Theatre helps overcome pain, stereotypes of disability

Editor’s note: Addie is featured in Young Frankenstein, which runs through Oct. 22 at Weathervane Playhouse.

My​ ​name​ ​is​ ​Addie​ ​and​ ​I​ ​love​ ​everything​ ​musical​ ​theatre.​ ​​I​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​several​ ​musicals​ ​each year​ ​at​ ​Highland​ ​High​ ​School​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​community.​ ​

I’m​ ​a​ ​little​ ​bit​ ​different​ ​than​ ​other​ ​students, because​ ​I​ ​have​ ​a​ ​rare​ ​genetic​ ​disease​ ​called​ ​Osteogenesis​ ​Imperfecta.​ ​This​ ​means​ ​my​ ​bones break​ ​more​ ​easily​ ​than​ ​the​ ​average​ ​person.​

Although​ ​I​ ​am​ ​only​ ​17,​ ​I’ve​ ​had​ ​hundreds​ ​of fractures​ ​and​ ​many​ ​surgeries.​ ​I​ ​use​ ​theater​ ​and​ ​dance​ ​as​ ​a​ ​way​ ​to​ ​express​ ​myself​ ​and​ ​take away​ ​the​ ​pain​ ​of​ ​everyday​ ​life. I​ ​enjoy​ ​showing​ ​​ ​other​ ​students​ ​and​ ​adults​ ​that​ ​a​ ​disability​ ​won’t keep​ ​me​ ​off​ ​the​ ​stage.​ ​

Although​ ​being​ ​disabled​ ​in​ ​the​ ​theater​ ​tests​ ​my​ ​courage​ ​and​ ​confidence every​ ​day,​ ​it​ ​helps​ ​me​ ​learn​ ​to​ ​stand​ ​up​ ​for​ ​myself​ ​and​ ​not​ ​let​ ​anything​ ​or​ ​anyone​ ​get​ ​in​ ​the​ ​way of​ ​what​ ​I​ ​love​ ​to​ ​do.​ ​

Directors​ ​often​ ​overlook​ ​me​ ​because​ ​of my​ ​size​ ​and​ ​often​ ​try​ ​to​ ​put​ ​me​ ​in​ ​the​ ​corner​ ​and​ ​tell​ ​me​ ​I​ ​can’t​ ​do​ ​something​ ​because​ ​of​ ​my disability​ ​(which​ ​by​ ​the​ ​way​ ​is​ ​completely​ ​false).​ ​My​ ​favorite​ ​thing​ ​is​ ​when​ ​I​ ​start​ ​singing​ ​and shock​ ​everyone​ ​in​ ​the​ ​room​ ​because​ ​they​ ​can’t​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​sound​ ​can​ ​come​ ​out​ ​of​ ​a​ ​tiny​ ​girl​ ​in a​ ​wheelchair.​ ​

The​ ​best​ ​advice​ ​I​ ​can​ ​give​ ​to​ ​anyone​ ​in​ ​theater​ ​is​ ​to​ ​go​ ​out​ ​there​ ​and​ ​try​ – ​and​ ​if people​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​no,​ ​prove​ ​them​ ​wrong.

“​Young​ ​Frankenstein​” ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​wonderful​ ​learning​ ​opportunity.​ ​I’ve​ ​enjoyed​ ​getting​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with so​ ​many​ ​adult​ ​actors.​ ​Libby​ ​Merriman​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​wonderful​ ​role​ ​model​, ​because​ ​we​ ​have similar​ ​character​ ​traits​ ​and​ ​both​ ​go​ ​for​ ​crazy​ ​roles!​ ​I​ ​love​ ​the​ ​challenge​ ​of​ ​this​ ​show​ ​and​ ​look forward​ ​to​ ​seeing​ ​you​ ​there.

Showtimes for “​Young Frankenstein” are show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through Oct. 22. Tickets are $10 to $26 and are available by calling the box office at (330) 836-2626 or by going to www.weathervanplayhouse.com.