[Music] the Shakespearean autism project at Ohio
the Shakespearean autism project at Ohio
the Shakespearean autism project at Ohio State is a collaboration between the
State is a collaboration between the
State is a collaboration between the Department of Theatre and the nice
Department of Theatre and the nice
Department of Theatre and the nice Sanger Center which studies
Sanger Center which studies
Sanger Center which studies developmental disabilities art and
developmental disabilities art and
developmental disabilities art and science coming together to see just how
science coming together to see just how
science coming together to see just how effective Shakespeare games can be in
effective Shakespeare games can be in
effective Shakespeare games can be in helping children with autism and it all
helping children with autism and it all
helping children with autism and it all starts with a heartbeat a group of
starts with a heartbeat a group of
starts with a heartbeat a group of children with autism and a group of
children with autism and a group of
children with autism and a group of actors sit around in a circle and we
actors sit around in a circle and we
actors sit around in a circle and we make a heartbeat together now when we do
make a heartbeat together now when we do
make a heartbeat together now when we do actual performances of The Tempest with
actual performances of The Tempest with
actual performances of The Tempest with the children the audience joins in the
the children the audience joins in the
the children the audience joins in the heartbeat so let’s give it a shot
and we’ll add hello hello hello hello
and we’ll add hello hello hello hello hello hello hello hello
hello hello hello hello
hello hello hello hello go ahead hello hello hello hello hello
go ahead hello hello hello hello hello
go ahead hello hello hello hello hello hello hello and then we’ll rest our
hello hello and then we’ll rest our
hello hello and then we’ll rest our hands give ourselves a little round of
hands give ourselves a little round of
hands give ourselves a little round of applause yeah so right about now I’m
applause yeah so right about now I’m
applause yeah so right about now I’m sure some of you are wondering all right
sure some of you are wondering all right
sure some of you are wondering all right they’re slightly younger Kevin Bacon
what’s up with the heartbeat
what’s up with the heartbeat well the heartbeat is arguably the first
well the heartbeat is arguably the first
well the heartbeat is arguably the first sound we experience before we’re even
sound we experience before we’re even
sound we experience before we’re even born right our mother’s heartbeat so
born right our mother’s heartbeat so
born right our mother’s heartbeat so it’s organically so nurturing and
it’s organically so nurturing and
it’s organically so nurturing and familiar and the children are able to
familiar and the children are able to
familiar and the children are able to really connect with that very
really connect with that very
really connect with that very successfully and very quickly it also
successfully and very quickly it also
successfully and very quickly it also happens to be the rhythm of
happens to be the rhythm of
happens to be the rhythm of Shakespeare’s language I am back
Shakespeare’s language I am back
Shakespeare’s language I am back pentameter
pentameter
pentameter yeah baboom baboom baboom baboom baboom
yeah baboom baboom baboom baboom baboom
yeah baboom baboom baboom baboom baboom but soft what light through yonder
but soft what light through yonder
but soft what light through yonder window breaks
window breaks
window breaks or through the tempest Oh brave new
or through the tempest Oh brave new
or through the tempest Oh brave new world that has such people int now using
world that has such people int now using
world that has such people int now using that rhythm of language and incredibly
that rhythm of language and incredibly
that rhythm of language and incredibly vivid characters and storytelling
vivid characters and storytelling
vivid characters and storytelling Shakespeare maybe better than anyone
Shakespeare maybe better than anyone
Shakespeare maybe better than anyone else has expressed what it feels like to
else has expressed what it feels like to
else has expressed what it feels like to be fully alive and that full expression
be fully alive and that full expression
be fully alive and that full expression that putting words to feelings and and
that putting words to feelings and and
that putting words to feelings and and getting it out is what so many children
getting it out is what so many children
getting it out is what so many children with autism crave but they find
with autism crave but they find
with autism crave but they find extremely challenging so this heart beat
extremely challenging so this heart beat
extremely challenging so this heart beat becomes the place where the students the
becomes the place where the students the
becomes the place where the students the children and the actors can come
children and the actors can come
children and the actors can come together to meet to play and that’s what
