Rare Bird Inclusive Theatre Camp
FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
September 26-29, 2024
Arrival 3pm on Thursday September 26th and Depart by 5pm on Sunday, September 29th
INAUGURAL COST: $500
*FULL & HALF SCHOLARSHIPS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Rare Bird Inclusive Theatre Camp offers personalized performing arts mentorship for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With a team of 20 Volunteer Artists and 2 Professional Teaching Artists, campers collaborate with mentors to craft distinctive roles, enabling us to showcase both individual and collective talents. Together, we will cultivate a musical production and present our talents in a public performance on Sunday, September 29th. We extend a warm invitation to parents, family, friends, and caregivers to join us for this special event.
Camp Package Inclusions:
ALL MEALS AND SNACKS
LODGING (BUNK-STYLE)
SCRIPT WRITING
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
COSTUMES AND SET DESIGN
THEATER GAMES AND PLAY
REHEARSALS AND BLOCKING
MUSIC AND MOVEMENT
NATURE WALKS
FIRESIDE S’MORES, SONGS, & STORYTELLING
SOUVENIR RARE BIRD FARM T-SHIRT
Rare Bird Inclusive Theatre Camp is a collaboration between Rare Bird Farm and Christmount Retreat Center, home of Camp Lakey Gap and Sunshine Retreats for people with disabilities. Asheville Community Theater (ACT) is providing their support with Professional Teaching Artists, volunteers, and costumes. The camp will be organized by Rare Bird Farm and held at Christmount in Black Mountain, NC— an inclusive place for all to discover community, acceptance, and purpose.
Participant Description
Like all people, our campers have a wide range of skills and abilities. We will do our very best to support each person at their level of need. There are, however, a few limitations to the support we can provide.
We cannot accommodate the following:
Severe behavioral challenges (e.g. aggression, running away, property destruction)
Intense medical needs. We can monitor campers taking medication but are unable to provide individual nursing services.
Additionally, Campers should be independent in areas of self care and hygiene or able to complete these tasks without "hands-on" assistance.
MEET SOME OF OUR 2024 PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
JOIN US FOR OUR COLLABORATIVE PRODUCTION
Join us for a heartwarming and inspiring performance on Sunday, September 29th, at 2 PM at Aldridge Hall in Christmount Conference Center, 100 Magnolia Rd., Black Mountain, NC. This special matinee will showcase the talents of 15 campers with intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with 24 volunteer artists and two professional teaching artists, who will come together to create an original musical in just two days as part of the Rare Bird Inclusive Theatre Camp.
Led by Camp Director Farrah Hoffmire, the camp offers a unique creative experience for both campers and volunteers. Hoffmire, the founder of HEART Inclusive Arts Community in Charleston, SC, has long understood the magic that happens when artists from diverse backgrounds and abilities collaborate. Her bond with longtime collaborator James Bethea, formed during their six years at HEART, inspired her to bring this work to Western North Carolina. This inaugural camp is their first step in introducing inclusive arts to the community.
The performance’s theme, "This Is Me," is inspired by the empowering song from The Greatest Showman and will feature a variety-show format, including song, dance, and theater. Campers will participate in stations covering all aspects of musical theater, from scriptwriting and voice to stage presence, costumes, set design, and marketing. While the full details of the show will only be revealed once it's been created at camp, audiences can expect a celebration of creativity, teamwork, and inclusion.
This performance is not just about showcasing talent but also about the transformative relationships that form through the collaborative creative process. The beauty of this work lies in the connections made while working toward a shared artistic goal.
Rare Bird Inclusive Theatre Camp draws inspiration from local programs like Camp Lakey Gap and Sunshine Retreats who have supported this camp getting off the ground, as well as Open Hearts Studios and Arms Around ASD, all of which provide vital yet underfunded support for adults with disabilities. We invite the community to attend and experience firsthand the incredible art we can create together, see adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a fresh light, and support the ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity in the arts.
The show will last 45mins to an hour and there will not be concessions.
THE SHOW IS FREE BUT YOUR SUPPORT GOES A LONG WAY.