A Space for Every Ability:
Community is the ultimate foundation for The Naples Players. It describes itself as “your theatre,” a place for anyone and everyone to engage in imagination, creativity, and the performing arts. Passionately driven by its mission, to build community through exceptional access to the power of theatre, TNP has served the people of Southwest Florida for more than 70 years with diverse educational programming, local partnerships, and enriching theatrical experiences.
TNP strives to create spaces and programs championed by creativity, wellbeing, and inclusion. Its Inclusive Musical Theatre class is no exception. Designed for students of all abilities, this class is an opportunity for our neuro-divergent community or individuals wishing to learn in a more supported and accommodating environment. It dives into the art forms of singing, acting, and dance as students experience how to rehearse and perform pieces from the musical theater genre, working with others in a group setting to put on a final performance. By breaking down the art of musical theatre to its simplest forms, TNP achieves theatrical skill-building based on the following three key categories: music, dance/movement, and acting expression. Not only are student performance skills enhanced, they also gain life skills such as teamwork, patience, sensory awareness, communication, self-expression, and emotional regulation.
Built upon a strengths-based model, TNP’s Inclusive Classes are structured based on scientific study of best approaches to learning for this demographic as well as applied theatre techniques rooted in disability theatre. Unlike many other theatre programs of its kind, the entire 12-week course is developed based on the strengths, personalities, and learning goals of the individual students who register.
“We select the musical we are performing based on who signs up,” said Summer Pliskow, Director of Arts Access at TNP and Inclusive Musical Theatre instructor. “We rewrite scripts and choreograph movements to showcase every student in the best way possible. Whether a student is non-verbal or has physical limitations, there is a place for them to shine. We let them be exactly who they are first, and the confidence follows.”
From the Classroom to the Lead Role:
The success of this model is in the proof of the students' growth. Sonny Hogle, a 21-year-old student in TNP’s inclusive classes, is a shining example of how a student can develop through these classes, not only creatively, but also developmentally. Summer shared, “When Sonny began taking musical theatre, we were creating characters that fit his wheelhouse and personality. These included short sentences with lots of emotion. But after two years of working with us on scripts I know that I can hand Sonny a monologue now and he is getting cast as lead characters! His progress is exponential.”
Sonny discovered TNP seven years ago when TNP instructors taught an Improv Workshop at Naples High School. Loving the creative self-expression these classes offered and witnessing how impactful they were in achieving his communication goals, Roseanne Hogle, Sonny’s mom, began enrolling him in TNP’s after-school improv programs and, later on, in the musical theatre classes as well. Both Rosanne and Sonny found a home and a much-needed comfort at TNP, a place where Sonny can be accepted for exactly who he is.
“Sonny was in a difficult place in high school,” said Roseanne. “It was difficult for me, too, being a parent of a kid who exhibited behaviors that others could not understand. Before TNP, few people wanted to be involved with Sonny.”
With diagnoses of both autism and bipolar disorder, Sonny has had a hard time finding acceptance and spaces and programs that would take in a student with such high level behavioral needs. “The one thing about bipolar is a lot of people have it, but it has such a negative connotation around it. You (TNP) accept all of us for whoever we are. Even me! I know I can walk into this safe bubble where no one is going to judge me or Sonny and that is a really good feeling. We just know we are safe and our kids are okay. Sonny is safe. I am safe. And that’s huge for us. I am so grateful,” said Roseanne.
Center Stage:
Sonny’s teachers and close family can see the progress he has made in TNP’s classes and the success of the program model. Sonny is currently enrolled in Inclusive Musical Theatre class and is getting ready to perform his showcase of School of Rock in March. Roseanne is thrilled. “I cannot wait to see this showcase. I am always so blown away and just sit there with a smile on my face - all of the parents do. The fact that Sonny can even follow directions and you’ve given him a chance to be onstage just like any other kid… You have really changed his life.” And now Sonny is ready to take center stage at Naples High in his upcoming talent show where he will be singing “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts. And, of course, his TNP instructors will be in the audience ready to cheer him on.
