Neurotypical and neurodiverse performers team in ‘Stellaluna’

By Eva Trieger

CARLSBAD, California —  In 1993, Janell Cannon published a children’s book, Stellaluna, about a baby fruit bat who was inadvertently separated from her mother, and subsequently raised by birds. Stellaluna adapted to her new environs, but through happenstance, found herself back with her natal family,  and was overjoyed to learn that her ineptitude as a bird isn’t cause for disappointment or frustration. The young fruit bat gains an understanding that she is unique and can adapt to new situations while retaining her own true identity. It is with this in mind that two brilliant and compassionate teachers created a neurodiverse theater group at New Village Arts.

Aleta Barthell and Samantha Ginn combined their immense skills and massive hearts to create a theater experience for everyone, including neurodiverse individuals and “neurotypicals.” The most exciting discovery is that each individual benefits from the culmination proving once again that the sum really is greater than its parts.

Eager to know how these women became acting teachers and visionaries, I asked about their respective backgrounds and experiences. Barthell had worked in a theater in Portland, Oregon, and was involved in a unique 1:1 program entitled the Haven Project. Through this novel approach, youth at risk, often wards of the state, learned to socialize on stage with peers and coaching.

For Ginn, her mom, a special educator, modeled the gifts and rewards in teaching children with severe disabilities. A graduate of Sonoma State’s theater school, Ginn needed another job and found one in the Solana Beach school district. Working in a preschool with children with severe handicaps, Samantha realized that these kids had a great deal to contribute if she could unearth a key to their unique locks. Today, Ginn is a private teaching artist, and works at the Old Globe, New Village Arts, and La Jolla Playhouse.

Initially, Barthell began Kids Act, a theater school at New Village Arts Theater in Carlsbad.  Around the same time, Sammy Ginn was teaching improv to students with autism at the behest of their parents. A program entitled Monday Night Live became a training ground for an annual theater production. For six continuous weeks students aged 13 and up worked on sketch comedy. In the summer with the financial assist of California State Center for the Arts, the City of Carlsbad and the National Foundation for Autism, the troupe of six students and four peers performed The Little Prince. Rounding out the performance, professional actors and musicians lent their skills.  But this was just the beginning.

Monday Night Live expanded to provide additional classes for these budding thespians. As Ginn explained it, the stage, script reading, set design and improv provided insight into exploring the worlds of many of these children with autism. Through music, dance, and acting they were able to access and express their inner voice, a victory for many that had seemed out of reach.

Following the success of The Little Prince, Barthell created an original piece building on the students’ ideas for the show. Secret Superheroes breathed life into the creations of the students who once more teamed up with students of St. Patrick Catholic School, fellow actors from Kids Act and students seeking community service hours. One important and exciting change since that time is that now, thanks to the abovementioned backers as well as private donors, there are paid leadership and actual job opportunities for these neurodiverse individuals. Today, NVA’s mainstage productions make a point of hiring neurodiverse actors for cameo roles!

The third production was a puppet show. Author Margaret Read MacDonald gave permission for the adaptation, Elias Arasi created the puppets and with Heather Magee-Hill accompanying on harp, the troupe performed The Great Smelly Slobbery Small-Toothed Dog.

Stellaluna will be their fourth summer production. Samantha and Aleta are thrilled to have the permission and support from author/illustrator, and Carlsbad resident, Janell Cannon. Puppets are back, but this time created by the performers from recycled material under the guidance and direction of properties designer Cassandra Lee Walker. Also back is Heather Magee-Hill who has created an original score on her harp for this production that is dedicated to the exploration of movement as these birds and bats take flight!

All of the collaboration, risk-taking and trust comes together as audiences are offered three magical opportunities to see this 30-minute show at the Carlsbad Flower Fields.  Stellaluna will charm 3-year-olds and up, as viewers learn that “we may be different, but we’re friends and that’s what matters.  We are all bats living in a bird world,” as Ginn so aptly stated.

Come out to support this beautiful and worthwhile show and these talented and brave actors. Tickets are available at https://newvillagearts.org/events/  $5 for children and $10 for adults.  Showtimes: August 19th and 21st at 7:00 pm, and August 22 at 200 pm.

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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts.  She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com