彩民宝典

PJ Kohnert, 28, and Jack Kohut, 17, don鈥檛 go to 彩民宝典, and they aren鈥檛 theater听students, who usually take center-stage in campus productions. But Kohnert and Kohut will be playing key parts in this week鈥檚 premiere of 鈥淧lay Therapy,鈥� a new play running from Nov. 7鈥�10.

Kohnert has Down syndrome and Kohut experiences intellectual challenges. They鈥檙e also both actors in CenterStage鈥檚 Tapestry Theatre鈥攁n all-abilities theater听company that casts actors with special needs in lead roles.

Their unique abilities make them perfect fits for their parts in 鈥淧lay Therapy.鈥� The story follows a non-verbal child named Evyn who finds new meaning and ways of communicating through play therapy鈥攁 method of therapy that incorporates structured play. Kohut will play Evyn while Kohnert will play a waiter named Sam.

Oliver Gerland, an associate professor of theater,听started writing the play a year ago. He didn鈥檛 initially have specific actors in mind, but he already knew the impact of inclusive casting.

鈥淚鈥檝e found that creating theater with people whose minds work differently than typical and who come into the room with a different set of talents and qualities is extremely exciting,鈥� he said.

It鈥檚 not hard to find examples of typically abled actors playing characters with disabilities. Gerland points to Tom Hanks鈥� Oscar-winning role in 鈥淔orrest Gump.鈥�

While these portrayals can be critical and commercial successes, Gerland thinks they miss certain perspectives and lack authenticity. Inclusive casting aims for more balanced casting of underrepresented groups, including actors with disabilities, actors of color and actors of all sexualities and gender identities.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e making theater, you make it with the people who are in the room and with everything that they bring,鈥� said Gerland. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 really think about what they don鈥檛 have, you build the story around what the person is.鈥�

Kohnert is a natural. He started acting with CenterStage鈥檚 Tapestry Theatre five years ago at the recommendation of his music therapist and his resume already includes roles in 鈥淏ye Bye Birdie,鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 a Wonderful Life鈥� and 鈥淔iddler on the Roof.鈥� He joked about his dad鈥檚 influence on his on-stage career.

鈥淢y dad told me I belong there,鈥� Kohnert said. 鈥淏ecause I can be such a ham.鈥�

Gerland has worked with Kohnert and others with different ability levels before. He鈥檚 taught acting classes for CenterStage's Tapestry Theatre and, for more than 10 years, disability studies classes at 彩民宝典. His wife is a special education attorney and his daughter, Nora, was born with intellectual disabilities.

Throughout his career, Gerland has seen how gratifying and fun theater听can be when people with disabilities are included and respected.

鈥淧lay Therapy鈥� rehearsals have featured a lot of name games and other exercises to help all the actors get to know each other.

鈥淚t鈥檚 different, because of the new people in the group,鈥� Kohnert said of his new cast. 鈥淭his group here at CU is fantastic, it鈥檚 amazing.鈥�

He鈥檚 also been impressed with 鈥淧lay Therapy鈥� director Cecilia Pang, an associate professor of theater.

鈥淪he鈥檚 the most honorable director I鈥檝e ever worked with,鈥� said Kohnert. 鈥淗er personality is amazing.鈥�

Well before the play鈥檚 debut, Kohnert and Kohut already left an impression on their 彩民宝典 castmates. If they weren鈥檛 already, Gerland says his students are now believers in the inclusive casting approach.

鈥淭he students love this work. They think it鈥檚 so important and they鈥檙e very excited by it,鈥� said Gerland. 鈥淚鈥檓 so delighted to see the lights go on in their eyes as they understand this as a possibility and a practice.鈥�

Gerland is grateful for the existing work of CenterStage鈥檚 Tapestry Theatre and other local groups to get people with disabilities onto the stage. He hopes 鈥淧lay Therapy鈥� will help bring the conversation to 彩民宝典 and beyond.

鈥淭he more that we can see people with disabilities on stage, the more that it becomes normalized and less stigmatized,鈥� said Gerland. 鈥淚t is a way of demonstrating the wonderful variation and variety that is being human.鈥