Meet the presenters

Jamie Agnello — “Trusty Sidekick Theater Company and The Big Umbrella Festival”

Presenter Bio: Jamie Agnello is an actor, voice over artist, deviser and puppeteer based in Pittsburgh, PA where she serves on the Pittsburgh Emerging Arts Leaders steering committee, as a Teaching Artist for Bricolage Production Company, and as an extended company member of Trusty Sidekick Theater Company. She has performed and collaborated with Trusty Sidekick since 2013, including Off the Map and Campfire (University Settlement), The Haunting of Ichabod Crane and The 7 1/2 Mysteries of Toulouse McLane (The Park Avenue Armory), and the original devising and development processes of Up and Away and Campfire while in residence at Lincoln Center Education.

Erica Berman — “Where to begin!? (Creating Inclusive Programming at a TYA Company)”

Presenter Bio: Erica Berman is celebrating her seventh season as the Director of Education & Artistic Associate with Children's Theater of Madison. Erica introduced sensory friendly performances to CTM and collaborated on creating the Access for All Initiative. Erica holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Mount Holyoke College and a MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College.

Event Description: At this session, we will look at how to build inclusive programming and practices from the ground up. This presentation will offer tools for translating a passion for inclusive practices into successful programming within an arts non-profit.

Christopher Liam Moore — “The Beat: Hairspray at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival”

Presenter Bio: Christopher Liam Moore is a director and actor. At the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, he directed Hairspray, The Book of Will, Shakespeare in Love, Twelfth Night, Long Day’s Journey into Night, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Very Merry Wives of Windsor, Iowa, August: Osage County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Dead Man’s Cell Phone. He has won the Los Angeles Stage Alliance’s Ovation Award (two nominations, one award); Garland, Drama-Logue, and L.A. Weekly Awards and was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award, the Bay Area Critics Circle Award, and the Connecticut Drama Critics Circle Award.

Event Description: Director Christopher Liam Moore discusses the Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Hairspray and the expansion of the lens of inclusivity.

Melanie Gertzman — “From TSWA to Bluelaces Theater Company: Beyond Relaxed Performances”

Presenter Bio: Melanie Gertzman is the Co-Founder and Executive Director for Bluelaces Theater Company. She also co-founded the special event, Theatre Stands with Autism on Northwestern's campus in 2013, which grew into Seesaw Theatre! Melanie holds a B.S. in Theater and Psychology with concentrations in production and theater for young audiences from Northwestern University, and an Ed.M in Specialized Studies from Harvard's Graduate School of Education with a focus on social entrepreneurship, non-profit management, data analytics, program evaluation, and research in the therapeutic benefits of theater created specifically for audiences with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Event Description: Melanie Gertzman will share her story of how a special event on Northwestern's campus grew into New York's award winning theater company for audiences with autism and other developmental disabilities (not to mention Seesaw Theatre!). Learn more about Bluelaces' history, programming, plans for growth, and how we engage with our community.

Brian Balcom — “Enhanced Access”

Presenter Bio: Brian Balcom is a disabled, Asian-American director working in Chicago and Minneapolis. With a BFA in directing from Carnegie-Mellon University and his MFA in directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University, he has been a Multi-Cultural Fellow at Steppenwolf Theater, and currently serves as the Access Coordinator at Victory Gardens' Access Project. He has upcoming productions with Gremlin Theatre and Mu Performing Arts in Minnesota, American Stage in Florida, and Theater Wit in Chicago.

Orion Couling — “No Easy Target: A Screening and Talkback”

Presenter Bio: Orion Couling is the award-winning founder and executive director of EDGE of Orion, an Illinois NFP. He created the Constellation Project, a program that celebrates inclusion and neuro-diverse participation.

Event Description: EDGE of Orion's Constellation Project is thrilled to offer a screening and talkback of their award-winning Star Wars fan Film No Easy Target!