together to meet to play and that’s what
together to meet to play and that’s what we do we play sensory drama games based
we do we play sensory drama games based
we do we play sensory drama games based on Shakespeare these games were created
on Shakespeare these games were created
on Shakespeare these games were created by Kelly hunter an amazing British
by Kelly hunter an amazing British
by Kelly hunter an amazing British actress and director who brought this
actress and director who brought this
actress and director who brought this work to OSU in 2011 as part of our
work to OSU in 2011 as part of our
work to OSU in 2011 as part of our partnership with the Royal Shakespeare
partnership with the Royal Shakespeare
partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company her approach is called the
Company her approach is called the
Company her approach is called the hunter heartbeat method and she takes
hunter heartbeat method and she takes
hunter heartbeat method and she takes Shakespeare’s rhythm of language and
Shakespeare’s rhythm of language and
Shakespeare’s rhythm of language and then she’s constructed these games to
then she’s constructed these games to
then she’s constructed these games to focus on the themes of the eyes the mind
focus on the themes of the eyes the mind
focus on the themes of the eyes the mind and the heart all in service of finding
and the heart all in service of finding
and the heart all in service of finding those moments of full clear expression
now these games are they’re just they’re
now these games are they’re just they’re simple in their nature but what we do is
simple in their nature but what we do is
simple in their nature but what we do is we’re able to challenge the child’s
we’re able to challenge the child’s
we’re able to challenge the child’s autism through play right and above all
autism through play right and above all
autism through play right and above all the kids have fun they are having fun
the kids have fun they are having fun
the kids have fun they are having fun they’re exploring imitation
they’re exploring imitation
they’re exploring imitation improvisation language different
improvisation language different
improvisation language different physicalities characters humor but
physicalities characters humor but
physicalities characters humor but embedded in each of these games is a
embedded in each of these games is a
embedded in each of these games is a challenge to their autism through play
challenge to their autism through play
challenge to their autism through play we are asking them to do something
we are asking them to do something
we are asking them to do something difficult maintain eye contact develop
difficult maintain eye contact develop
difficult maintain eye contact develop spatial awareness recognize and then
spatial awareness recognize and then
spatial awareness recognize and then replicate facial expressions that are
replicate facial expressions that are
replicate facial expressions that are connected to specific emotions take
connected to specific emotions take
connected to specific emotions take turns have social give-and-take be part
turns have social give-and-take be part
turns have social give-and-take be part of an ensemble now I got involved in
of an ensemble now I got involved in
of an ensemble now I got involved in this work in 2012 as a grad student as
this work in 2012 as a grad student as
this work in 2012 as a grad student as part of a team of actors led by Robin
part of a team of actors led by Robin
part of a team of actors led by Robin post who was the original director of
post who was the original director of
post who was the original director of the Shakespearean autism project and on
the Shakespearean autism project and on
the Shakespearean autism project and on the heels and of 11-week pilot project
the heels and of 11-week pilot project
the heels and of 11-week pilot project we spent two years playing these games
we spent two years playing these games
we spent two years playing these games weekly with two different groups of kids
weekly with two different groups of kids
weekly with two different groups of kids from Columbus schools and the nice
from Columbus schools and the nice
from Columbus schools and the nice sauger Center the science part of it led
sauger Center the science part of it led
sauger Center the science part of it led by the director Mark toss a and PhD
by the director Mark toss a and PhD
by the director Mark toss a and PhD student Maggie Melling they tested the
student Maggie Melling they tested the
student Maggie Melling they tested the children all throughout the process they
children all throughout the process they
children all throughout the process they came up with the research the data
now the initial feedback from parents
now the initial feedback from parents and teachers and from the actors
and teachers and from the actors
and teachers and from the actors ourselves was that the hunter heartbeat
ourselves was that the hunter heartbeat
ourselves was that the hunter heartbeat method was having this amazing effect on
method was having this amazing effect on
