Inclusion Daily Express -- Theater Company Name Change Reflects More Inclusive Mission

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Theater Company Name Change Reflects More Inclusive Mission
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 24, 2008

NEW YORK, NEW YORK--The Theater By The Blind is changing its name, but not its initials, to reflect a shift in its mission to include artists with any disability.

According to a press statement, TBTB will now stand for Theater Breaking Through Barriers.

Since it was started in 1979, the company has worked to develop artists with vision-related disabilities for the theater, television and film. In the 2007 theater season, TBTB started including actors and production staff with other types of disabilities in stage productions.

"As baby boomers age, more and more Americans will be dealing with disability," said Ike Schambelan, TBTB's Co-Artistic Director.

Schambelan noted that while 52 million Americans -- or 18 percent of the population -- experience disabilities, "only 2 percent of characters on television exhibit a disability and only 0.5 percent are allowed to speak."

The 2008 season will include "Romeo and Juliet" and an American comedy, both to be performed at the Kirk Theatre.

"TBTB needs to get the reality of our rich, independent lives in front of audiences," Schambelan said.

Related:
Theater By The Blind / Theater Breaking Through Barriers
http://www.tbtb.org

Copyright © 2008 Inonit Publishing
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