EDINA, Minn. — When the curtain rises on the Unlabeled Theatre Company for the first time Friday night, the ensemble will tell a tale of transformation and acceptance.
And that’s hardly a coincidence.
“Choosing ‘Shrek’ as our first show was a very intentional choice. The themes of being unseen or unwanted and what that feels like, and how to turn that around into something empowering and how to own that and how to celebrate that… That's the mission that we want to put forward,” shared Chris Moquist, the theater’s Executive Director and Founder, before a recent weeknight rehearsal that featured handmade costumes and sets, laughter-inducing lines and familiar tunes.
Last September, Moquist launched Unlabeled Theatre Company with that “empowering” mission in mind: he wanted to create a theater that stars, and doesn’t just include, people with disabilities.
“There’s one significant group of people who have generally been excluded from participating in theater, and that’s people with disabilities,” Moquist said.
Adding to that challenge, Moquist says, is the fact that most support programs for people with disabilities tend to phase out at the end of traditional school years. That’s why Moquist wanted to develop what he says is the “first open, unified theater company [for adults] in the state of Minnesota and in the upper Midwest.”
Moquist says the company’s open auditions and “shadow partner structure” allows them to “serve about 90 percent of people with disabilities,” including people who have autism, a cognitive disability related to a traumatic brain injury, or a physical disability.
“We start everything with our actor-artists with disabilities, and we pair each artist with an artist who does not have a disability. And every single role is created as a partnership. So these two actors are creating each role together and they are performing each role together,” he said.
“Disability is the largest quote, unquote ‘minority group’ in the world. It’s about 20 percent of the global population,” Moquist said, adding: “Having that chance to be seen and to have your voice heard, to be on stage, to kind of come out of what can often be isolation, to kind of come out of the shadows is a really powerful thing.”
And that’s a belief held by the theater’s founder, who also happens to be a father.
A founder and father’s mission
Nearly 22 years ago, Chris and his wife, Kristin, welcomed twin daughters, Rachel and Ailee.
“They were born at 23 weeks gestation, and they each weighed one pound. And when you’re born that early and that small, there’s a pretty good chance that you will have and develop some sort of disability,” Moquist reflected, adding: “We found ourselves plunged into a world that we honestly knew very, very little about.”
As a family, they learned, persevered and even thrived. And when Moquist wanted to do more to support his daughters’ development, he decided to sell his business of 15 years – YoYo Donuts in Minnetonka – to launch the Unlabeled Theatre Company.
And that decision brings the family to this opening weekend, when the Unlabeled Theatre Company officially moves from its donated rehearsal space – the basement of St. Peter’s Edina Church – to the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul.
When the curtain rises on the company’s first three shows on March 8 and 9, Moquist will watch as Rachel takes center stage, along with Kristin, her shadow partner.
“It’s a wonderful thing to see her being able to use her talents and abilities and to be able to see her on stage, too, and performing and finding and using her voice,” Moquist shared.
And Rachel, who plays several supporting roles, shares her voice along with other rising stars.
‘A dream come true’
As an artist portraying the dragon, a witch and a “second Fiona,” Ella Stewart can’t wait to shine in the spotlight.
“It’s been the best experience of my life,” Stewart said about being part of the Unlabeled Theatre Company, adding: “I would always say, ‘I want to become an actress.’ So just doing something like this is a dream come true.”
In 2010, Stewart was diagnosed with brain cancer. The then six-year-old child underwent several surgeries and treatments, which would leave her – her family shared – with physical and cognitive disabilities.
But this weekend, the now 20-year-old artist fulfills her childhood dream by even sharing the stage with her mom and shadow partner, Aly Madden.
“It’s been the best experience of my life. I mean, I made so many friends and with my brain surgery, it’s hard to make friends,” she said, adding about her fellow cast members: “They’re amazing. I love them.”
Mary Metzger understands both those feelings and that dream.
For the actress who self-identifies as having a mild cognitive disability, the chance to star as Princess Fiona also represents a full acceptance of her abundant skills and abilities.
“It’s really amazing to be playing such an amazing role of Princess Fiona because she is kind-hearted and sweet and caring, but she can lose a little bit of her temper and sometimes she is hesitant,” Metzger said, adding that she can relate to that hesitation, “I’ve been rejected… at times before.”
“Even if they are not perfect, they should share their voice so other people can hear them and understand what they are saying in their own words,” she said, adding, “It really feels wonderful to be included.”
And on that belief – that every person deserves a platform – Angela Johnson couldn’t agree more.
“Aston has actually learned all the songs. He knows all the words,” Angela shared about her 21-year-old son, Aston Camera, who has autism.
“Hopefully that will open the door for us and for him to feel more confident that he can, you know, let himself go a little bit and show them what he’s got, because he’s talented,” Johnson said.
A company comes together
If it “takes a village” to raise a child, most actors will agree it takes a company to create a show. And the Unlabeled Theatre Company is no exception. Moquist quickly credits Jessica Froehlich and Lisa Hanson – the theater’s Artistic Director and Director of Programming & Innovation, respectively – for their pivotal roles.
And, of course, Moquist applauds the contributions of trained and professional actors who volunteer to serve as shadow partners.
“He’s just trying anything, and so I’m trying to keep up with him,” shared Paul Reyburn after a busy rehearsal shadowing Matthew Machacek, who plays Shrek.
Reyburn, who himself has acted for almost 40 years at theaters around the state, added the experience has expanded has own abilities: “I’m trying to just kind of enhance what he’s already doing.”
As the shadow partner for several artists, Sophia Azmi – who also acted in unified theater at Edina High School and is currently majoring in music at Normandale Community College – says it’s “definitely super-counterintuitive” to shadow someone on the stage. But when it comes to this company, she cherishes the chance to uplift others.
“Everyone here at ‘Unlabeled’ should be able to have an experience where they feel accepted and welcomed, because that’s what we’re all about here,” she said.
And on that fundamental point, a devoted father and the theater’s founder, wholeheartedly agrees.
“Once you see what we’re doing, you get it. And once you get it, you understand it, and you’re changed by it,” Moquist said.
To purchase tickets for one of the three performances of “Shrek Jr., The Musical,” just click here.
You can also learn more about Unlabeled Theatre’s auditions for its May show, “Rock of Ages.”
Finally, the company currently depends on individual donors and family foundations for funding. You can click here to learn more about how you can support the theater.
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