by Kristen Gooch
Attention Disabled Actors, Playwrights, and Fellow Theater Geeks!
My name is Kristen Gooch. I’m a disabled actress, poet, and advocate from Austin, Texas.
I am writing this blog because I wanted to let you know that my friends Liz Ross, Kristi Taylor, Claude Chibib, James Burnside, Tom Common, Lettie Common, Brie Hall and I are organizing a Disability Play Festival called TUBU Fest (Theatre for Us, By Us). It will be from July 18th-20th of 2024 in honor of Disability Pride Month, at Ground Floor Theatre here in Austin, Texas.
This festival will offer Disabled Actors the opportunity to perform, no professional experience necessary. TUBU Fest also offers Disabled Playwrights the opportunity to have their work showcased. Nothing like this has ever happened here in Texas before!
Plays can be anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes long. Playwrights must identify as direct members of the Disabled Community, but their plays do not have to be about Disability-Related Issues. They will have complete creative control.
Participants will never be asked to disclose information about their disabilities. There is no age requirement to participate in TUBU Fest, but we ask that anyone under the age of 18 be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
We would love for you to be a part of it! Please feel free to reach out to us if you’re interested or have any questions. You can email the TUBU team or visit the TUBU Fest website.
We will have a digital directory where you will be able to submit your headshot and artistic resume. You can also indicate if you want to be an Actor, Director, Playwright, Crew Member, or General Volunteer. Sponsors would also be greatly appreciated. Brie Hall will be sharing information about TUBU on social media as well.
If Playwrights do not wish to direct or perform in their plays, they are responsible for finding a Director and a cast of Actors. This is where our digital directory will come in handy!
We ask that plays be submitted to our TUBU Fest email address by March 2nd at 11:59 PM. And not to worry, Ground Floor Theatre is very accessible!
Liz, Kristi, Claude, James, Tom, Lettie, Brie, and I cannot wait to hear from y’all! TUBU Fest is going to be a blast, help us make some of the theater magic happen!
Previously one of the longest running actresses with TILT Performance Group, Kristen Gooch has experience in theatre, film, radio, and non-profit work. She was featured in a Capital Metro Commercial as well as a public service announcement titled “Counting All My Children,” which won a Barbara Jordan Media Award in 2021. In 2013, Kristen earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders from Texas State University. She has worked for the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and is an advocate for people with disabilities. Currently, she serves on the B. Iden Payne Awards Council and the Texas Partners in Policymaking Alumni Program Board.