Theatre by the Blind provides visually impaired youth, teen, and adult participants with a constructive and creative forum, both on stage and on screen to confront their challenges while informing the public, raising awareness, and changing perceptions about the capabilities of the blind. These remarkable individuals create and perform original theatrical works that empower and inspire program participants and audiences alike.

Each new program lasts approximately 6 months from start to finish. Participants meet twice a week for 3 – 4 hours at a time in order to conceive the story and their characters, learn their lines, and rehearse the show. Scripts can be translated and printed into Braille, but often the actors choose to tape-record their lines to practice at home. During rehearsals, a series of soft floor mats are pieced together to create a map of the stage that aids the actors in navigating the stage layout and memorizing the location of different set pieces. After months of rehearsal each show culminates with 2 – 3 weeks of performances at The Blue Door, the theatrical home of ArtsUP! LA.

Theatre by the Blind also offers "The Butterfly Effect" – an unforgettable in-school assembly experience for students featuring scenes, songs and personal stories by visually impaired individuals, blind-folded stage navigation and sight-guiding exercises for student volunteers, a moderated question and answer session with the actors, and an introduction to techniques for interacting with the blind.
 
The Butterfly Effect highlights how the performing arts can help visually impaired individuals push the limits of their disability while inspiring Los Angeles-based students to overcome the challenges they face and affect positive change in their communities.

Greg Shane

Program Lead

Greg Shane, Artistic Director of ArtsUP! LA, received his B.A. in theatre from Tulane University and his M.A. in Educational Theatre from the Steinhardt School at NYU. Since he began teaching theatre in 2003, Greg has traveled all over the world bringing performing arts and arts therapy programs to various populations in cities including London, Dublin, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. Greg’s work helps at-risk youth, military veterans, prisoners, mentally challenged individuals, the homeless, and the visually impaired. Blind in his right eye, Greg’s personal connection and sensitivity towards the challenges of the visually impaired lend a unique perspective to his work.
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