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Marcel Hickman is a Barrier-Free actor who made his theatrical debut during our Fall 2020 season. He recently moved to Baltimore, MD and now participates in our theater companies, expressive arts classes, and social groups. Marcel was kind enough to take the time to sit down for an Actor Spotlight and share his experiences with Barrier-Free! View the video interview or read the full transcript below. Question 1: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?Hi, I'm Marcel Hickman. I live in East Baltimore with my mom and legal guardian. I am 31 years old. My mother and I just moved to Baltimore last um April... Last May, last April!!  Question 2: When did you become involved in Barrier-Free?I just started Barrier-Free last semester.  Question 3: What is your favorite part of creating our original shows?Well, my favorite part is like, anything!  Question 4: Do you have a favorite character you've played?I just played "The Boss" from "Family is Family" last semester.  Question 5: How has Barrier-Free impacted your life?I like to be confident and [make] friendships.  Question 6: What interests do you have outside of Barrier-Free?I just started like, um classes like, last summer at, um Hussman Center. Yoga, arts & crafts last semester. I take music therapy for this semester at Baltimore City Recreation. I've just taken all classes from CCBC [Community College of Baltimore City].  Question 7: What would you tell someone that is interested in becoming involved in Barrier-Free programs?I do like this class. I would tell someone to join Barrier-Free if they can do some activities. I like to make new friends.  Phenomenal Job Marcel!!
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Jenny Laatsch is a veteran Barrier-Free"er" who has performed onstage in over 10 Barrier-Free shows! Today, she gives a first-hand account of her experiences being part of Barrier-Free's inclusive theater companies and classes. Enjoy the lovely, talented, and always bright, Jenny Laatsch! View the video interview or read the full transcript below. Question 1: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?My name is Jenny Laatsch. I live in New Windsor Maryland and I go to day program. [I am] thirty-one. Activities [I like] are bowling and dancing.  Question 2: When did you become involved in Barrier-Free?JENNY: Barrier-Free for 5 years. INTERVIEWER: Wow, five years!! That's a lot of shows! JENNY: Yeah!  Rehearsal for 'Cosmic Crime' (2020) Question 3: What is your favorite part of creating our original shows?Pick our character's names and singing!  Tech rehearsal 'Cosmic Crime' (2020) Question 4: Do you have a favorite character you've played?Princess Pamper. 👑  Jenny onstage as Princess Pamper in 'Dischord' (2014). Question 5: How has Barrier-Free impacted your life?That it makes me happy and proud.  Jenny poses with her cast-mate and friend, Nicole (2014) Question 6: What interests do you have outside of Barrier-Free?JENNY: Outside of Barrier-Free, [I like] bowling and dancing. INTERVIEWER: Awesome! Recently you've been very into painting too, right? JENNY: And painting! INTERVIEWER: Jenny, those paintings you shared, oh my gosh, they are so beautiful!! JENNY: [with a big smile] Yeah! INTERVIEWER: Thank you! JENNY: [still smiling] You're welcome!  JOY in the Time of Coronavirus Class on Zoom (2020) Question 7: What would you tell someone that is interested in becoming involved in Barrier-Free programs?You should sign up and join the fun to make new friends.  Jenny participating in our International Collaboration with Blue Apple Theatre UK (2020) Keep Shining Jenny!!Catch Jenny and her Company A cast mates in the short-film Salty Seas premiering LIVE on Youtube & Facebook on Friday, December 18th at 8pm. Catch a sneak peek below! Happy Birthday Jenny!!Jenny celebrates her birthday on December 22nd and is generously sharing her special day with Barrier-Free! She has raised $346 on her way to her $1000 goal!  Have you ever considered joining a Barrier-Free theater company but felt hesitant to take the plunge? Want the inside scoop on how Barrier-Free shows are brought to life? Look no further, as Sam Silverman, Company B actor, is telling all in his actor spotlight! View Sam's video responses with full transcripts below. Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself - name, age, current city, education/school.A: My name is Sam Silverman, I’m 18 years old, going on 19 in May. I go to school at Kennedy Krieger High School Greenspring Campus in Baltimore Maryland. Q: How and when did you become involved in Barrier-Free?A: Well, it was actually you [mom, Shari] who asked me. You were showing me two different groups to try, the Monday night group and the Wednesday night group. I went in for both and I seemed to like everyone in the Wednesday group, like I got along with them. Q: What is your favorite part of the theater process?A: I’m going to have to say, coming up with the characters because it gives you a chance to be someone you’re not. When you’re normally told to “be yourself,” you get to be a completely different person. Q: How do you decide what character you want to bring to life each season?A: Well, once we have the scene and theme and genre down, I basically start thinking from there. For the past two performances I was kinda a bad guy but this year I thought, well, I want to make a character where I can use my sarcasm so I came up with a bartender. Q: How has Barrier-Free impacted your life?A: It has allowed me to meet friends who are more in my age group and have something to do rather than stay home and sleep. Q: What activities do you participate in outside of Barrier-Free?A: Well as you probably already know, I’m big in the combat robotics scene as I have a story every few months to tell you guys. Q: What would you tell someone that is interested in becoming involved with Barrier-Free's Inclusive Theater Companies?A: If we’re talking...well, let’s start... say, with staff for example. You might want to tell them, this isn’t your usual drama group, it helps with adults with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and autism so, yes we may seem different but just treat us like normal human beings and we’ll get along fine. For performers themselves, just tell them how things are going to run through. Like the first few weeks, we’ll play improv games*, “getting to know each other games,” especially this one with a ball, but you’ll all learn to love it. Once you start making friends, you’ve probably made friends for life like how I met Mike Eaton. *Learn more about the Inclusive Theater Process here. Q: What's the biggest change in you or how has Barrier-Free helped you grow?A: I’d say probably in maturity and being around people my age. It just shows me how, just because we’re older than kids, doesn’t mean we can’t be friends and have fun. The social club if anything has been a great help to help me come out of my shell and help me make more friends. Q: What do you think is the best part of Barrier-Free?A: Hm… might be the hardest question on here… I’m going to say - creating loads of different characters and putting input like… for the past two plays (the first play and the second play I was in), in the first play, they needed, some heavy metal music for a makeshift fight scene so I offered up my suggestions and had my input. Then, I’ve had a few little changes, like the biggest thing about this [our recent] play is, you’re on an island and there’s this stuff called “nectar,” I actually came up with that idea during an improv game. We were set on an island and I was like a “witch doctor” and we were trying to think, well… how could we turn them into animals or something and I was thinking “Here, try some of this nectar,” and then poof we have island nectar and “Island Mayhem.” Thank you Sam for taking the time to share your thoughts with us on Barrier-Free's first-ever actor spotlight! Interested in being a featured actor? Email us at info@BarrierFreeMD.com. Ready to join in the Barrier-Free Theater experience?  |
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