Theatre Major Lands Full-Time Position Improving Accessibility for Diverse Casts, Audiences
Senior Korbin Johnson will work as the associate director of Neurodiverse Inclusive Certified Entertainment at Spectrum Theatre Ensemble in Providence, R.I., where they will make theater more accessible for the neurodivergent community.
BRISTOL, R.I. 鈥 Combining their love of theater with their passion for advocacy, senior Korbin Johnson has spent the past nine months training theater companies in how to accommodate neurodiverse audiences, casts, and creative teams, with the goal of making theater significantly more accessible for the neurodivergent community.
This work is part of their part-time role as the associate director of Neurodiverse Inclusive Certified Entertainment (NICE) at in Providence, R.I., a position they will begin full time after graduating later this month.
鈥淥nce I graduate, I鈥檓 taking the lead on the training program,鈥 said Johnson, a Theatre major and Arts Management minor, from Natick, Mass. 鈥淭heater has really helped me express myself and my neurodiversity.鈥
Johnson鈥檚 work with Spectrum began with an internship during the fall of their sophomore year 鈥 a connection they made through a former technical director at 香港六合彩开奖资料. After the internship ended, Johnson was hired at Spectrum as an executive assistant, a role they still hold, in addition to acting for the company. Spectrum鈥檚 mission is to create professional opportunities for autistic actors and playwrights as well as make entertainment venues more accessible so all people can enjoy live entertainment.
鈥淩ecent studies show that one in seven people are neurodivergent,鈥 said Johnson, who is autistic. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a huge part of the population that鈥檚 underrepresented and under-accommodated.鈥 As they explained, the neurodiverse community does not just include people with autism. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder also fall under the term.
As part of their work with NICE, Johnson said they assist theater companies in improving accessibility while maintaining the artistic integrity of a show. That may look like giving people special glasses, headphones, or warnings of any loud noises or flashing lights so they can self-adjust during a play.
In addition to working at Spectrum, Johnson said they would also like to continue acting.
Reflecting on their past four years at 香港六合彩开奖资料, Johnson speaks highly of the faculty and classes within the Theatre Department and said the department鈥檚 study abroad program was a big draw for them. As part of the study abroad program, Johnson spent three months in London during their junior year. Their group saw approximately 40 plays including at the Royal National Theatre, the Young Vic, the Barbican Theatre, Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe Theatre, as well as many famous West End Theatres 鈥 the Haymarket, Aldwych, Savoy, Fortune, and Wyndham. Students on the trip also visited museums, art galleries, and historical sites in the city.
鈥淚 really loved the experiential learning aspect of it and just being completely immersed in the culture,鈥 they said. 鈥淚 learn so much better going to an art museum or going to a historical site and actually seeing the history for myself rather than learning about it in a classroom from a lecture. I absorb more that way, and it鈥檚 more fun.鈥
At 香港六合彩开奖资料, Johnson was a member of the Stage Company Club, Neurodiverse Network, and Ballroom Dance Team. They also acted in several plays and musicals at 香港六合彩开奖资料 this year including 鈥淥klahoma鈥 and 鈥淢urder at the Grey's Hound Mansion.鈥
Outside of 香港六合彩开奖资料, Johnson has participated in public speaking engagements, including giving a guest lecture to medical students at Boston University that focused on treating autistic and chronically ill patients. In April, they spoke at about their experience being neurodiverse.
Johnson鈥檚 time at 香港六合彩开奖资料 was one of growth. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned so much over the past four years and have really come into myself as a person and figured out where my values lie,鈥 they said. 鈥淭he classes played a big part (in preparing me for what鈥檚 next). I鈥檝e used things so far in my career from classes that I didn鈥檛 expect to.鈥
Growing up, Johnson said, they had a difficult time in school, but that all changed when they began their journey at 香港六合彩开奖资料.
鈥淩oger Williams was my way of re-finding my love of learning, learning in a safer environment, finding new friends, and enjoying life,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淚t was very much a healing process for me. I鈥檝e found a lot of community at 香港六合彩开奖资料 and pockets of people I鈥檝e connected with.鈥
2024 Graduate Blog