About this Event
Overview
Explore the history of modern performance entertainment through the lens of disability, exploring how freak shows make up the backbone of how we view disabled bodies on stage and screen.
Join a disability historian, dramaturg, and performer for How Freak Shows Built Broadway: Media's Disability History, an exploration of performance entertainment ranging from the freak shows of ancient times to circuses, vaudeville, film, and Broadway through a lens of disparate bodies. We'll explore the complicated nuances of how we present and look at people that we deem as "different" in a performance space and the history of how modern entertainment came to be.
*Academic note - "disability" in this specific context isn't exclusive to the group we see as "disabled" today that's largely related to physical and mental impairment. Historically this group was somewhat merged with that of queer/trans people and people of color in a performance context, so this talk will be about them as well.
What We'll Cover:
- Ancient & medieval freak shows - From medieval "monstrosities" to court dwarves and "natural fools", learn how disabled people have always been a part of performance history.
- The birth of modern leisure - Discover how the industrial revolution not only created the concept of disability, but also the rise in popularity of the circus, museum, carnival, and freak/side show.
- Early film, vaudeville, & Broadway - Learn about the creation of film and its midcentury censorship, the rise and fall of vaudeville, and Broadway's response to its new rival industries.
- Ethics & modern freak shows - Examine the complicated ethics of the freak show and think about how you view disability in media because of it (and how you might feel about modern freak shows with this new context).
Whether you're into theater, film, disability, or simply curious about how modern entertainment came to be, on the backs of the minority people you rarely hear about in history, you'll leave with a different outlook on where your media comes from and how we view disabled people of the past.
About the speaker:
Sydney Zarlengo (they/them) is a disability historian, dramaturg, and actor in the world of theater, film, and tv in New York City. They received their BA from Mount Holyoke College where they created some of the first guidelines for accessible design in performing arts curriculum for secondary and higher education, after which they gave professional trainings at arts programs around the country. As part of this work, they staged the first all-neurodivergent cast and crew production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and made its subsequent documentary. Sydney has since worked as a dramaturg and historian for new works and adaptations Off Broadway, developed an accessibility program at Signature Theatre, and creates educational content about disability, pseudoscience, history, and media literacy that has reached over 1.3 million views across platforms.
Agenda
🕑: 06:30 PM - 07:00 PM
Doors Open & Drinks Flow
Info: Arrive early to grab a drink, settle in, and enjoy the atmosphere. Early birds get the best seats and a head start on mingling!
🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:45 PM
Guided Experience / Talk
Info: Dive into an engaging, interactive session with our speaker. Participate, observe, or simply soak it all in — it’s your experience to enjoy.
🕑: 07:45 PM - 08:00 PM
Q&A / Reflection
Info: Ask questions, share insights, or hear behind-the-scenes stories from the host in a casual discussion.
🕑: 08:00 PM - 08:30 PM
Social Time & Connection
Info: Stick around to chat with fellow attendees, swap ideas, or just relax with a drink. Great conversations often happen after the main event!
Event venue & nearby stays
Puttery, 446 West 14th Street, New York, United States
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