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NEA BIG READ
Join us for a year of exciting programming as we host NEA Big Read: Greater Cincinnati events focused on Sitting Pretty by Dr. Rebekah Taussig!
We all have a story. Let's read it.
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is thrilled to be one of 62 nonprofit organizations to receive a grant to host a 2022-2023 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read project! From September 2022 through June 2023, we and several partner organizations will host programming centered on the themes of Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body, a memoir-in-essays by Dr. Rebekah Taussig, including film screenings, book discussions, and a visit from the author.
Dr. Taussig is a woman who uses a wheelchair due to paralysis resulting from childhood cancer, but those are only a few facets of her life as a “writer, teacher, advocate, and human lady person,” and she tells stories of her experiences with humor, empathy, and humanity, making them relatable for just about anyone.
The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read—a partnership with Arts Midwest—broadens our understanding of our world, our neighbors, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience. Showcasing a diverse range of themes, voices, and perspectives, the NEA Big Read aims to inspire meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in each community.
About Rebekah Taussig
“I’m a Kansas City writer who lives in a very small, very old house with my fussy family of tenderhearted snugglers. I’ve spent most of my life immersed in the world of writing and reading—as a student, teacher, and human person—because I believe that words and stories matter. I am interested in the powerful connection between the cultural narratives we tell and the world we live in, from physical spaces and economic opportunities to social roles and interpersonal relationships. I earned a PhD in Creative Nonfiction and Disability Studies from the University of Kansas, and I write personal essays that participate in the stories being told about disability. I also run an Instagram account, @sitting_pretty, where I regularly craft ‘mini-memoirs’ that explore what it means to live in my particular (disabled, female) body.” Learn more about Rebekah Taussig.
Events
Upcoming
See My Ability Not My Disability Film Screening—OTR Film Festival
July 8, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Join us for a screening of the short documentary See My Ability Not My Disability at the OTR Film Festival! The film shares glimpses of the hilarious, talented, and multifaceted community at Thomas Adventures in Lifelong Learning (TALL) in Blue Ash, Ohio. Created as a collaboration between ETC and TALL as a project for the NEA Big Read, this film aims to center the voices and experiences of the capable individuals at TALL and remind audiences that adults with disabilities live full, complex lives.
Contemporary Arts Center | 44 E 6th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Previous Events
Crip Camp Screening/Discussion & Next Generation Library Presentation
October 9, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Enjoy a screening of the documentary Crip Camp about the 1970s experience of teenagers with disabilities who met at Camp Jened and turned their summers of liberation and inclusion into a movement for Disability Rights. Prior to the screening, attendees will learn more about Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s Next Gen Library plans to expand access in libraries across the city and county, as well as ETC’s current accessible performing arts opportunities. Following the film, we will discuss ableism and access in modern cultural institutions, such as CHPL and ETC.
Employment Is in Your Future
October 12, 2022 from 4:00–5:00 pm
Hosted by Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, learn about Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the state agency on the north side of the river which connects workers and employers, providing both with resources on hiring, employee rights and accommodations, and more.
Author Event: Sarah Kurchak
November 4, 2022 from 7:00–8:00 pm
Hosted by Campbell County Library, hear from Sarah Kurchack, author of I Overcame my Autism and All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder. The memoir examines the steps Kurchak took to become “an Autistic success story,” how the process almost ruined her life, and how she is now trying to recover. Her memoir dives into topics like Autism parenting culture, love, sex, alcohol, obsessions, and even professional pillow fighting. All the while, it challenges stereotypes and preconceptions about Autism and considers what might really make the lives of Autistic people healthier, happier, and more fulfilling.
Book Discussion
November 12, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Join others who have read Sitting Pretty for a facilitated conversation about its themes and topics, and see visual displays featuring local (Marisa Conners, fashion designer), historical (Ludwig von Beethoven, composer), and notable (Alice Wong, activist/author of companion title Disability Visibility) people with disabilities.
Book Discussion
January 24, 2023 from 6:30–8:30 pm
Join others who have read Sitting Pretty for a facilitated conversation about its themes and topics.
Book Discussion
March 13, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Join others who have read Sitting Pretty for a facilitated conversation about its themes and topics.
Children’s Story Time
April 29, 2023 at 11:00 am
Bring the littles in your world for a story time reading of Ali and the Sea Stars by Ali Stroker, an NEA Big Read: Greater Cincinnati companion title, do some shopping, and learn more about Blue Marble’s efforts to become an accessible small business located in a historic building.
Book Discussion
May 16, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Join others who have read Sitting Pretty for a facilitated conversation about its themes and topics.
TALL Film Screening
June 3, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Join us for a screening of the short documentary See My Ability Not My Disability and stay for a brief reception and discussion to follow. The film shares glimpses of the hilarious, talented, and multifaceted community at Thomas Adventures in Lifelong Learning (TALL) in Blue Ash, Ohio. Created as a collaboration between ETC and TALL as a project for the NEA Big Read, this film aims to center the voices and experiences of the capable individuals at TALL and remind audiences that adults with disabilities live full, complex lives.
NEA Big Read: Greater Cincinnati Culminating Celebration – Meet the Author
June 9, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Celebrate the conclusion of the NEA Big Read programming with an author visit from Rebekah Taussig, a visual art exhibition of creative responses to Sitting Pretty from Visionaries + Voices artists, and V+V Artist Night creative opportunities for kids.
Get the book
Read along, attend events, and be part of the fun! Find Sitting Pretty at your local library or purchase your own via Bookshop.org to support Blue Marble Books, a local Indie bookstore.
Resources
Q&A
Enjoy the Fall 2022 issue of My Life Magazine, published by Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services. Page 12 features “5 Questions” with education director Victoria Aslanides, who shares details about the NEA Big Read: Greater Cincinnati.
NEA Big Read
Learn more about the NEA Big Read program, including the full list of titles and the 2022-2023 grantees.
NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
Accessibility
We’re dedicated to making our performances welcoming and accessible to all patrons.
About
Ensemble Theatre produces world-class professional theatre and engaging education and outreach programs.
Inclusive Programs
Along with relaxed performances, we offer programs designed for artists, students, and audiences of all abilities.
Photo credits | Accessibility, Phil Fiorini and Nathan Robert Pecchia in Fly by Night (Ryan Kurtz); About, set of The Whipping Man (Brian Ambs).
1127 Vine Street