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Members of the DisAbility Project are like actors in any other theater troupe. They come from various backgrounds and vocations. Yet there is something special about the actors in this particular troupe. Some are living with a disability and others are not, but together they use their talents to change lives.
Under the artistic direction of Joan Limpkin, the DisAbility Project is a local theater troupe of disabled and non-disabled actors that perform for schools, businesses and organizations in the hope of changing the often-negative perception of the disabled.
In fact, the very question of how people with disabilities are perceived was the first subject tackled at their lunch hour performance Wednesday, Oct. 13, in the Pilot House. The audience watched as, one by one, each actor described the various and sometimes derogatory ways in which they are viewed by society.
The troupe has a repertoire of nearly thirty pieces that it performs. From that selection, different combinations are put together to create a show tailor-made to suit the audience. For UM-St. Louis students, the actors performed several pieces dealing with the various obstacles and stereotypes faced by people living with disabilities on a daily basis.
The first piece dealt with movement and how disabled people express the need and desire to move freely. Set to the music of Prince, Limpkin said the piece was meant to show how "we can all dance and celebrate the beauty of life."
Next was a description of the history of disability and how the social acceptability of the disabled has changed over time. According to the DisAbility Project, the disabled are the largest minority in the United States and yet many live below the poverty line and have the lowest rate of employment of any minority group.
The troupe dedicated its next piece to the memory of actor Christopher Reeve. Reeve, best known for his movie role as "Superman," suffered a spinal cord injury several years ago and, until his recent death, worked tirelessly on behalf of the disabled. The poignant chorus of the song says, "See the soul behind the difference. If you want to know the truth, release your resistance."
The pieces "Parking" and "Coffee House" both deal with the issue of accessibility. While ramps and wheelchair lifts are a common sight in most public buildings today, there are still barriers to overcome. "Coffee House" was inspired by a true experience of a disabled person who was unable to enter a Clayton coffee shop because there was no wheelchair ramp.
The most moving piece was saved for the end. "Hello" tells the story of a young child who accompanies her mother to a unisex beauty salon and sees a disabled patron. Her curiosity piqued, the young girl tries to interact with the stranger but is admonished by her mother for doing so. While her mother gets a manicure, the girl and the disabled patron begin to talk, forcing the mother to face her own fears about disabled individuals.
The DisAbility Project is sponsored by That Uppity Theater Company. For more information about the DisAbility Project, you can visit their website at www.disabilityproject.com.
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