Theatre Horizon

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Theatre Horizon is a theater group located in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Contents

Performances

The group performs plays, musicals, open-air, and "community-centered theater." According to an interview with artistic director Nell Bang-Jensen in 2023, Theatre Horizon seeks “to engage community members, specifically community members who haven't felt a sense of belonging at the theater.” [1]

History

Erin Reilly and Matthew Decker founded the theater in 2005 as a summer theater with open air performances. In 2019, Bang-Jensen succeeded Reilly as artistic director. [2] She is Senior Lecturer at the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts at Philadelphia's University of the Arts. [3]

They moved to a building in the Norristown Arts District in 2012, remodeling a home to be a theater with seating for 120. [4]

Education initiatives

The theater's administrators say that more than 10,000 children have participated in drama classes and camps. Company members started an autism program. [5] Group members started a Drama Club at Eisenhower High School in Norristown. [1]

The autism program for children and adults was covered on The Kelly Clarkson Show. [6]

Awards

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References

  1. 1 2 "Building a Sense of Belonging through Community-Centered Theater". Pew Center. March 27, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  2. Von Bergen, Jane M. "Theatre Horizon's young new artistic director is a rising star nationally". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  3. "Nell Bang-Jensen". University of the Arts. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Riley, Rachel (September 23, 2019). "Beyond the Horizon". valleyforge.org. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  5. Crimmins, Peter (April 5, 2021). "Theatre Horizon's autism theater classes continue through the pandemic". WHYY. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  6. Redden, Elizabeth. "An Invitation to Art-Making". Swarthmore Magazine. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  7. Shapiro, Howard (October 14, 2019). "'Gem' and 'Color Purple' dominate Barrymore Awards". WHYY. Retrieved January 17, 2024.