method was having this amazing effect on the children the anecdotes were coming
the children the anecdotes were coming
the children the anecdotes were coming from all over the place I’ve never seen
from all over the place I’ve never seen
from all over the place I’ve never seen my child
my child
my child behave this way I didn’t know they had
behave this way I didn’t know they had
behave this way I didn’t know they had that side to their personality my
that side to their personality my
that side to their personality my daughter’s never sat and focused for
daughter’s never sat and focused for
daughter’s never sat and focused for that long and now she’s trying harder to
that long and now she’s trying harder to
that long and now she’s trying harder to make friends at school I’ve never seen
make friends at school I’ve never seen
make friends at school I’ve never seen my son speak this clearly in public and
my son speak this clearly in public and
my son speak this clearly in public and it was tremendous but there was the
it was tremendous but there was the
it was tremendous but there was the science as well right what did the
science as well right what did the
science as well right what did the science say the nice angers initial
science say the nice angers initial
science say the nice angers initial research revealed that the children were
research revealed that the children were
research revealed that the children were making statistically significant
making statistically significant
making statistically significant progress in recognizing facial emotions
progress in recognizing facial emotions
progress in recognizing facial emotions I totally just said that like a
I totally just said that like a
I totally just said that like a non-scientist
non-scientist
non-scientist like an actor they also were making
like an actor they also were making
like an actor they also were making statistically significant progress in
statistically significant progress in
statistically significant progress in their social use of language and social
their social use of language and social
their social use of language and social relationship skills it was working this
relationship skills it was working this
relationship skills it was working this thing we were doing was working art and
thing we were doing was working art and
thing we were doing was working art and science supporting each other and the
science supporting each other and the
science supporting each other and the nice honors next phase of research is
nice honors next phase of research is
nice honors next phase of research is this incredible thing where they have
this incredible thing where they have
this incredible thing where they have this imaging where they can take
this imaging where they can take
this imaging where they can take pictures of that part of your brain that
pictures of that part of your brain that
pictures of that part of your brain that recognizes faces and see if the hunter
recognizes faces and see if the hunter
recognizes faces and see if the hunter heart beat method spikes the activity in
heart beat method spikes the activity in
heart beat method spikes the activity in that part of the brain sort of like this
that part of the brain sort of like this
that part of the brain sort of like this is your brain on Shakespeare and fun and
is your brain on Shakespeare and fun and
is your brain on Shakespeare and fun and we are really eager to see what the
we are really eager to see what the
we are really eager to see what the results of that are brilliant ideas now
results of that are brilliant ideas now
results of that are brilliant ideas now when you submit a TED talk proposal your
when you submit a TED talk proposal your
when you submit a TED talk proposal your urge to explain you know why is your
urge to explain you know why is your
urge to explain you know why is your idea worth spreading well none of this
idea worth spreading well none of this
idea worth spreading well none of this is my idea it’s Kelly hunters idea it’s
is my idea it’s Kelly hunters idea it’s
is my idea it’s Kelly hunters idea it’s Maggie melling’s idea marked assays idea
Maggie melling’s idea marked assays idea
Maggie melling’s idea marked assays idea my big idea was saying yes to people
my big idea was saying yes to people
my big idea was saying yes to people smarter than me that that was my big
smarter than me that that was my big
smarter than me that that was my big idea Kelly asked me to join her in 2012
idea Kelly asked me to join her in 2012
idea Kelly asked me to join her in 2012 and later on she revealed to me that she
and later on she revealed to me that she
and later on she revealed to me that she was convinced that I would say no that
was convinced that I would say no that
was convinced that I would say no that somehow from her point of view I was
somehow from her point of view I was
somehow from her point of view I was busy doing other things that I was
busy doing other things that I was
busy doing other things that I was pursuing my acting career doing my thing
pursuing my acting career doing my thing
pursuing my acting career doing my thing I was beyond this but what Kelly didn’t
