The group, made up of 26 teens and adults with special needs, had more to gain than socializing. They participated in choosing the show to be performed and had an opportunity to audition for their parts. When the parts were assigned, each participant was given a script to take home with their own lines highlighted. Each week the group would meet and practice together. The required interaction of the participants inevitably created many opportunities for social skill development, because the success of the show was dependent on the cooperation of all involved.
Once Marisa brought her script home, we began to practice daily for the end of year performance. The first thing I did was prepare a set of 3x5 cards for Marisa with her lines written on each card in the order in which they appeared in the script. Marisa then had a complete set of her lines on a ring binder to use during our rehearsals. I read the entire script, cuing Marisa when her lines would come in. During our rehearsals, I became aware of the many skills that could be learned from participating in drama.
The most striking, initially, was developing the ability to listen and comprehend. In order to know her lines, Marisa had to focus on listening and comprehending what was being said. Without those two skills, she would hardly know when to respond with her own lines. For someone on the autism spectrum, focusing on a story and comprehending the words being read could be a difficult task. I knew it certainly was hard for Marisa. Having to speak and interact with another character forced Marisa to pay attention.
Another skill to be gained from dramatization is the ability to speak with expression and compassion. Marisa's tone of voice, which initially was flat in the early stages of our rehearsals, eventually came alive with feeling and inflection. I frequently interrupted our rehearsals to discuss the mood in a particular scene and the expressiveness required by what her character was saying. Marisa would repeat the lines a few times in an attempt to get it right. And I, in turn, would encourage her with a positive remark, "very good!" or "much better" or "perfect!" There's also the ability to speak clearly and project one's voice with confidence. People with special needs often are afraid to speak up and express themselves, but through drama they have the chance to overcome their fear.
When the curtain went up and the show began, I and everyone else could feel the energy in the auditorium. The performers on stage were ready! They had put in eight months of work, as a group, to get to this proud moment. The effort showed in the performance and the entire group, upon completion of a job well done, walked off the stage feeling happy, proud and accomplished.
This week Marisa went on a 3 day overnight school trip to Rocking Horse Ranch. She had been looking forward to the trip for the entire year and was happy and excited to be going. A few days before the trip, while waiting for a red light to change on our way to her bowling league, I asked her,
"Are you excited about your trip?"
"Oh yes," she replied, "but I'm going to miss you SOooo MUCH!"
I turned around and looked at her in awe. Then she returned my gaze.
"Oh ... what a sweet thing to say to me. I'm going to miss you so much too! But you're going to have a wonderful time with your friends," I said.
Then I stopped to think about all the times I had helped Marisa to put expression in her voice while rehearsing for her part in the play and I thought ... how amazing her remark was about missing me. Never before had I heard so much expressiveness in a single comment.
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