Same Difference: A Disabilities Awareness Play
Same Difference: A Disabilities Awareness Play
by Melissa Ann Hansen
© Copyright 2004-2010
The play “Same Difference: A Disabilities Awareness Play” is a collection of short scenes that depict different true events that have occurred in the lives of people who have disabilities. Between scenes, current information regarding a variety of disabilities issues is presented.
Cast, production crew, and audience members are educated about the accomplishments, challenges, stereotypes, barriers, and various processes associated with living with a disability.
The scenes include perspectives of individuals who have disabilities, parents, siblings, educators, medical professionals, caseworkers, therapists, advocates, and friends of people who have disabilities.
This production is intended to feature performers with and without disabilities of all ages. It is the author’s hope that each cast will learn invaluable lessons from one another throughout the experience of producing this play. They will increase their knowledge of disabilities, levels of acceptance, patience, and respect for others. And hopefully, they will become supportive, caring friends.
Author’s Notes on Staging
“Same Difference: A Disabilities Awareness Play” is intended to be an educational experience that could easily be toured to various communities and settings, such as: schools, churches, and civic organizations. In keeping with this philosophy, set pieces should be multifunctional and easy to reposition. Each scene is set in a different location, and set pieces and decor are used to create each space. It is important to that each scene be set authentically.
“Same Difference: A Disabilities Awareness Play” must feature people with and without disabilities. Thus, it will be necessary to stage this play according to the needs and abilities of the cast. Several scenes are driven by unscripted dialogue of performers, and their expression must be respected and encouraged. Each performer’s uniqueness and typical behavior is what makes this play realistic. As such, production teams will be expected to accommodate this individuality.
In some instances, and for some audiences, the full play, as written, may not be possible to produce. In such cases, permission is granted to make minimal modifications. However, the integrity of this play must not be compromised in any way.
For this reason, it is required that at least one person with extensive experience in working with people who have disabilities be actively involved in the production of this play. Documentation to support this experience must accompany royalty requests, and are subject to approval before granting the request.