I was beyond this but what Kelly didn’t
I was beyond this but what Kelly didn’t understand and what the truth of it was
understand and what the truth of it was
understand and what the truth of it was was I had become that guy that actor
was I had become that guy that actor
was I had become that guy that actor sitting around waiting for the phone to
sitting around waiting for the phone to
sitting around waiting for the phone to ring in the hopes of maybe getting an
ring in the hopes of maybe getting an
ring in the hopes of maybe getting an audition for FBI agent number two on the
audition for FBI agent number two on the
audition for FBI agent number two on the next episode of Criminal Minds which I’m
next episode of Criminal Minds which I’m
next episode of Criminal Minds which I’m totally available for by the way in case
totally available for by the way in case
totally available for by the way in case the casting director is here or tuning
the casting director is here or tuning
the casting director is here or tuning in why wouldn’t they
in why wouldn’t they
in why wouldn’t they but I had to decide which kind of actor
but I had to decide which kind of actor
but I had to decide which kind of actor I wanted to be or why am I still acting
I wanted to be or why am I still acting
I wanted to be or why am I still acting why is this the thing that I am devoting
why is this the thing that I am devoting
why is this the thing that I am devoting devoting my entire adult life to kind of
devoting my entire adult life to kind of
devoting my entire adult life to kind of artist do I want to be what kind of
artist do I want to be what kind of
artist do I want to be what kind of person do I want to be and the answer
person do I want to be and the answer
person do I want to be and the answer was in saying yes to people smarter than
was in saying yes to people smarter than
was in saying yes to people smarter than me
me
me my wife Lisa urged me to go to grad
my wife Lisa urged me to go to grad
my wife Lisa urged me to go to grad school 2009
school 2009
school 2009 I said no she urged me again I said yes
I said no she urged me again I said yes
I said no she urged me again I said yes and it was there the first time in
and it was there the first time in
and it was there the first time in 20-some years as an actor for the first
20-some years as an actor for the first
20-some years as an actor for the first time I performed Shakespeare 2010 first
time I performed Shakespeare 2010 first
time I performed Shakespeare 2010 first time I ever did Shakespeare and I met
time I ever did Shakespeare and I met
time I ever did Shakespeare and I met Kelly hunter and I arrived on the
Kelly hunter and I arrived on the
Kelly hunter and I arrived on the precipice of this work and I was
precipice of this work and I was
precipice of this work and I was terrified I didn’t know if I had the
terrified I didn’t know if I had the
terrified I didn’t know if I had the goods I wasn’t a Shakespeare expert I
goods I wasn’t a Shakespeare expert I
goods I wasn’t a Shakespeare expert I certainly wasn’t an autism expert was I
certainly wasn’t an autism expert was I
certainly wasn’t an autism expert was I able to go in and help these children
able to go in and help these children
able to go in and help these children did I have the goods did I have the
did I have the goods did I have the
did I have the goods did I have the right
right
right and then I walked in to the first
and then I walked in to the first
and then I walked in to the first workshop I sat in a circle
workshop I sat in a circle
workshop I sat in a circle I made the heartbeat with the children
I made the heartbeat with the children
I made the heartbeat with the children for the first time
and something released and by the end of
and something released and by the end of that first workshop I remembered why I
that first workshop I remembered why I
that first workshop I remembered why I loved acting why I love actors why I
loved acting why I love actors why I
loved acting why I love actors why I love theater and why I love the arts
love theater and why I love the arts
love theater and why I love the arts children were changing right in front of
children were changing right in front of
children were changing right in front of my eyes they were transforming I was
my eyes they were transforming I was
my eyes they were transforming I was moved my fellow actors were moved the
moved my fellow actors were moved the
moved my fellow actors were moved the teaching aides were moved the bus driver
teaching aides were moved the bus driver
teaching aides were moved the bus driver taking the kids home he was moved and
taking the kids home he was moved and
taking the kids home he was moved and the kids were having a blast a pretty
the kids were having a blast a pretty
the kids were having a blast a pretty this way since this is our moment
this way since this is our moment
this way since this is our moment right this is our moment March 25th
right this is our moment March 25th
right this is our moment March 25th 2017 and we again find ourselves on the
2017 and we again find ourselves on the
