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Writing Disability on Stage
Reimagine your theatre practice through the lens of disability and authentic representation.
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
Enrollment Policies (Time Zones, Payment Plans, and Refunds)
ONLINE SCHEDULES & TIME ZONES: Most of our classes are offered online and open to participants worldwide. Our website automatically displays class start times based on your device’s current location, so you will always see the correct time no matter where you are. If you are traveling for work or personal reasons, please verify the local time shown on your device on this registration page before joining the class. For example, if a class begins at 7:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time (ET), it will appear as 4:00 PM PT when viewed from the U.S. West Coast, or 11:00 AM the next day if you are in Sydney, Australia. Many of our instructors are based in the U.S. Eastern Time (ET) zone, but not all. Once again, please double-check the local time shown on your device on this registration page before joining the class if you are traveling. IN-PERSON SCHEDULES & TIME ZONES: If the class is held in person, please note that the start time is based on the time zone of the city where the class takes place. If you book the class while traveling, be sure to use the class’s local time zone rather than the time zone of your current location. TRAVEL FOR HYBRID CLASSES: Many of our classes are held online but for time to time we offer hybrid classes where a portion of the class takes places online and a portion of the class takes place in-person. Please note the cost of the class does not include travel or housing for students to attend the in-person sessions. As well, PlayPenn cannot cover the cost of travel or housing. CLASS LINK: The hyperlink to join your respective online class(es) will be emailed to you separately from your class registration confirmation, closer to the first session. PAYMENT PLANS: PlayPenn believes that cost should never be a barrier to learning. Flexible payment plans are available, and we’re happy to work with students to find a solution that fits your needs. To inquire about setting up a payment plan, please email using the form on the Upcoming Class main page. REFUND POLICY: In order to offer a small-group class experience and pay our professional instructors consistently, please note all sales are final and tuition is not refundable. PlayPenn is not able to offer a voucher/credits towards a future purchase. Please consider this before making your purchase. Please visit our Refund Policy webpage to learn more about our other policies.
Learn More About Your Instructor
Our teaching artists are all working professional writers—award-winning playwrights and musical theatre creators—who bring real-world experience, insight, and passion to every session.
Get to know our artists by clicking a name below to read their full bio.
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