Volume 3 | Issue 1, February 2019
CADA News and information!
Clowning Around --
A clown show for all ages!

Presented by Theatre on the Spectrum Adult Company

March 18, 20, 21 at noon
March 22 —7 pm
March 25, 27, 28 at 1 PM
March 29 at 7 PM

At the Blue Box Studio
1051 S Hawkins Ave
Akron, OH 44320
Call 234-678-7830 for info and reservations
Suggested ticket donation - $3.00

Register Now for Spring Youth Classes!
Members of the Next Stage Transitions class working on physicalizing emotions using a game called Flock of Seagulls. This class for teens has been working with audio and video recording while exploring characters in favorite movie scripts. This session, we have been working on "Inside Out."
Community and Advocacy!
Above: Setting the Stage with JT Styles, Ruben Ryan, Scott Hudson, Josy Jones and Samir Hammoud networking on stage at the Akron Civic Theatre

Theatre on the Spectrum's adult company recently attended Setting the Stage, a gathering of theatre companies from all corners of Summit County, sponsored by Partners for Theatre, Arts Now and the Akron Civic Theatre . The purpose of the meeting was to identify common goals and challenges and suggest ways to move forward as theatre artists.

Below: Company member JT Styles and assistant program director Ruben Ryan listen to a presentation on accessibility and the arts by Erin Hoppe of VSA Ohio . This event was also held at the Akron Civic Theatre and sponsored by Arts Now.
Autism and Drama Teacher Training Workshop
March 16 at the Blue Box
For theatre teaching artist and educators and those who work with special needs populations:


The Center for Applied Drama and Autism is offering teacher training sessions over the next year, taught by co-founders Laura Valendza and Wendy S Duke. The workshops will cover methods and techniques for working with youth and adults on the autism spectrum and other special needs populations. The workshops will take place at CADA’s studio located at 1501 S Hawkins Ave. Each 6-hour workshop focuses on a specific topic:

March 16, 2019: Physical acting for body language understanding and communication
June 22, 2019: Improv for Autism/Special Needs
Sept 7, 2019: Emotion games/exercises for self-advocacy and dealing with bullying

Workshops begin at 9 AM and end at 4 PM with a full hour lunch break between sessions. CADA students and volunteers will be on hand to assist with the training. Ample hand-outs will be available for participants to take home. 

Cost of workshops: 6 hours @$150 each. Scholarships available for persons interested in joining CADA as teaching staff. Contact us at 234-678-7830 or by email at [email protected] to enroll and/or for further information.

Laura Valendza is an intervention specialist and a professional actor. Wendy Duke is a drama and autism specialist who is program director for Theatre on the Spectrum, a day theatre program for adults with special needs. Duke and Valendza have presented drama and autism workshops at Milestones National Autism Conferences, Very Special Arts Intersections conferences, National Autism Society and Greater Akron Autism Society.
Support CADA when shopping at smile.Amazon.com
.5% of your online purchases at Amazon will be donated to the Center for Applied Drama and Autism. All you have to do is click on the link below that takes you directly to CADA's Smile.Amazon site. Smile.Amazon.com has all the same products and services as Amazon's regular page -- the difference is you will be giving a percentage of your purchase to CADA. It's an easy way to support us!

All Abilities Arts Expo
Theatre on the Spectrum's Adult Company will be presenting some improv work at "Art Speaks: All Abilities Arts Expo" Look for us on Friday evening! This event is a project created by Alicia M Hopkins, disability advocate and visual artist, for artists with disabilities in an accessible and supportive environment. More Expos are in the works -- stay tuned!
CADA Calendar
Art Speaks: All Abilities Arts Expo -- March 8 & 9

Winter 2019 session ends Mach 9

Teacher Training 6 hour Workshop: March 16

Clowning Around -- March 18 - 29

Spring 2019 session: March 23 -- May 25

June 1st -- look for us at Summit Stage Fest!

Teacher Training 6 hour Workshop: June 22

Summer 2019 Session: June 29 -- August 31

Teacher Training 6 hour Workshop: Sept 7

Fall 2019 Session: Sept 14 -- Nov 16
Center for Applied Drama & Autism | 1501 S Hawkins Ave, Akron 44320 | 234-678-7830 | [email protected] | centerforada.org

Theatre on the Spectrum is CADA's performance wing. Our youth company rehearses on Saturdays. The adult company operates Monday through Friday from 10:30 am - 3:30 pm as a day theatre program for people on the spectrum of abilities, in collaboration with Ardmore, Inc.

For further information, please visit us at centerforada.org