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Jared Parrish is an all-star Barrier-Free"er" who participates in our Inclusive Theater Company B, social clubs, and numerous classes.
Recently, Jared played Robert in "I Do, I Think," Co. B's original show that premiered live on Youtube in March 2021. In addition to Barrier-Free, Jared attends post-secondary school, rides horses, participates in Special Olympics, and more! Thank you Jared for being willing to be a spotlighted Barrier-Free actor!
View the video interview or read the full transcript below.
Question 1: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?I'm Jared Parrish. I'm 20 years old and I live in Westminster, Maryland with my parents. 
Question 2: When did you become involved in Barrier-Free?I joined Barrier-Free in September of 2019 and participate in theater group, social club, and classes. 
Question 3: What is your favorite part of creating our original shows?Right now, since Barrier-Free is virtual, it's fun to choose costumes and watch everyone on screen with their costumes. Everyone has a lot of fun together! 
Question 4: Do you have a favorite character you've played?I like playing Robert in "I Do, I Think," right now since he's funny because he has trouble staying awake.
"I Do, I Think" begins at 44:48.
Question 5: How has Barrier-Free impacted your life?I've made new friends and also enjoy the theater productions. I even got to virtually meet people from England last year doing our drama productions. 
Question 6: What interests do you have outside of Barrier-Free?I attend post-secondary school in Carroll County. I also ride horses, do Special Olympics, watch TV, and read books. 
Question 7: What would you tell someone that is interested in becoming involved in Barrier-Free programs?I would tell them that Barrier-Free is a lot of fun and everyone is really friendly so you should definitely think about joining. Everyone has a place in Barrier-Free! 
Bravo Jared!!
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Jorge Tirigall is a talented actor from Columbia, MD, and a member of our Art of Performing Company B. Catch him in his debut performance as Luigi Rodriguez in "I Do, I Think" premiering LIVE on our Youtube channel and Facebook on Friday, March 26 at 8pm.
Thank you Jorge for representing actors with autism and sharing about your 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?
My name is Jorge Tirigall. I am 23 years old. I was born on October the 24th 1997 in Baltimore, Maryland to my mom Roxanna Caruso and my dad Luis Tirigall.
Both my mom and dad were born in Argentina and immigrated to the United States. I describe myself as an American autistic who is descended from both Spanish ancestors and Italian ancestors. 
Question 2: When did you become involved in Barrier-Free?
I became involved in Barrier-Free since January of 2021.
Question 3: What is your favorite part of creating our original shows?
To be quite honest, my favorite part is that I get to propose my own story ideas and to listen to the ideas of others. What I think around here is that, well, collaborating with others is I think a time of prosperity for the organization.
Question 4: Do you have a favorite character you've played?
My favorite character that I played was Luigi Rodriguez. Luigi Rodriguez is the groom in the play "I Do, I Think" created by Britt Burr. I really think that the part that I played, Luigi Rodriguez, is I think wonderful because I play a leading role and I'm very humbled myself to do it.
Question 5: How has Barrier-Free impacted your life?
Barrier-Free has allowed me to collaborate with Lauren Burr and come up with negotiable story ideas. In other words, everything I come up with is really accepted, but I think that all kinds of story ideas need to be very negotiable.
Question 6: What interests do you have outside of Barrier-Free?
I like making movies, writing, drawing pictures, and saving money. I am saving my money for any purpose like vacation, renting an apartment, and I think that saving money is really important for anybody whether they be self-employed or working in another job,
Question 7: What would you tell someone that is interested in becoming involved in Barrier-Free programs?
I would tell my friends to join the Barrier-Free organization if they want to do activities and expand their creative, artistic, and acting skills.
Question 8: What do you want people to know about individuals with autism?
I want people to know that individuals with autism like me are not some sort of wild animal but rather intelligent creatures that can create new ideas and new innovations to the theater arts. I really think that people with autism like me can have the ability and comprehension to make that kind of contribution.
Fantastic Job Jorge!!
Final thoughts from Jorge Tirigall, "I want to thank you personally for giving me this interview so that everybody could know more about me and so that everybody can share my story."
Don't forget to tune in Friday March 26 at 8pm to catch Jorge in "I Do, I Think" as Luigi Rodriguez on Youtube or Facebook!
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!! 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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We are proud to be funded in part by an Arts Opportunity Mini-Grant from the Carroll County Arts Council.
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