I'm used to book store readings -- a cabaret will be a new adventure.
If someone told you they were going to a disability culture cabaret, would you know what the heck they were talking about? I sure didn’t. Still don’t, really. Guess I’ll find out this Friday, though – I agreed to perform in one!Here’s a description from the Chicago Amplified page on Chicago Public Radio’s web site:
General Event Information
Blood on the Tracks: A Disability Culture Cabaret
Friday, September 24, 2010 @ 6:30 p.m.Featuring Mike Ervin, Rahnee Patrick, Pennie Brinson, Carrie Kaufman, Bartholomew Thomas, Laurence Clark, Riva Lehrer, Rob Rotman and Beth Finke. Emceed by Susan Nussbaum.
Venue
Access Living
115 W Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60610Presenter
Access Living
(312) 640-2100
TicketsFREE
My plan is to put on a party dress and read a very short bit from Long Time, No See. I’m only familiar with a few others on the program — Mike Ervin lives in our building. He’s a playwright, and I know he uses a wheelchair, but we haven’t had much more than elevator conversations. I’ve met a couple of the women listed at previous Access Living events, but without being able to see them I have no idea what their disabilities are. Or what they might do up there on stage Friday night! I’m curious to find out. If you’re curious, too, come on by!
Beth,
I’ve been to several Disability Cabarets, and always really enjoy the artists with all types of disabilities sharing their talents from readings – pros and poetry, to music, to dance, to drmatic story telling!
They are a way for us (people with disabilities) to share with each other the disability experience.
Susan Nussbaum was a performer, I believe, at one of the cabarets I attended.
The University of Minnesota was the first university in the country to create a Disabled Student Cultural Center (DSCC). It acknowledges that the disability experience itself has given us our own culture, but we’re never taught about it in school. We have to learn about it from each other. We have our own history, our own arts, our own activism, but unless we take the time to learn about and share them with each other, wwe miss out.
The DSCC brought a British cabaret troupe to Minnesota in 1995 called Tragic But Brave. What a wonderful name! They were fabulous performers as well! They were part of a conference called “Disabled And Proud,” which was a national conference that changed many people’s lives, including mine.
It was the first time I heard “In your face,” music about disability that spoke to me.
I hope this experience is a great one for you!
P.S.
Mike Irvin is a quite famous activist across the country. Ask him to tell you about ADAPT.
All I know is that blood on the tracks is a great Bob Dylan album!!
I doubt that helps you, but enjoy yourself and let us know how it goes.
Jen and OJ
Unfortunately, I can’t stop by Friday night. I wish I could! So I’m going to have to depend you tell me or blogging about what goes on. Inquiring minds
want to know. LOL
[…] Bratman was in the audience with her son during my debut at the disability cabaret. “My son was hoping to talk to you afterwards,” she wrote in an email message. “he wanted to […]
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