Every CO/LAB Theater Group event or class begins with a dance party. The ensemble of actors and teaching artists join together to enter a sort of creative bubble and boogie.
“The dance party encourages the ensemble to greet each other, enter the space, and adjust to the room without immediate demands,” says Becky Leifman, a co-founder, executive director and teaching artist at CO/LAB. “Starting each class this way also establishes consistency and routine, which allows all ensemble members to walk into a familiar space and be ready to work.”
A scene from a CO/LAB show
Founded in 2011 by four Syracuse University graduates, Laura Borgwardt, Arielle Lever, Sarah Olbrantz and Leifman, CO/LAB is a non-profit organization has been devoted to nurturing individuals with developmental disabilities, giving people a creative and social outlet through theater arts. In a judgment-free, joyful, neuro-diverse environment the actors are given tools to collaborate and discover their unique voices in class and on stage.
Over ten seasons working with 30 partner organizations and loads of volunteers, CO/LAB has offered many weekly theater-related classes and limitless creative opportunities to over 1,300 actors with developmental disabilities. Classes typically have two teaching artists and in-class volunteers which creates a 2:1 participant-to-artist ratio. Plus, CO/LAB’s core programming is offered at low to no cost. So anyone, no matter financial background, can participate.
“This truly is an environment that engenders and embraces creativity and expression, and allows our actors to find their voices. For many of them, that’s a first,” says Katie, a parent of a CO/LAB actor. Katie is also on the board of directors. “We look out for each other, and if one person is having a bad day, we’re all there to lift that person up. Or if one person has a weakness, the whole group will come to your side,” adds Danielle, a CO/LAB actor. "This is just the beginning of opening the door for all of our actors to take the stage and say, ‘my voice matters,’” says Abby, a CO/LAB teaching artist.
A lynchpin of CO/LAB is that it remains an inclusive place to make theater. “People are applauded for expressing their creativity in any which way that feels best to them,” says Leifman. That means devising sketches, songs and dances. Also key is their mantra that everyone belongs. “CO/LAB's number one value, "all are welcome,” drives that ethos day in and day out,” says Leifman. “In every facet of the organization.”
Another key element is that CO/LAB focuses on adults and young adults. “Individuals with disabilities over the age of 21 often experience a “service-cliff” where they lose access to mandated creative and social services offered through the public school system and other private programs,” says Leifman. “Many vocational or educational programs available for those with developmental disabilities often emphasize that individuals must act in ways that meet “neurotypical norms” in order to succeed or even participate in the first place.”
But at CO/LAB not only are people welcomed, there’s no upper age limit. “Our relationships build for years and years,” says Leifman. “We are always trying to find ways to vary our programming to keep things fun and interesting.”
When it comes to philanthropy and navigating the minefield of fundraising CO/LAB has a unique philosophy. It was spearheaded by their previous development manager, Philip Santos Schaffer, who guided the organization to help them define their values-aligned fundraising principles.
Through the process of researching ethical fundraising they discovered that "ethical" means many things to many people. They took their core values and facilitated a discussion about what CO/LAB can actively do to live out these values in fundraising. “With that in mind, we created a set of guidelines for ourselves,” says Leifman.
In an Ensemble Theater class. "We love to devise here at CO/LAB," says Becky Leifman. "It's how we ... [+]
For example, they are committed to staying based in New York City and would never accept a grant to start a program in Colorado just because the funding was available. “Two positive examples of this would be partnering with the New York Community Trust to start a tiered pricing model for CO/LAB:connect, [where teaching artists travel to different locations throughout New York City to provide high-quality theater programs], and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to support our Puppetry Production,” says Leifman. “CO/LAB was already intending to pilot these programs. And our philanthropic partners listened deeply to our organization's needs and helped to see the projects through to fruition through their financial resources and programmatic guidance.”
At the end of the day those who have experienced CO/LAB say how the programs continue to touch and transform lives. “Everyone was just there to grow, and enjoy, and experience this moment of art together,” says Trystin a former Young Professionals board member. “And that’s something I won’t forget.”
"Our actors have immense creativity and love to create scenes, whether it's based on real-life ... [+]
