MUHLENBERG TOURS ORIGINAL PLAY ABOUT LEARNING DISABILITIES
Muhlenberg College's Department of Theatre and Dance brings the 50-minute play "Educating Grover" to the community to raise awareness and gain support on the subject of learning disabilities.Wednesday, April 17, 2002 03:55 PM
Muhlenberg College's Department of Theatre and Dance brings the 50-minute play "Educating Grover" to the community to raise awareness and gain support on the subject of learning disabilities. A free public performance of the play will be staged in the Studio Theatre of the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance, Saturday, April 27, 2 p.m. Playwright Tade Reen '99, director Beth Schachter, and the cast will be available for discussion following the performance. The production will also be making various community performances at The Gateway School, The Hillside School, and Cedar Crest College.
"Educating Grover" is a reflection of the author's educational experience. It began as a 5-minute improvisation Reen created for a theatre audition. With Charles Richter, head of Muhlenberg department of theatre and dance, Reen developed "Educating Grover" into a play that could be used as an educational tool for teachers and students. The project has been supported by Congressional funds earmarked for Muhlenberg College because of its exceptional services and the resulting high retention rate of students with learning disabilities.
In "Educating Grover," the quest to accept the challenges of his academic differences are first presented in elementary school where Grover is diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities. While the outset of the play marks the highlight of Grover's insecurities, he realizes that in order to emerge as a successful student he must set his own boundaries. He creates a network of support consisting of friends, family, teachers, and counselors, and learns to be self-reliant.
Through high school and into college Grover emerges as a determined student who makes social and emotional sacrifices to meet his goals. By understanding his strengths and weaknesses as a student, Grover comes to understand how he can integrate his learning disabilities into his life and education. Grover's witty imagination, creativity and determination act as positive forces, and allow him to shape his future with confidence.
The cast of "Educating Grover" includes Muhlenberg theatre students Ed Byrne, Jessica Kaufman, Phillip Kimble, Michael Cosdon, Jordan Annguist, Lauren Sullivan, Melissa Cooper, and Phil Haas. All performers have acted in many Muhlenberg blackbox and main stage shows, and are active members of the Muhlenberg community. Director Beth Schachter, a member of the Muhlenberg Theatre faculty, has considerable experience working with young playwrights, including directing the fall production of new student plays, New Voices, this year. Her directing experience includes productions at The New Victory Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, McCarter Theatre, The Public Theatre, The Vineyard Theatre, and The New Dramatists.
