An original play is set to have its world premiere at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on January 21st. The brand-new play, titled Uncommon Sense, is composed of true stories from Iowans who are on the autism spectrum or who are close to someone who is.
The Tectonic Theater Project, a company based out of New York City, will be putting on the performance. The company is known for their award-winning play, The Laramie Project. This play came to the GBPAC five years ago and centered on the death of Matthew Shepard. The performance told the story of Shepard, a young homosexual man who was brutally killed by two anti-gay men in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998.
The GBPAC invested in the new project, allowing the Tectonic Theater group to tour the nation next year. To bring the play to life, the company interviewed Iowa communities, families, doctors, and anyone else around the story over a two-month timespan.
Uncommon Sense aims to give audiences a newer and broader understanding of what is “normal” for those dealing with autism. The play captures the stories of communities and families in Iowa with hope, humor, love, and understanding. “When you write a story about something that has a lot of social and emotional impact, you just get drawn into it more and more,” says Executive Director of the GBPAC, Steve Carignan.
Uncommon Sense will tell the story of five individuals from Iowa who are affected by autism in some way. Both the Tectonic Theater Project and the GBPAC hope to open up doors into talking about difference and understanding those with this complicated disorder. “It’s been a long time coming,” says Special Programs Director, Amy Hunzelman.
This empowering, true story has been a big local project in the making. Uncommon Sense is sure to impact everyone, whether they're personally affected by autism or not. It will make you laugh, cry, and think twice about the families.
Show times for Uncommon Sense are Saturday, January 17th at 7 pm and Sunday, January 18th at 2 pm, with tickets starting at $14.
