L'Enfant Rebelle Theatre Sets Season One Lineup

Disability integrated theatre, L'Enfant Rebelle Theatre, announced their Season One line-up this week, slated to feature four mainstage shows and a D.C. original new musical.

L'Enfant Rebelle proudly announced that among their inaugural season selections, they have chosen to include William Shakespeare drama Othello presented in American Sign Language, a newly adapted stage version of Mark Twain's classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, a 90-minute spoken-word/cabaret Staring Back highlighting real stories from industry professionals, written entirely by playwrights with disabilities, and the new musical Wendy recounting the famous Peter Pan tale from the perspective of Wendy Darling. The season is also to include a large-scale Broadway musical, set to be announced next month at the company's season kick-off party and fundraiser.

"Our goal going into the Season One selection process was to create a line-up that would stretch us as a new company to find opportunities for our mission to really shine even though they are familiar titles" said the theatre's Executive Artistic Director, L.J. Whalen. "We accept that these works are done time and again in our community, but we aspire to add a new twist to each production and genuinely convey that different is beautiful."

Spearheaded by a team of executives both with and without disabilities, the theatre opened to the public back in October 2015, announcing their inaugural season to begin July 24th.

"We are so excited for the things we have lined up for the D.C. theatre community. Working alongside individuals from organizations including Autism Speaks to Gallaudet University, we have grown a lot these past 8 months and are revving up for quite an amazing season."

The year is set to end with the D.C. original musical Wendy written by Gretchen Midgley and John Henderson. The show follows Wendy Darling as she recounts her time in Neverland alongside her childhood friend Peter Pan. Realizing that her daughter Jane might be on the brink of a similar tale, Wendy shares stories of love, excitement, and adventure, but warns that not everything is as it seems. Midgley is well known for her solo work at previous NYMF festivals while Henderson is no stranger to the D.C. theatre community, having served as music director for numerous shows Red Branch Theatre's long awaited Heathers. Regarding the premiere musical, John said "I love the theatre's mission and what it is bringing to the D.C. theatre community. It is truly an honor to have Wendy included in such an exciting and diverse season by this amazing company." The show was selected from over a dozen new plays and musicals submitted to be part in the first season.

The theatre encourages those looking to audition for productions or give by way of sponsorship to contact the theatre through their website at www.lenfantrebelletheatre.com.

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