The Roles We Play

Creating Theater with Autism Spectrum Youth

Valerie Paradiz, PhD & Elizabeth Nickrenz

Autism One Annual Conference
Chicago, Illinois May 23, 2009 1
Introduction
 Parent & Professor
 Elijah’s Cup
 ASPIE School
 Howard Moody and
Wayfinder
 Elizabeth Nickrenz
 Research: University of
Chicago
 Open Center for Autism
 Learning Spring School
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A New Frontier for Learning

• Interdisciplinary learning environments

• Naturally embedded therapy
• Multi-modal opportunities 3
Initiating a Theater Arts Program

• Types of Programs
• Age Groups
• Populations on the Spectrum
• Staffing Choices
• Rehearsals
• Performance
• Curriculum
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 Our Model
Games & Improv Based Programming

1. Group games 4. Character Development

2. Improvisation 5. Costume
3. Story Writing & 6. Performance &
Scripting The Adventure Game 5
Basic Strategies

• Staff modeling
• Discrete steps
• Scaffolding
• Posted Schedules
• Visual supports
• Community
Building
• Lesson Plans

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Community Building
• Opening
Circle
Transition
Self
Regulation
Check In

• Snack

• Closing
Circle
Transition
Review 7
Sample Lesson Plan

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1. Group Games

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2. Improvisation

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3. Story Writing & Scripting

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4. Character Development

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5. Costume

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6. Performance
The Adventure Game

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 Magic: Case Studies

• Disarm! • Second Order

• Theory of Mind • Spell casting as
• First Order collaboration 15
 Conclusion: Building Bridges

• Educators
• Therapists
• Dramatic
Artists
• Challenges
• Rewards

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Survey of Programs & Resources
• Howard Moody, Play, It Works! (national scope),
www.howardmoody.com
• Wayfinder Experience, Kingston, New York
www.wayfinderexperience.com
• The Miracle Project, Los Angeles, California
www.themiracleproject.org
• Acting Antics, Glenmore, Pennsylvania,
www.actingantics.org
• Rose Theater & Autism Action Partnership, Omaha,
Nebraska,www.autismaction.org
• Guthrie Theater & Autism Society of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, Minnesota, www.ausm.org
• Applied Theater Research and Autism Network, ARTRAN
(international scope), www.autismtheater.org
• Theater Arts and Autism Symposium, Autism Society of
America’s National Conference, July 22, 2009, St. Charles,
Illinois, www.autism-society.org
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 Contact
Valerie Paradiz, PhD
www.ValerieParadiz.com
Val@ValerieParadiz.com

Elizabeth Nickrenz
Nickrenz@uchicago.edu

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