First Advisor
Schuttler, Mary J.
Date Created
12-2018
Abstract
The Boys Next Door was a progressive and popular piece of theatre when first produced in 1986 and remains a ripe tool for spreading disability consciousness if mounted with research and respect. Playwright, Tom Griffin, chronicles a series of amusing and meaningful events in the lives of four men with varying levels of cognitive impairments told through the lens of Jack Palmer, their able-bodied supervisor. The goal of this thesis production was to illuminate the opportunities, challenges, and considerations required to produce this play with a message that is progressive to the goals of the disability community rather than detrimental. Through the implementation of disability conscious production practices such as the direct involvement of the local disabled community, inclusive casting and hiring processes within the cast and crew, and honoring its time period as a history play within the disability theatrical canon, this production of The Boys Next Door granted actors and audience members alike the opportunity to experience a glimpse into the authentic disabled experience and witness the unsung abilities of individuals with disabilities who are, in fact, next door.
Extent
168 p.
Local Identifiers
LewisThesis18
Rights Statement
Copyright is held by the author.
Recommended Citation
Lewis, Shelby, "The Boys Next Door: Progressing Disability Awareness And Representation Through Inclusive Production Practices" (2018). Master's Theses. 83.
https://digscholarship.unco.edu/theses/83