We recently connected with Katie Cummings and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Katie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Disability Theater was never on my radar until 2012. At that time, I was the Academy Director at First Stage Children’s Theater in Milwaukee, WI. My colleague, Jennifer Adams, created a program for eight teenagers on the autism spectrum. We had a series of trainings with Mary Stone, owner of Stepping Stones Educational Services, who trained us in disability, special ed and autism. That week of acting classes changed my trajectory in theater. In 2018, I attended a professional development workshop weekend at the Lincoln Center for the Arts where I learned about Sensory Immersive Theater created for individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). There I was steeped into this environment where we looked at creating as many sensory touch points as possible for the audience we were seeking out. A lightbulb moment happened and Pink Umbrella Theater was born in a hotel in NYC as a way to serve the disability community in Milwaukee.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Our company, Pink Umbrella Theater, is focused on creating theatrical experiences with Disabled Actors and Artists. We are the first of it’s kind in the city of Milwaukee, paying everyone for their time. Our goal is to be fully run by people who identify with a disability from the front of the house to the back and everywhere in between.

Established in 2018, we are a spunky little company finding our way and changing the narrative. Since our inception, we’ve worked with over five large arts organizations to create sensory friendly performances. We have created our own shows and have been pproducing since 2021. Our first interactive show was held via Zoom. The scripts we are attracted to has characters that could be played by anyone and engages the senses.

I’ve been doing theater my whole life. My little brother and I created every play you could find in the Kids Encyclopedia Set in our basement when we were old enough to read. When I was in high school, my director said to me after an argument about consistency in exiting “You are going to be a great director someday, but today is not that day.” I went on to college at Cardinal Stritch University where I was one of 20+ theater majors. There I learned every aspect of the theater from the business side to production. Without that education, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

I’ve always worked with kids in theater and starting this company for adults has been a switch, but one that has proved to be very rewarding. We lean in and listen, we allow for processing time, we support when needed and we encourage advocacy. The artists bring their view on life to characters we know and love and give them a fresh take. In addition, they are fearless in taking a new script and creating characters from scratch.

Each class and rehearsal brings a new perspective and I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Growing up, theater was only attainable if you were a triple threat. You must know how to sing, dance and act (I’m a musical theater kid) in order to get a job or get cast. Even then, you probably won’t be ‘good enough.’ As far as I can remember, seeing a person with a visible or invisible disability on stage, much less a Broadway stage, never happened until recently.

Everything that I knew about theater was challenged back in 2012 with that first week of students on the autism spectrum. Did it look like traditional theater…not in the least. Was I able to fall into the story? Empathize with the characters? Laugh at the jokes and cry appropriately? Heck yes!

Storytelling is an artform that everyone can engage in. Theater is storytelling and you don’t need to be a triple threat to share your story.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

What I’ve learned over the years as an outsider in the Disability Community is that there is a ‘cliff’ at the age of 18. When a child turns into an adult, many of the services they’ve received throughout their life cease. They are left to navigate a world that is not accommodating, alone.

At a training session yesterday, I told a group of theater artists that the only way that I will be able to die in peace is when every arts organization is sensory friendly and sharing the Disability Narratives on their stages and in their halls. Not just once a year.

My friend and colleague always says “kindness isn’t enough” in regards to creating accessible programming. The voices of Disabled actors and artists need to be at the table when we are creating accessible theater and it is my intention to spend the rest of my life training and fighting for a change in the narrative.

Contact Info:

• Website: pinkumbrellatheater.org
• Instagram: pinkumbrellatheaterco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinkumbrellatheater
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/katie-cummings-0817643