2021/22 Bloom

Duluth Playhouse Family Theatre, Minnesota

“Bloom” is a beautiful coming of age story of Lily, a young person with a disability in the 1960s through the 1990s. The play follows along as the country and her identity grow.

“Bloom” highlights the complicated and painful history of division in the United States and well as the powerful movements that set the ground work for change and inclusion. Each generation must build off the strides made by those that came before, as well as create a voice and an agenda that is uniquely of their time. This country’s history has a strong foundation of rebellion and “Bloom” takes a look into the everyday rebellions that individuals take when they recognize that change is called for.

“Bloom” is a story of individuals setting a course for transformation. Each character is faced with challenging long held prejudices and the status quo, while becoming heroes in small and large ways. The play reflects the many facets of life-tender moments, feelings of powerless, frustrating situations, humorous interactions and hopeful opportunities.

BOLD-choice Theatre Company is an outreach theatre program created by CHOICE, unlimited introducing adults with disabilities to the world of theatre and performing arts and encouraging them to further their path as artists. BOLD provides a unique style of theatre performance that allows student and community audiences a chance to share in the talents of individuals with disabilities; opening new channels for dialogue and providing a venue to “talk” across barriers.

The actors of BOLD-choice Theatre Company primarily include adult individuals living with disabilities. They are a diverse group with a wide range of abilities and independence levels. Many of the actors in BOLD-choice are seasoned actors and identify themselves as theatre artists. For others, acting in front of an audience is a new experience. Every artist hopes to gain more confidence and skill at their work. The challenges the actors in BOLD-choice face vary in different ways. Some individuals find it difficult to perform with emotion, others find it difficult to memorize lines, and others are challenged by their physical or speech limitations. The beauty of BOLD-choice is that these actors learn to strengthen their assets and discover their talents by challenging themselves to grow as performers.