2017 and we again find ourselves on the precipice of having to fight for the
precipice of having to fight for the
precipice of having to fight for the Arts in our country having to fight to
Arts in our country having to fight to
Arts in our country having to fight to prove that the arts are vital to our
prove that the arts are vital to our
prove that the arts are vital to our nation’s health identity spirit soul
nation’s health identity spirit soul
nation’s health identity spirit soul it’s okay we’ve been there before we’ll
it’s okay we’ve been there before we’ll
it’s okay we’ve been there before we’ll be there again but maybe if we in this
be there again but maybe if we in this
be there again but maybe if we in this moment can all agree that the benchmark
moment can all agree that the benchmark
moment can all agree that the benchmark of art the standard and that from which
of art the standard and that from which
of art the standard and that from which it derives its power the benchmark is
it derives its power the benchmark is
it derives its power the benchmark is that we all leave better for having the
that we all leave better for having the
that we all leave better for having the experience than when we arrived better
experience than when we arrived better
experience than when we arrived better for being there if we can all agree that
for being there if we can all agree that
for being there if we can all agree that that’s the standard the benchmark the
that’s the standard the benchmark the
that’s the standard the benchmark the Shakespearean autism is easily the most
Shakespearean autism is easily the most
Shakespearean autism is easily the most pure form of art that I have ever come
pure form of art that I have ever come
pure form of art that I have ever come across because every time everyone
across because every time everyone
across because every time everyone leaves better than when they arrived
leaves better than when they arrived
leaves better than when they arrived every time and as an actor what a gift
every time and as an actor what a gift
every time and as an actor what a gift for me to relearn two things that I’d
for me to relearn two things that I’d
for me to relearn two things that I’d forgotten as an actor I knew him as a
forgotten as an actor I knew him as a
forgotten as an actor I knew him as a parent I for some reason forgot him as
parent I for some reason forgot him as
parent I for some reason forgot him as an actor the first one was that I had to
an actor the first one was that I had to
an actor the first one was that I had to choose to care about something outside
choose to care about something outside
choose to care about something outside of myself and if any of you have an
of myself and if any of you have an
of myself and if any of you have an actor in the family good luck with that
actor in the family good luck with that
actor in the family good luck with that I’d choose to care about that and second
I’d choose to care about that and second
I’d choose to care about that and second I just show up I mean show up ready to
I just show up I mean show up ready to
I just show up I mean show up ready to give the best of myself to someone else
give the best of myself to someone else
give the best of myself to someone else all the time choose to care and show up
all the time choose to care and show up
all the time choose to care and show up so many people have shown up in the six
so many people have shown up in the six
so many people have shown up in the six years we’ve been doing this I wish I
years we’ve been doing this I wish I
years we’ve been doing this I wish I could name them all but the organizers
could name them all but the organizers
could name them all but the organizers would probably just start to stroke out
would probably just start to stroke out
would probably just start to stroke out if I named them all for all this success
if I named them all for all this success
if I named them all for all this success that we’ve had there was one thing that
that we’ve had there was one thing that
that we’ve had there was one thing that was nagging at us that didn’t didn’t
was nagging at us that didn’t didn’t
was nagging at us that didn’t didn’t compute but we didn’t have the answer to
compute but we didn’t have the answer to
compute but we didn’t have the answer to there was no research for it and that
there was no research for it and that
there was no research for it and that was did this last was there a lasting
was did this last was there a lasting
was did this last was there a lasting effect on the children this work because
effect on the children this work because
effect on the children this work because at the end of those two years that last
at the end of those two years that last
at the end of those two years that last workshop we did it and then it was over
workshop we did it and then it was over
workshop we did it and then it was over right and we need the emotional actors
right and we need the emotional actors
right and we need the emotional actors we needed closure the children just
we needed closure the children just
we needed closure the children just needed to catch their bus or go to class
