Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB) (formerly Theater by the Blind), is the only Off-Broadway theater, and one of the few theaters in the country, that is dedicated to advancing – and changing the image of – actors and writers with disabilities, including blindness, vision impairment, and low vision.
TBTB began as Theater by the Blind, integrating actors and writers who were blind, had low vision, and were able-bodied. In 2008, TBTB expanded this mission to include artists with physical disabilities, in addition to vision impairment. The company’s name change reflects its commitment to include all artists with disabilities in its work: onstage, backstage, in the office, and in the audience.
The New Production: According to Goldman
From a recent TBTB press release:
We are excited to announce that in our 33rd season, Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB) will present the New York City premiere of According to Goldman, a play by Bruce Graham, opening Off-Broadway on April 6th and continuing through May 5th, 2013. The cast includes Stephen Drabicki, Pamela Sabaugh, and Nicholas Viselli, mixing able-bodied [Viselli], hard-of-hearing [Drabicki], and visually impaired [Sabaugh] actors.
According to Goldman tells the story of Gavin Miller, a former Hollywood screenwriter, who has left the industry to teach a college-level screenwriting course in the northeast. Jeremiah, a student in the class from Africa with an affinity for old films and Fred Astaire, proves to be a promising writer. Gavin and Jeremiah begin working on a Hollywood screenplay about Jeremiah’s life with the hope of making it big. Gavin’s wife Melinda is less than thrilled to hear that her husband wants another shot in Tinseltown.
According To Goldman is a fresh, funny, and eventually fierce look at screenwriting in Hollywood. By studying a mentoring relationship between an old Hollywood hand and an eager young student, it follows the evolution of film from the elegance and grace of the Fred Astaire era to the violence of modern cinema.
Additional Information
To purchase tickets, learn about discounts, or receive more information, you can contact TBTB at tbtbinfo@gmail.com. VisionAware has information, techniques, and resources to help you enjoy museums and art tours, theater and film, and painting with blindness or low vision.
According to Goldman: The Final Word
“Nobody knows anything.” ~William Goldman (referring to the Hollywood community)