Help with role as autistic girl - 2007/12/28 16:32This is a touchy subject for many, but I really want to do this character justice.
I am playing Sheila in a community theatre production of The Boys Next Door. Sheila is an adult, mentally handicapped girl who falls in love with Norman, who is also mentally handicapped.
We haven't started rehearsing yet, but I don't want to screw up this role, it's very important to me to portray that these people have feelings just like us, only they have troubles expressing these feelings.
Any help or insight you have would be greatly appreciated.-Ali
Currently: -Sheila; Boys Next Door (postshow depression mode) -acceptance to acting ensemble -Bye Bye Birdie (audition- didn't get a callback)
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triplethreat
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Re:Help with role as autistic girl - 2007/12/28 16:44Ali, there was a movie I saw once on TV that centers on this very subject. A girl with a mild intellectual disability falls in love with a boy who has a similar handicap, and the movie follows their relationship as well as the reluctance of her parents to accept her independence.
Unfortunately, I can't remember what the movie was called. Perhaps if you do a search on google or IMDB you could find it. The characters were very realistically portrayed and I think it could be quite helpful to you.
If I can remember any other details about it I will let you know._____________ Kris MTA Admin
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Annie
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Re:Help with role as autistic girl - 2007/12/28 18:15Kris might be referring to The Other Sister, starring Juliette Lewis and Giovanni Ribisi. It's an excellent movie.
If you want to watch one inspired by a true story about people who suffer from a form of autisim known as Asperger's syndrome, I recommend Mozart and the Whale with Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell.~Annie Currently: Soloist for Night of Jazz fundraiser Recently: Miss Thorn (Ruthless! the Musical), Emma Carew (Jekyll & Hyde)
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Starlet_Actress21
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Re:Help with role as autistic girl - 2007/12/29 09:30I would say go to your library and get books on autism. It helps if you know what degree of autism she has, as it has many levels, from the more minor Aspergers to severe. It sounds really stupid, but I learned a lot of what I know about autism from a Babysitter's Club book I read when I was in fourh grade. My library has a bunch of books in the non-fiction section about autism- maybe yours does, too?Auditioning for: Brigadoon, theatre season, American Music Theatre, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, and AMDA.
Currently In: Nothing
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hehe...random tidbit brought to you by Juliet.Current Show: Coppelia (Swanhilda's friend) Shows in the Last Year: The Nutcracker(Spanish Chocolate, The Prissy Doll) Little Shop of Horrors (Ronnette), Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbit), Urinetown (Little Sally), Schoolhouse Rock Live (Dori),
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aliauthor
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Re:Help with role as autistic girl - 2007/12/29 19:48Juliet wrote: Incidentally, Idina Menzel is on the soundtrack of "The Other Sister."
hehe...random tidbit brought to you by Juliet.
Thanks for all the help so far, guys.-Ali
Currently: -Sheila; Boys Next Door (postshow depression mode) -acceptance to acting ensemble -Bye Bye Birdie (audition- didn't get a callback)
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TheatreGhost
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Re:Help with role as autistic girl - 2007/12/30 13:47Watch Benny & Joon as well. It's my favorite Johnny Depp movie ever, and it would probably be very helpful. There's a scene where the couple goes to kiss and they both realize that they simply don't know how. It's so sweet and sincere.Sean
"To act is human. There is no off-season."
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