Melanie Frasca, a graduate student in the Performance & Pedagogy program, has spent the last three years working with The BurkTech Players, a collaboration of students from the School of Theatre & Dance and the Burkhart Center for Autism Education & Research.  Providing performance opportunities for people on the autism spectrum is one emphasis of many for the group.

As Artistic Director of The BurkTech Players, Frasca, who graduates in May, has helped foster new collaborations.

Last fall, their performance of Halloween Fright, a devised piece of theatre themed around the holiday itself, included American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, marking a significant step in the direction of inclusivity.

This spring, the students are rehearsing A Midsummer Night's Dream, the group's first effort at Shakespeare, albeit in a 35-minute cutting of the play.

Frasca, whose thesis-role was Rosalind in the School of Theatre & Dance's fall production of As You Like It, is especially equipped to direct Midsummer based on her previous work with the Hunter Heartbeat Method, the topic of her undergraduate thesis.  Created 10 years ago in England by Kelly Hunter, the Hunter Heartbeat Method uses Shakespeare's rhythmic language and physical gesture to release communicative blocks within children with all levels of autism, including children who are non-verbal. In other words, it helps people on the autism spectrum communicate their emotions.

In December, Frasca arranged a masterclass with Kelly Hunter over Zoom for The BurkTech Players and has implemented what they learned into rehearsals of Midsummer.

“It is exciting to see the performers grow throughout the process,” explained Frasca. “Some of them have been with us for years and seeing them take on the challenge of each new role is rewarding for me. It reminds me why I do this. My favorite thing about being involved in BurkTech is experiencing the true joy of theatre at every rehearsal.”

In the future, the group wants to expand the program beyond the borders of Texas Tech's campus and hopes to include a Theatre for Young Audiences tour next season.  A Midsummer Night's Dream offers a glimpse of that.  They will perform April 7-8 in the Maedgen Theatre & Dance Complex and April 15 at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA). Performance times for all performances is 7:30 p.m.

To learn more, visit The BurkTech Players webpage on the School of Theatre & Dance website or their facebook page for more information about upcoming performances.