Beyond Villians and Victims--Victoria Ann Lewis

Beyond Victims and Villains: Contemporary Plays by Disabled Playwrights.

http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/events/

Fri, Apr 4, 7pm – 9pm

Little Theatre, Creative Arts building, SF State 1600 Holloway Ave SF. 94132

Victoria Ann Lewis, a Southern California artist-activist, provides an overview of the brave new world of artists has emerged out of the disability rights movement of the 1970s and 1980s. These playwrights, actors, and designers are re-imagining the old theatrical myths of disability, impacting not only how our stages and auditoriums are designed and who we train for careers in the theatre, but also what it means to be a citizen in the 21st century. Lewis' presentation includes historical images of disability in theatre and cinema, documentary footage of disability theatre. Lewis says this project is “a workshop of equals, because only equals can laugh. What we are really looking at here is democracy — democracy through art — and the ultimate question of what it means to be human.”

Lewis is associate professor of theatre arts at University of Redlands and founding director of the Other Voices Project at the Mark Taper Forum, where for more than 20 years she developed theatrical training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Presented by the Theatre Arts Department, Institute for Disability Studies and Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) Admission: Free Information 415 338-1341; theatre.sfsu.edu Sign language interpreter, wheelchair access and other accommodations available. Please call or e-mail least one week in advance. 415/338-2472 (voice/TTY); dprc@sfsu.edu