Sensory friendly productions are designed to include all audiences, as discussed in this panel for USITT's Forum@Four Series, and moderated by LDI's production manager Bill Digneit, with panelists David Pierce and Orion Couling. This interactive discussion covers all of the ins and outs to producing a successful sensory friendly and inclusive production in your venue as your create "theatre-for-all."
Participants:
Bill Digneit is the current director of Theater and Dance at Northern Michigan University. He is also the current conference production manager for LDI Conference and Trade Show, and received his Masters of Fine Arts in Technical Production from Florida State University in 2011.
David Pierce is an assistant professor of Theatre Design and Technology at Northern Michigan University as well as the technical director/production manager for the Forest Roberts Theatre. Previous credits include: Adirondack Theatre Festival (NY), Little Theatre on the Square (IL) and Four Season Theatre (WI). He’s been an active member of USITT since 2010. He earned his MFA in Theatre Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Orion Couling is the award-winning founder and executive director of EDGE of Orion, an Illinois NFP. He is a specialist in project-based learning and carries 20 years of adventure-based teaching experience. He created the Constellation Project, a program that celebrates inclusion and neuro-diverse participation. With over 100 directing credits in professional and youth theatre to his name, he remains one of the foremost experts in dynamic educational theatre. His “edu-tainment” style is known to bring levity and inspiration to classrooms and audiences. Orion is also a stage combat instructor, stunt coordinator, and a licensed Maritime Captain. When not leading the “inclusion revolution,” you’ll find him playing with his Irish Folk-rock band “Finger on the Trigger,” leading ghost tours, or by the water.