Brandii Champagne
- Virtual Ensemble Editing: Brock Alter
- Archival Video: Just Stories, Alex Glassman
- Front of House Volunteers: Linmei Amaya, Zoe Benditt, Lauren Bergquist, Claire Buckley, Erica Clark, Elizabeth Davisson, Barbara DeKerf, Jillian Duffy, Sarah Haley, Marilyn Halperin, Nancy Harvey, Kaitlyn Kostyk, Sara McCarthy, Emily McClanathan, Maria Mejia, Alicia Pankhurst, Cathy Schroeck, Tommy Shimoda, Eric Williams, Maria Yohe
- Additional Thanks: Afable Consulting, Anchorfish Printing, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Jesse Gaffney, Emma MacLean, Gateway to Learning, Johnsonese Brokerage, The Menomonee Club Drucker Center, and Melanie Zehner
A.B.L.E.’s 2025-2026 Season of Memories has been partially supported by grants from:
