Adaptive Theater Students Perform a Folktale about Honesty and Integrity

Students in the Adaptive Theater program staged The Empty Pot, a traditional East Asian folktale about a king and queen who give aways seeds and promises to reward whomever grows the best flower.  We ultimately learn that what matters most is honesty and integrity, not beautiful flowers. The production brought together students from the FASE and PACE programs who participate in Adaptive Theater class, along with neurotypical peers who joined the cast, creating a truly inclusive collaboration.  Students also created a video about preparing for The Empty Pot performance, watch the video. The process and production prioritized including student voice and agency; decisions were made collaboratively, and themes were selected by the student actors. Every choice was executed with purpose and consideration of how all students involved could access information and share their voices. After reviewing and discussing the story, students decided to make one change to the narrative: in the HHS adaptation, the King and Queen give away gold as the reward.  The original score for the show was student written, and the pit band was completely made up of HHS student musicians.  The performance of The Empty Pot  was a transformative experience for everyone involved.