Class Description

Instructor: Anita Hollander (Playwright) Led by award-winning advocate and playwright and actor Anita Hollander, this class is for all playwrights, dramaturgs, and other theatre makers—whether disabled or not—to explore the potential for including or engaging with disability in their work. We will read and discuss short plays by disabled playwrights from the anthology "At the Intersection of Disability & Drama", as well as full-length plays by both disabled and non-disabled playwrights, such as John Belluso, Martyna Majok, and others. Throughout the course, students will also learn about the history and cultural issues surrounding disability in theatre. Requirements for this Class: Students must obtain the required texts before the course begins; a detailed list with costs will be provided in advance. Expectations for this Class: We ask that students attend each session, read the assigned plays with enough time to process the content and structure, and then to participate in class discussion. Students will be expected to write and share a 5-minute play or scene for the final class. After Completion of Class: Students will emerge from this class with a broader and deeper understanding of how to embrace and include disability in their plays, how to ensure inclusion and accessibility in their productions, and the benefits of intersectional diversity on both sides of the curtain. A deeper understanding of the background and history of disability advocacy in theatre will help empower students and inspire more exciting, groundbreaking work from their own perspective. PlayPenn Summer Classes Starts July 23: Mondays * Summer of Sondheim – Starts July 28, 2025 Tuesdays * Writing Disability on Stage – Starts July 29, 2025 * Crafting Dialogue – Starts July 29, 2025 Wednesdays * Submissions Intensive – Starts July 23, 2025 * The New Canon: Plays by Visionary Women – Starts July 30, 2025 Thursdays * Script Rewrite Lab – Starts July 31, 2025 Fridays * Song Dramaturgy Intensive – Starts August 1, 2025