The Invisible Theatre in Tucson is anything but invisible. Thanks to its founder and artistic director, Susan Claassen, the theater is small in size, but large in its outreach and impact in the Tucson community.
In 1984 Susan volunteered her time and talents to help with an Arts Festival aimed at those with special needs. She offered the same type of introductory theater class she would offer with any group, and was immediately taken by the way the participants responded. “There was an instant connection,” Susan remembers. “I knew there was much more that could be done.”
Since that day she and other volunteer artists from Invisible Theatre have been committed to Pastime Players, an innovative theater program offered to those 12 and older who have special needs. Classes are held twice a week during the school day at Doolen Middle School in the Tucson Unified School District. With the help of a supportive principal and teachers, the theater artists provide a program of theater, music and dance to 25 students each year. The culmination is a program in April where each participant gets to shine: “The Me Inside of Me.” This year’s performance will be Monday, April 28, at 7 pm at Doolen. “A particular treat for me,” says Susan, “is that when some of the members age out, we’ve been able to hire them on as assistants. We currently have five teaching assistants who have gone through the program. It’s a win-win!”
Finding funding for the arts in the current economy is more challenging than ever. All funding for this program is obtained through grant requests written by the dedicated members of IT. “We work hard to find funding sources for the program from the greater community so that it is outside the school budget and not subject to cuts.”
The program developed by Susan and her colleagues is also the subject of a documentary film, “Such Good Friends,” developed by the creative collaborative group from IT, award-winning filmmaker Cyndee Wing, and songwriters Amanda McBroom and Michele Brourman. The film has been shown at several film festivals as well as at the Phoenix Festival for the Arts in December of 2013. As can be seen in the film, the project is “an unforgettable journey from heart to art.” Much like the Detour Company Theatre in the Valley, Pastime defines itself not by disabilities, but by abilities instead. As Susan Claassen says, “It has been my dream to … show the world that we are only limited by limited expectations. Expect the most and that is what you will get.”
For information about the program, the film and Invisible Theatre, contact 520-884-0672 or invisibletheatre.com.
