Autistic Children/Teens Benefit from New Theatre Workshops

(Riverhead, N.Y.) –  Persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), other sensory integration disorders (SID), their caregivers, friends and family can often feel isolated and left out of social and school situations. My Own Ensemble and Performers Transcend Labels are two unique theatre workshops offered by the East End Arts Council that focus on ensemble performance techniques and can help participants experience the joy of belonging and working with a group. My Own Ensemble meets Tuesday February 16-Friday February 19 from  10AM – 11:30AM, is for children and their caregiver. Performers Transcend Labels meets Tuesday February 16-Friday February 19 from  12:30PM-2PM and is geared toward tweens and teens, with a caregiver. See attached flyer for workshop details; registraton is going on now, call (631)369-2171. Both workshops are designed specifically for those with ASD and SID, their families or anyone who enjoys working with others. Participants will engage in a variety of ensemble building techniques, theatre games, sensory exploration exercises. Together, workshop participants will create a performance based on a folk tale. The workshops are taught by Katheen Morgo AEA/SAG Actor, theatre and movement teaching artist, and certified Spec. Ed. Teacher.
 
Kathleen Morgo Collins has 6 years experience as teacher of acting/movement to children across the ASD spectrum. Her classes include the use of the latest therapies in practice including DIR/Floor Time and ABA behavioral intervention techniques. She also teaches children with ASD yoga, filmmaking and poetry writing. Ms. Morgo has 15 years teaching experience in nearly every theatrical discipline. As an Improv Artist with Walt Disney Inc., she taught over 100 kids ages 5-16 improvisational techniques, where her students performed shows at The Pleasure Island Comedy Club in Orlando FL.  She has taught improv for 10 years with Inside Broadway (NYC), Periwinkle Productions (NYC), The New York City DOE Shoestring Players (NJ), Theatre West, and UCLA (LA) where she taught character development techniques to undergraduates in the Acting BA program. Her teaching artist experience includes playwriting at the Bronx Young Actors Guild, and creative movement at Actor Equity’s STARRS’ program and NYCDOE.  She also teaches playmaking for youngsters (improv games and storytelling) at The Lyric Dance School (LA, CA), The Garden School, and the Shoestring players, as well as acting for film/auditioning at the Bronx Young Actors Guild.  She is the private acting coach of Evelyn Thatcher (International Opera singer), Debra DeLiso (Film Actress), and professional child actors, and dialect coach for Leon Le (Broadway actor). Ms. Morgo is the recipient of the Jordan Fundamentals Innovation Award, The National Actor’s Theatre award, and Shubert Theatre Fellow years 2007-2010.
 
East End Arts Council, established in 1972,  is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization recognized by the IRS and the NYS Bureau of Charities.  Proceeds of all events, sales, classes, donations and memberships benefit our mission of bringing the arts to everyone and inspiring our communities through service, advocacy and education.