Optimist Theatre and ACAP Playmakers team up to create "Merely Players"
In 2020, Optimist Theatre Artistic Director, Ron Fry, and Executive Director, Susan Fry, teamed up with Adaptive Community Approach Program (ACAP) Playmakers program to create "Merely Players".
ACAP’s mission is to encourage people with disabilities to achieve their highest potential and to acquire life-long skills that will enable them to become contributing and valued members within their communities. A Shakepeare workshop and performance? Yes. Absolutely. Every member of the ACAP community found their capability. Their connection. Their muse. Optimist Theatre helped them bring their individual Shakespearean characters to life. Thanks to a grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council, preceding filming was a 3-month Shakespeare workshop program and both virtual and in-person rehearsals. At sessions, Playmakers learned about acting skills, pronunciation, iambic pentameter and much more. The resultant video stars members of the ACAP Playmakers as they help William Shakespeare overcome writer's block. |
Enjoy "Merely Players" on YouTube
.... and Ron Scot Fry as William Shakespeare. Directed by Susan Fry. Cinematography by Jim DeKoch and the DK Company. Timestamp for beginning the performance begins is 7:40.
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All about "Merely Players" - The Project
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A Shakespeare Experience from the Adaptive Community Approach Program and Optimist Theatre
“All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts …” As You Like It - William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s work is universal – it speaks to people of all backgrounds and experiences. But he didn’t write his plays to be read – he wrote them to be seen and heard, to be played by actors. What better way to experience Shakespeare’s plays than by becoming actors and playing his work? The Adaptive Community Approach Program (ACAP) and Optimist Theatre (OT) are creating an opportunity for ACAP Members to do just that. ACAP Members are people with physical and developmental disabilities who may not fit in other human services programs. Artistic expression is a crucial part of their programming, and the ACAP Playmakers program gives Members an opportunity to create and perform plays for an outside audience. ACAP is partnering with OT, producers of Milwaukee’s free Shakespeare in the Park, to create Merely Players, a program for Members to learn, create, and share Shakespeare’s work. When and Where? Merely Players will workshop and rehearse for two hour sessions, three times a week, for four weeks. Workshops and rehearsals will take place at ACAP’s arts space Artlinks 333. Public performances will take place in cooperation with the Waukesha Civic Theatre in their performance space. Which play? Lots of them. Imagine … William Shakespeare is in trouble. He has writer’s block. He needs ideas … And ideas come!
Once the cast shares bits and pieces of scenes, Shakespeare has all the ideas he needs, not just for one play, but for many! And he owes it all to the Members of ACAP. This format creates lots of chances to suit material to individual Members, giving them a chance to feature their abilities and overcome their challenges. To succeed, and share their success with others. To say they’ve “done Shakespeare. |
Why Shakespeare?
Shakespeare’s themes touch us all; his stories are all of our stories. More importantly, Shakespeare’s work is fun! Members will be able to play queens, kings, witches, faeries, goblins, villains, wizards, and even a dog. Lots of Shakespeare’s language is in poetry, often rhyming, which can make it easy to learn and exciting to speak. It’s an exciting way to explore language, history, and culture. Playing Shakespeare also elevates us. There is a special magic for people who can say they’ve “done Shakespeare,” and Members who participate in Merely Players will hold that honor, sharing that magic. Audiences will also be elevated, witnessing a cast with real and significant challenges share the work of the most famous playwright in the English language. 
Why Optimist Theatre?
As producers of Milwaukee’s free Shakespeare in the Park, OT staff are familiar with the bard’s plays and have worked on them with Milwaukee’s finest theatre actors, directors, and designers. In addition to decades of producing for the theatre and entertainment industry, OT Executive Director Susan Scot Fry has written and performed in several shortened Shakespeare plays and brought participatory theatre to audiences of all ages and levels lf experience. OT Artistic Director Ron Scot Fry has shared Shakespeare’s work with thousands of people through his one-man interactive experience, “To Be! Shakespeare Here and Now.” “To Be!” has played for audiences across the country and in Europe, from university students to pre-K kids, from Shakespeare pros to Alzheimer’s patients. |