needed to catch their bus or go to class
needed to catch their bus or go to class and we were left with you know are they
and we were left with you know are they
and we were left with you know are they going to remember this what was it that
going to remember this what was it that
going to remember this what was it that we just did to what end and then eight
we just did to what end and then eight
we just did to what end and then eight months later I was at the playground
months later I was at the playground
months later I was at the playground with my son calf he was four and there
with my son calf he was four and there
with my son calf he was four and there was an after-school occupational therapy
was an after-school occupational therapy
was an after-school occupational therapy group there as well and I recognized one
group there as well and I recognized one
group there as well and I recognized one of the boys from the Shakespeare
of the boys from the Shakespeare
of the boys from the Shakespeare workshops I said well here’s my chance I
workshops I said well here’s my chance I
workshops I said well here’s my chance I could maybe get the answer to this I
could maybe get the answer to this I
could maybe get the answer to this I said cath let’s go over and we’ll meet
said cath let’s go over and we’ll meet
said cath let’s go over and we’ll meet somebody and I was nervous all over
somebody and I was nervous all over
somebody and I was nervous all over again
again
again and I go hey man do you remember me and
and I go hey man do you remember me and
and I go hey man do you remember me and he looks at me he goes Shakespeare
he looks at me he goes Shakespeare
he looks at me he goes Shakespeare we played Shakespeare hello-hello-hello
we played Shakespeare hello-hello-hello
we played Shakespeare hello-hello-hello and calves my son says dad what’s wrong
and calves my son says dad what’s wrong
and calves my son says dad what’s wrong that’s a good nothing’s wrong man
that’s a good nothing’s wrong man
that’s a good nothing’s wrong man no things nothing’s wrong at all I was a
no things nothing’s wrong at all I was a
no things nothing’s wrong at all I was a mess it’s a total mess so I like pull
mess it’s a total mess so I like pull
mess it’s a total mess so I like pull myself together and calves and I go to
myself together and calves and I go to
myself together and calves and I go to play tag but this boy he’s heard rips
play tag but this boy he’s heard rips
play tag but this boy he’s heard rips over he’s interested in us right because
over he’s interested in us right because
over he’s interested in us right because I’d gone over and every time calves and
I’d gone over and every time calves and
I’d gone over and every time calves and I would zoom past him he would do
I would zoom past him he would do
I would zoom past him he would do another line and gesture from the games
another line and gesture from the games
another line and gesture from the games we played like zoom hell is empty and
we played like zoom hell is empty and
we played like zoom hell is empty and all the Devils are here zoom salt water
all the Devils are here zoom salt water
all the Devils are here zoom salt water shall you drink zoom
shall you drink zoom
shall you drink zoom oh you wonder I love you and then Kevin
oh you wonder I love you and then Kevin
oh you wonder I love you and then Kevin I had to leave and as we were walking
I had to leave and as we were walking
I had to leave and as we were walking away I was like hey man see later good
away I was like hey man see later good
away I was like hey man see later good to see you again
to see you again
to see you again and I was texting his fast as I could
and I was texting his fast as I could
and I was texting his fast as I could sparks were flying off the keypad of my
sparks were flying off the keypad of my
sparks were flying off the keypad of my phone texting everybody involved in
phone texting everybody involved in
phone texting everybody involved in Shakespeare in autism it works he
Shakespeare in autism it works he
Shakespeare in autism it works he remembered he remembered I turned around
remembered he remembered I turned around
remembered he remembered I turned around and I said see ya and he was on top of
and I said see ya and he was on top of
and I said see ya and he was on top of the slide at the apex of the playground
the slide at the apex of the playground
the slide at the apex of the playground and there was this burnt orange sunset
and there was this burnt orange sunset
and there was this burnt orange sunset behind him it was epic terrence malick
behind him it was epic terrence malick
behind him it was epic terrence malick couldn’t have done any better and he
couldn’t have done any better and he
couldn’t have done any better and he responded in the way that we close every
responded in the way that we close every
responded in the way that we close every workshop in every performance of The
workshop in every performance of The
workshop in every performance of The Tempest goodbye goodbye goodbye goodbye
”
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