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Oles lead theater workshop in Ireland

By Kyle Schut '13
July 24, 2012

St. Olaf Artist in Residence Dona Freeman (left) and students Sean Gilbertson '14 and Sari Abelson '13 will spend 10 days helping lead a theater workshop in Ireland.

St. Olaf Artist in Residence Dona Freeman '80 and two students are in Ireland this week to help lead a unique theater workshop for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Freeman will serve as the international theater mentor at the Abhainn Ri Festival, which is run by the Camphill Callan Community, and Sari Abelson '13 and Sean Gilbertson '14 will work alongside her. They'll be leading workshops and directing productions at the festival, which aims to use theater as a means to enrich and celebrate the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities.

The trio received a St. Olaf Magnus the Good Award, which promotes new and innovative collaborative efforts between students and faculty, to support their participation in the festival.

They have already worked together this summer on constructing curricula for the workshops and rehearsals that they will lead. Their workshops will focus on subjects such as improvisation and characterization, and they'll conduct rehearsals that will culminate with a performance of Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant by the residents.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.