News

May 21, 2020

Beauty in BLOOM: Best Buddies Collaborative Musical Theater Project Shares Culminating Work

One of many senior projects affected by the pandemic, BLOOM: The Musical is senior Rosie Arbittier’s thesis work in the Program in Music Theater. The musical was developed in partnership with Best Buddies, an international organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Rosie proposed the project as her independent senior thesis work in the Program last spring. In October she held a daylong workshop of theater games, activities and auditions for members of the community with IDD and, joined by a group of Princeton students, assembled the cast and production team for the project. In November the group began creating the new musical and rehearsing weekly on Sundays.

With just a few weeks to go before opening night, the University moved to remote classes and sadly canceled all events and activities for the rest of the semester. This meant the production as envisioned by Rosie and the team would not happen. However, in the spirit of “the show must go on,” Rosie organized the cast of performers with and without IDD in a presentation of the musical’s title song, “Bloom” in quarantine.

 


NOTE FROM DIRECTOR ROSIE ARBITTIER

“This is the virtual culmination of my second senior thesis in Princeton’s Music Theater department: an original musical entitled BLOOM for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. My friend Lily Webb’s original composition “Bloom” — heard from an unassuming Facebook post last November — provided a place to start. The cast has since written a full script and composed a musical score. I may have directed the show and “written” the script, but the entire musical was generated through a completely collaborative devising process during our rehearsals. BLOOM was developed through the same devising process often used in professional theater in order to (1) amplify the voices of all individuals involved with the project, regardless of ability and (2) emphasize that working with artists with disabilities can and should follow the same processes that professional artists use. This devising process developed a specific kind of inclusivity – rather than simply allowing individuals with differences to exist in one space – that promoted complete collaboration and contribution. This kind of inclusivity and diversity is too often overlooked in institutions of higher learning and beyond.

The final public performances of BLOOM were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To memorialize our work together over the past 7 months, we created a video of everyone singing this title song from their quarantine positions, with the generous help of the Lewis Center for the Arts and orchestration by Vince Di Mura. Though an in-person finale of our time together was impossible, the process of devising a musical was most important, allowing all individuals’ abilities to shine while providing a supportive and inclusive environment.

With the knowledge that social inclusion for people with disabilities will never be achieved if they are seen as “less than,” reinforced by my Best Buddies International experience, I have learned how an impact can only be made through building friendships based on sincere connection – in my case, musical theater and love of the arts.

It was my hope that an inclusive musical theater experience would allow not only community members with disabilities the opportunity and encouragement to explore their own abilities and interests, but also provide Princeton student actors a deep knowledge of difference in addition to friendship and understanding.

The case study of musical theater represents only one way in which inclusivity can be expressed; any shared interest can create a bond between two seemingly disparate populations.

I hope that this video brings you joy as much as it exemplifies the incredible talents of the performers with all abilities.

BEHIND THE PROJECT

Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber was Rosie’s advisor on her thesis in her area of concentration in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. In her thesis, entitled “Defining ‘Reasonable Accommodation’: Reframing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) through the Disability Human Rights Lens,” Rosie argues that under a human rights lens, a redefined “reasonable accommodation” term in the ADA should be applied to artistic/cultural scenarios as well as employment situation. In this way, Rosie connected her thesis in her major area of study with her work on BLOOM to earn a certificate in the Lewis Center’s Program in Music Theater. Both of Rosie’s thesis works uphold the human right to dignity as a deeply held moral commitment and fight for inclusion in all aspects of society.

 


BLOOM Lyrics by Lily Webb

(VERSE 1)
Plant your feet [PURPLE], look around [GREEN].
Like they are seeds [YELLOW], deep in the ground [RAINBOW].
Find your sun [ORANGE], and water too [BLUE].
The things that make you grow the way the flowers do.
(CHORUS)
Any place can be your garden;
if you find the things that make you grow.
But don’t forget the place you started,
or the only thing that I really know for sure.
[1, 2, 3, 4] There are good things all around you.
Just look around and I think that you will see.
Or at least, say thank you, for the good things that you are handed, and bloom where you are planted.
(VERSE 2)
As you bloom, you might grow tired.
For best results, it’s kind of required.
Just push on through, and then you’ll know.
You’ll feel so proud when you see just how strong you grow.
(CHORUS)
Any place can be your garden;
if you find the things that make you grow.
But don’t forget the place you started,
or the only thing that I really know for sure.
[1, 2, 3, 4] There are good things all around you.
Just look around and I think that you will see.
Or at least, say thank you, for the good things that you are handed, and bloom where you are planted.
(BRIDGE)
Growing isn’t easy, but we all still need to do it.
Just look for the ingredients [Oooh, where is that?] that will carry you through it.
And if there are times when you can’t find them.
Try your best to look inside and know:
you’ve got what it takes to grow.
(CHORUS)
Any place can be your garden;
if you find the things that make you grow.
But don’t forget the place you started,
or the only thing that I really know for sure.
[1, 2, 3, 4] There are good things all around you.
Just look around and I think that you will see.
Or at least, say thank you, for the good things that you are handed, and bloom where you are planted.

Press Contact

Steve Runk
Director of Communications
609-258-5262
srunk@princeton.edu

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