In collaboration with the Parents Network of Western New York, Unique Theatre Company presents the inclusive play "Our Voice, Our Words." The play is opening on Friday.
The play's story line is made up of several stories of community members with experiences in the world of disability. The actors in the play are both professional actors and actors with disability.
One of the actors, Amy Cavagnaro, has been a part of Unique Theatre for eight years. Starting off with smaller rolls, she is now playing a lead role in this upcoming production. She's built a love for acting and close friendships.
"It's the acting I like because I have a big voice," Cavagnaro said. "My friends, I like to spend time with them."
Unique Theatre Company started 10 years ago after creating their partnership with Parents Network of Western New York. Parents Network provides different services to families with children with disabilities. The theatre became an option for kids who wanted to try something new that will allow them to be creative.
The community involvement and connection Unique Theatre built over their 10 years inspired "Our Voice, Our Words". Unique Theatre Founder Beth Geyer looks at this play as an embodiment of the work Parents Network and Unique have done with families.
"This theatre definitely does show the new people coming up into theatre that it’s not always traditional," Geyer said. "We should accept people for who they are and what they can do and that’s just a very simple thing."
Amy's mom, Kathy looks at her daughter with a proud feeling seeing where she has come over the last eight years. She looks at her daughter's ability to act as a message to everyone about the narrative of people with disabilities.
"Performers, they learn a lot from them," Amy said. "I also believe that people learn from our kids. They learn compassion and just how to treat someone who is different from them."
For professional actor Katrina Fulcher-Rood, this play was a new experience for her on all fronts. In the play, her role includes acting as three of her castmates' moms.
"It wasn’t necessarily me just being like "what am I going bring to it. How am I going to make it different or what’s my character gonna be,"" Fulcher-Rood said. "I really took myself out of it and said let me be whatever that true representation is."
Like Amy's mom, Kathy, it's a similar testament from Eileen Garrison. Her son, Matthew is also acting in the play. It brings her great joy to see her son do something he loves.
"Unique Theatre shows their capabilities. It let's them shine and be more than they thought they could be," Garrison said. "My son being able to be himself and show his talents is tremendous."
According to Geyer, the partnership with Parents Network was essential to the creation of Unique Theatre Company. Executive Director of Parents Network Kimberly Kadziolka has always praised the work done by Geyer. After working to put this play together, Kadziolka exclaimed just how special this play is.
"It’s a very poiniant production that people will laugh, they will cry," Kadziolka said. "It really just tells the story about the resilience of the disability community and I’m just really proud of it."
The show has eight performances from October 6th to October 21st. Tickets are $35 for tomorrow and Saturday's shows with portions of the proceeds going to the Parents Network. The remaining six shows are $20. If you are interested in attending, you can buy tickets here.
The play is at Compass Performing Arts Center:
545 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
