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Special Needs Theater

© Dave Brandl

Being onstage is unlike any other experience. Basking in the spotlight for an audience's appreciation, even if just for a few moments, is intoxicating, exhilirating, and humbling all at the same time. It is good for the human spirit. While being onstage may be familiar to many, such an experience is sometimes lifechanging, or once-in-a-lifetime for those who may not ordinarily get the opportunity. These people need good, imaginative, and thought-provoking scripts, portraying them in inclusive, practical, and basic views.

Actors come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall; some are not. Some are pretty or handsome, and others are rather plain, or "distinguished." As with physical characteristics, there are diverse talents among those who tread the boards.

There are also those who are diverse in that they may have special needs. This can include not only physical or developmental handicaps, but age can also present challenges. The very young and the very old can still be vital actors, as long as their needs can be addressed. There is a great need for scripts within this niche market.

Plays to be performed by children are always in demand at schools. See the articles Writing Plays for Children and Writing Plays to be Performed by Children.

As for senior citizens, this is one of the fastest growing demographic groups. And when people reach retirement age, few of them want to be idle. Many of them may be returning to the stage after not having been there for decades. I have written and directed for such groups, and some publishers have specific needs for this group.

Keep in mind that plays for both the older and younger actors are most welcomed when they are able to basically play themselves; children playing children and senior citizens playing senior citizens, as opposed to children attempting to play either adults or animals, or where senior citizens are cast in much younger roles. Farce, of course, can be completely different, where children acting as adults, or seniors acting as children, offer many humorous possibilities.

The final area is the realm of the developmentally or physically challenged. I have worked for over 10 years with a group that puts on an annual fundraising production featuring 100 to 150 actors, about evenly divided among children, teens, adults, and actors with special needs. I have helped write several shows and performed in them also. Many of the special needs actors just need a bit of extra help, but can hold their own singing and acting.

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