WEST HARTFORD, Conn — Story by Hana Roggendorf, Samantha Shifrin, Laura Zabek, Angus Whalen, Hall High School
At Hall High School, students and teachers are prepping for their annual theater show. But this performance has a twist.
It’s entirely put together by student leaders and children with special needs.
“Unified theater is a group that brings together students from across the district with a span of different abilities and we put together a show at the end of the year where different groups perform skits,” said student leader Hana Rogendorf.
Unified Theater has a diverse range of students who come to the program for all sorts of reasons. “At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to join but then when I saw how everyone comes together and how positive the atmosphere is, it made me see that I want to be with this community and I’ve really loved it ever since,” said sophomore Samantha Shifrin.
Unified theater has grown substantially over the past few years. “We are the faculty advisors for unified and it is our favorite time of the year. It started off with the first year at Hall High School with about 10 kids, the second year had about 20 kids, we’re up to about 80 kids now. It just shows the real diversity and real inclusion that occurs at the high schools and the post secondary program," said faculty member Laura Zabek.
Curtains open up once again next fall, where new and returning students will take the stage.
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