A.B.L.E. returned to the stage for the first time since 2019 with a one-of-a-kind festival produced in partnership with Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Reconnect featured the work of 58 members of the A.B.L.E. community – 33 actors and Creative Associates with disabilities, 17 volunteer facilitators, 8 Teaching Artists. Over the course of a 10-week rehearsal process, each of A.B.L.E.’s 3 ensembles collaborated to develop original monologues, scenes, movement pieces, and songs inspired by their own lives and the ways we connect with ourselves, with our loved ones, and with our community. They have created two distinctive multimedia shows, blending live performances with filmed content from A.B.L.E.’s virtual ensemble.
Sunday Ensemble, featuring members of the Virtual Ensemble
It is hard when your loved ones are far away. Through scenes, monologues, and lots of movement, this multimedia show is built around the letters we imagine sending to our loved ones, sharing the good, the bad, the scary, and the silly along the way.
The Sunday Ensemble:
Colin Baar, Marissa Bloodgood, Jack Butler, Samuel Floersheimer, Peter Grzeslo, Emily Kwidzinski, Maggie Leal, and Jake Solworth were supported by Amy Bahr, Perry Hunt, Lawrence Kern, Kate McDuffie, Jenna Rapisarda, and Camila Restrepo.
With Special Appearances from the Virtual Ensemble:
Benjamin Collins, Martin Conway, Alena Counter Brown, Natalia Janik, and Matt LaChapelle supported by Nette Angelini, Erica Evans, Lawrence Kern, Julianne Shea, Abby Wesley, Polly Yukevich, and Melanie Zehner
Monday Ensemble, featuring members of the Virtual Ensemble
No matter how much we want to connect, sometimes things get in the way – fear, miscommunication, and our own minds. Through music, monologues, scenes, and movement, we share reflections from our own lives on the way to finding deeper connections with our friends, our community, and ourselves.
Featuring The Monday Ensemble:
Christian Boyd, Sandia Coleman, Matt Danaher, Sophie Earvolino, Ryan Foley, Anna Luzadder, Francesca Maddock, Maggie Marren, Matt Marren, Claire O’Leary, Sam Radinsky, and Lucy Walsh supported by Mary Kate Ashe, Chloe Belongilot, Braden Cleary, Shannon Diegel, Noah Glaser, Lindsay Stock, Haley Wolf, and Katie Yohe
With Special Appearances from the Virtual Ensemble:
Rachel Buchanan, Fletcher Jones, Christian Kroski, Emily Lavin, and Mila Medina supported by Nette Angelini, Erica Evans, Lawrence Kern, Julianne Shea, Abby Wesley, Polly Yukevich, and Melanie Zehner
A.B.L.E.’s 2022-2023 Season of Connection was partially supported by grants from: The Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, The Illinois Arts Council, Innovation 80, The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, and The National Endowment for the Arts, and individual donors like you!