Sara Perry — “Shakespeare & Autism: The Hunter Heartbeat Method”

Presenter Bio: Sara is a graduate of the M.F.A. Acting program at The Ohio State University, with a focus in devised work and inclusive theatre education. While at OSU, Sara worked as a teaching artist in The Shakespeare & Autism Project. Sara trained in the Hunter Heartbeat Method (HHM) pedagogy with Kelly Hunter from the RSC. Currently serving as the Inclusive Education & Programs Manager at Chicago Children’s Theatre, Sara teaches drama to neurodiverse students, coordinates residency programs with Chicago Public Schools, and manages Camp Red Kite; an arts-based camp for students on the spectrum. Sara is so thrilled to be back at the Inclusive Theatre Festival sharing this groundbreaking work!

Event Description: Interactive introduction to the Hunter Heartbeat Method (HHM), a series of sensory drama games, which use Shakespeare to release the communicative blocks within children and young people with Autism.

Christena Gunther — “Facilitating Accessible Cultural Experiences”

Presenter Bio: Bringing Chicago together around the intersection of disability and the arts was Christena's main aim as she started Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium (CCAC) in 2012. Having over a decade of experience in cultural accessibility from the Metropolitan Museum and Lincoln Center, she currently serves as Director of Education at the Evanston Art Center, and is a Steering Committee Co-Chair and Board President of CCAC. Thanks to her brother Travis who has Down syndrome, cultural accessibility became her passion as they visited museums and attended plays together.

Event Description: Understand the context about why inclusion matters. First, we'll explore the definition of disability and what cultural accessibility for guests with disabilities means, discuss best practices when it comes to language and considering disability, and examine how cultural organizations can better welcome and include all visitors. Learn more about specific types of accommodations for different people with disabilities that can be provided, and the various support that the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium (CCAC) can provide for cultural administrators striving to improve access and equity at their organizations.

Katie Yohe — “Supporting Different Abilities in Rehearsal and in the Spotlight”

Presenter Bio: Originally from West Chester, PA, Katie Yohe has called Chicago home since 2007. Katie graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University with a BFA in Drama and holds an MA with Distinction in Applied Theatre from The Royal Central School for Speech and Drama. Her dissertation, "Side By Side", focused on developing creative arts programming for individuals with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and dementia. Katie founded Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations (A.B.L.E.) with the aim of creating opportunities for individuals with developmental differences to find the same confidence, friendships, and joy she has found through the arts.

Event Description: It is rare for us to see individuals with disabilities onstage. Mainstream performance opportunities for this population tend to favor those who are more typically abled. But what about actors who do not communicate verbally? Or those who struggle with short term memory capacity or literacy skills? A.B.L.E. believes everyone is A.B.L.E. to connect, to contribute, and to create. Over the years, this trailblazing non-profit has developed techniques to ensure actors of all abilities can thrive onstage – in everything from original pieces to Shakespearean classics. Join A.B.L.E.’s Founder and Executive Artistic Director, Katie Yohe, and veteran ensemble members for an interactive exploration of A.B.L.E.’s unique rehearsal pedagogy. You’ll get to try your hand at A.B.L.E.’s signature method of dropping in and discuss other best practices for an inclusive arts classroom.

Sharon Hyson — “a taste of art therapy through a mixed media visual art workshop”

Presenter Bio: Sharon Hyson, ATR, integrates her skills as an art therapist, arts educator and teaching artist in all of her workshops and art programs. Her experience includes designing and creating art therapy and art programs in memory care programs, in schools and camps for children and youth who have special needs, in retirement homes, skilled care units, summer camps for adults, in schools, hospitals, correctional institutions, in shelters, in public libraries, and in places of faith. She facilitates Professional Development Seminars on Self Care through the Arts. Sharon works with families, youth, children, and older adults. She was the Art Exhibit Director for the State’s Celebration of the Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act Law, and is planning an upcoming Art Exhibit for the 30th Anniversary. In 2019 Sharon was the All Ages Art Director for the Edgewater Arts Festival.  She has presented recently at the following conferences: Art in Response to Violence conference and at Caregiving Conferences. She presents Family Art Programs at Chicago Public Libraries often. Sharon led the Community Building Workshop (through Hat Making from Upcycled Materials) session for the Inclusive Theatre Festival 2 years ago.  Sharon loves to create jewelry from upcycling and recycling daily materials. Most days she wears jewelry made from office or sewing supplies.  For a list of other art workshops/classes and art therapy programs with Sharon, contact her at ADAartexhibit@gmail.com or 312.636.7944.

