Presented by Stone Belt and the Bloomington Playwrights Project

Saturday, March 6 at 8pm & Sunday, March 7 at 2pm

Tickets $20
available at BCT Box Office
114 E. Kirkwood Ave.
812.323.3020 or buskirkchumley.org

I AM YOU

An evening of dramatic monologues written and performed by individuals with disabilities

Stone Belt and the Bloomington Playwrights Project, in partnership with Theatre of the People and Trinity Episcopal Church, will present I AM YOU, dramatic monologues written and performed by individuals with disabilities.

The performances will take place Saturday, March 6 at 8 pm and Sunday, March 7 at 2 pm at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, 107 W Ninth Street, Bloomington. Tickets are $20 for both shows and available for purchase through the Buskirk-Chumley Theater (BCT) Box Office. In person: 114 E Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington. By phone: 812-323-3020. Online: www.buskirkchumley.org.

Performing in I AM YOU will be fourteen individuals who utilize Stone Belt services. The event will feature performances by: Melissa Abbitt, Misty Lawyer, Krista Heard, Richard Laraway, Kimmi Bignell, Dixie Chaney, Angie Ehlers and Rebecca Zimmerman (Bloomington), Gina Barger, Crystal Pitts and Mike Collins (Bedford), Archie Herron and Kim Craig (Columbus).

Now in its second season, I AM YOU was originally the brainchild of Michelle Davenport, a former Indiana University student volunteer who worked with clients in 2008 to write and perform stories of their lives. The first production of I AM YOU featured nine individuals sharing their stories, along with a powerful slide show and outstanding musical accompaniment provided by a client musician. The performance took place in November of 2008 at the Bloomington Playwrights Project, a local professional theatre with a mission to encourage playwriting in the community. The sold-out show drew a crowd of more than 100 audience members, with several dozen unfortunately turned away at the door once the theatre had reached capacity.

Audience members heard stories that touched on the whole gamut of the human experience - love, loss, independence, work ethic, family dynamics. There was a tremendous range of emotion shared, from great sadness to joyful humor. Performers invited the audience to learn about their lives, and to understand who they are as multi-faceted, self-determined individuals with many interests, goals, and accomplishments. The evening was an inspirational success, and the agency immediately recognized the powerful possibilities of sharing this program annually with the community.

In October of this year, Stone Belt began working with four new volunteer directors for I AM YOU. Two of the directors joined the project via Theatre of the People, a new inclusive theatre company located in Bloomington. Hannah Moss and David Nosko bring great knowledge and experience to the project, having worked both in front and behind the curtain in many theatrical productions. With the establishment of Theatre of the People, their goal is to create theatre that is accessible to everyone, including actors and audience members. Joining Hannah and David are two Indiana University students, Jami Patton and Sara Rebmann, who were recruited by outgoing volunteer director, Davenport. They bring wonderful background in creative writing and programming for individuals with disabilities.

Client performers and directors have spent 15 weeks working together to craft their monologues and work on the dramatics.

Partnering once again with Stone Belt this year is the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP). The Theatre was very pleased with the professional production last year, and was eager to invite Stone Belt back for a return engagement. They have extended an entire weekend to Stone Belt for performances, allowing the production to have both a Saturday night show and a Sunday matinee the first weekend of March. In addition to the partnership with the BPP, Stone Belt is honored to be collaborating this year with both the Theatre of the People (providing volunteer direction), and Trinity Episcopal Church, which is providing all rehearsal space. Working with three supportive community partners on this production strengthens Stone Belt's outreach and educational efforts.

I AM YOU provides individuals with disabilities with the opportunity to share their stories and showcase their talents. Participation in a professional theatre production is an exciting chance to demonstrate to the community that all individuals have impactful stories to share, and that all people have artistic skills, dreams and aspirations. Audience members will surely be moved by the experience, and will come away with a greater understanding of the ways in which all people contribute to the building of community.

The Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) is a non-profit theatre company that strives to be a leading artistic force in the production and encouragement of new American plays and playwrights. The BPP provides opportunities for development, education, and production for promising and established writers and theatre artists in a professional atmosphere. Find out more online at www.newplays.org.

The oldest and largest agency of its kind in south central Indiana, Stone Belt has been providing innovative supports and education to individuals with disabilities since 1959. Begun by nine visionary families wishing to create educational opportunities for their school-age children, Stone Belt has grown to include residential programs, employment resources, life skills and vocational training, a professional art studio and clinical services, all of which enable individuals with disabilities to live self-directed lives of significance and meaning. Find out more online at www.stonebelt.org.