Talking the Yellow Brick Road

No, I don’t mean either “Taking” or “Walking” the yellow brick road: The focus is on the talk.

During my first hour at rehearsal, three separate actors approached me, wanting to explain how they came to have aphasia.

I was there to guide audience interactions; to teach the clinicians about immersive performance and to direct them in the roles that they would perform. As experience designer, however, I knew that the clinicians and the audience engagement was not the focus of this show.

Instead, this adaptation of Wizard of Oz featured a cast of individuals ranging from my own age to my grandmother’s. These humans were united by the fact that each of them has aphasia—a condition that causes linguistic and communication difficulties, often caused by stroke.

I have laughed and cried watching these actors grow, increase in confidence, and realize their communicative capabilities.

However, I won’t be able to explain best. Instead, please peruse this article from the Colorado Sun.

Nicole Yehl practices her choreography for her role as Dorothy.