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Throughout this symposium, I was struck by the idea that we are finding ways to come together despite our society's crushing individualism and the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" mindset we are constantly exposed to. From wearing nametags that proudly display our obsessions to the consistent encouragement to reach out and build a "net that works," I felt that I was truly a part of a community. The session I was mostly inspired by in this storyboard was Marianne Pillsbury's "The Search For Signs of Meaningful Inclusion in the Public High School Universe," in which Pillsbury introduces "The Multiversal Theatre Company" and the ways it has made students with autism, ADHD, anxiety and other disabilities feel that they are part of a community and that "we belong because we're different" (Pillsbury, 2025).

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Text: Isolation

Image: a wilted flower

Music: Creep by Radiohead

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Image: Maze (will edit this image)

Narration: "It can seem like we are lost in a maze, not knowing where to turn.

[A moment of silence to let the feeling of loneliness sink in.]

But through theatre, we can find community."

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Narration: "Even something as simple as wearing a name tag can be a way to make connection, especially if it includes a fun detail other than your name."

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Narration: "At Central Square Theatre, we made connections by telling each other stories. We even shared our unpopular opinions. By retelling each other's stories, we built empathy for each other and learned to appreciate the beauty of diverse perspectives."

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The sign saying, "There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't met yet", will be the main focus of this slide. The slide will be silent to emphasize the words on the screen.

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Narration: "All of these practices can help us grow our own communities as educators, but can also be shared with our students -- especially those with disabilities, who may be feeling extra isolated -- to help grow a community amongst the next generation of theatre makers.

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Image: Different foods on a plate

Narration: Different types of people can all come together through theatre, like the different types of food on a charcuterie board. As Marianne Pillsbury sang in their presentation, "We belong because we're different, we fit in because we don't".

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Narration: "In Brianna Lueders and Eva Farrell's 'Laying Labyrinths: A Living Performance,' we were invited to honor the people who got us to where we are today. This reminded me that the people we meet remain woven into the fabric of our lives."

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Narration: "Although this modern world, especially post-pandemic, feels like it wants us to stay isolated, remain individuals free from any greater collective, and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, we have to resist this urge. As we walk through the labyrinth, rather than keeping our heads down, we must look up and greet those who are walking with us."

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Image: A slide from Marianne Pillsbury's presentation entitled "Belonging: Friendship."

Music: We're All In This Together from High School Musical