Event Description: Sharon Hyson, ATR, will provide an experiential opportunity for attendees to engage with visual art materials to support their learning on art therapy.  One can ask questions and find out about art therapy resources and the benefits of including art therapy in your program.  Come play and create!

Ellie Levine and Olivia Zapater-Charrette — “Welcome to Seesaw Theatre’s Inclusive Theatre Festival”

Presenter Bio: Ellie Levine is a senior Theatre major and Psychology minor at Northwestern University. Ellie is the Artistic Director of Seesaw Theatre and has been involved with Seesaw since her freshman year. In addition to her work with Seesaw, Ellie is a director and dramaturg for productions on campus.

Olivia Zapater-Charrette is a senior Theatre and Psychology double major with a concentration in Theatre Management at Northwestern University. Olivia is the Executive Director of Seesaw Theatre and has been involved with Seesaw since her freshman year. In addition to her work with Seesaw, Olivia stage manages Northwestern productions.

Event Description: Ellie and Olivia, Artistic and Executive Director of Seesaw Theatre, respectively, are thrilled to welcome everyone to the fourth annual Inclusive Theatre Festival. We will briefly walk through the history of Seesaw and our current programming before we send you off on your weekend of learning!

Noah Kudman — “An Introduction to Sensory Friendly Design”

Presenter Bio: Noah Kudman is a senior at Northwestern University studying Theatre and Environmental Science. He serves on multiple executive boards on campus including Seesaw Theatre as Design Chair and Lipstick Theatre as Inventory Manager. He is also one of the two Co-Chairs for Northwestern's Student Theatre Coalition, an umbrella organization housing many of the school's student theatre and dance groups.

Event Description: Seesaw Theatre's Design Chair Noah Kudman will be discussing why there is a need to make theatre sensory friendly as well as how to create experiences that will be safe, tactile, and exciting for audiences with developmental differences.

Savannah Runge — “Accessibility 101 for STUCO”

Presenter Bio: Savannah Runge is a senior at Northwestern University studying Theatre and Pre-medicine. She has been on the executive board of Seesaw Theatre for three years, regarding the organization as the best experience throughout undergraduate. While postponing medical school two years she plans to work in theatre education and accessibility. 

Event Description: Join Seesaw Theatre’s Sensory Friendly Coordinator Savannah Runge for an interactive presentation about accessibility in theatre, sensory friendly performance, and multi sensory theatre. 

Maddie Burton and Mikey Walden — “Information Informs: A Look at Research and its Application in Seesaw Theatre”

Presenter Bio: Maddie Burton is a third-year student at Northwestern double-majoring in Theatre and Neuroscience with an Allied Field in Biology on the pre-med track with the intention of pursuing a career in pediatric medicine. She is a research assistant at Northwestern’s Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Lab, and, under the guidance of Dr. Molly Losh, looks at the genetic underpinnings of autism spectrum condition. This is her second year serving as Seesaw’s Research Chair; she enjoys combining her passions for theatre, neuroscience, and children to make incredible experiences for individuals, regardless of their ability. Maddie is also a proud member of The Bix! Improv and The Jewish Theatre Ensemble.

Mikey Walden is a Northwestern University junior pursuing a Theatre major and Gender and Sexuality Studies minor who is excited by any form go artistic creation, particularly passionate about new work and accessible theatre. This is their third year on the Seesaw Theatre Company executive board where they are External Education Director and Music Director. They act on the stage and screen and are a songwriter and poet. They are currently a writing coordinator for the 89th Annual Waa-Mu Show and have previously written original music for ImagineU’s When She Had Wings. They are also a member of Significant Others a cappella where they are an assistant music director.

Event Description: Together, we will explore how Seesaw conducts research and implements it into its workshops, shows and more!