Almost 10 years ago, Lisa Hanson came to me with a proposition: Let's produce and direct a UNIFIED musical. Of course at the time, the term "unified" was yet to be established. She just knew that she wanted to see a high quality theatrical production featuring students living with coginitive and physical disabilities. Lisa was tired of seeing "shows" with her students that just pandered to the audience, or which claimed to be inclusive, but that only used her students in minor/ensemble roles.
That she trusted me with her vision and asked me to help her create it, that has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. As I leave EHS to pursue new paths, I am honored to leave behind the legacy of Theatre for All and the legacy of Unified classes at EHS.
Working to create a district and society where students don't have to fight for equal rights or fight to be recognized as worthy of investment and time, is a constant challege. Every student deserves a chance to stand in the spotlight - a chance to be seen - a chance to be heard. There are many people who believed in this vision and who helped Lisa and I along the way. Please read the acknowledgment section of the program. TFA could not have started or grown without them!
I am dedicating this final show to my son, Max, and to the memory of my husband, Steven Keith Froehlich. My husband taught me about love, compassion and forgiveness. He believed in me and supported every path I wished to pursue. He modeled grace and courage as he faced a 15 year decline and ultimate death. Max stood by my side and helped care for his ailing father. He persevered through a system that had no clue how to help a student dealing with daily trauma. When he joined me here at EHS and I watched him with his partner during TFA class, my heart just about burst with pride, seeing his father's loving personality come shining through. Without these two extraordinary humans in my life, I never would have had the courage or ability to pursue my dreams and to create my artistic visions.
What's next? I will serve as the Artistic Director of a new theatre company, UNLABELED THEATRE, launching the Fall of 2023. This company will take the model we created for Theatre for All and tailor it for adults, using the theatre and the arts as a means to provide training and meaningful employment to people living with cognitive and/or physical disabilities. We hope to work with many alums from the TFA program!
Working with Lisa Hanson on Theatre for All, and working with the students who take this class, has been the most spectacular part of my career as an educator. It takes courage to be this vulnerable with your peers and watching these kids offer such compassionate service to each other has been a true light for me during the darkest times of my life. I will never be able to thank Lisa and the students enough for everything they have taught me and everything they have given me. I am a better human being after these 10 years - and they can take credit for that.
With Love,
Jessica Froehlich
