Big Heart Theater

A nonprofit organization
Fundraise

28% complete

$5,000 Goal


“This is what theater is truly meant to be — a time to cheer one another for taking a chance and sharing their talent and joy." 

—BHT audience member

At Big Heart Theater, North Texas teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) such as autism and Down syndrome work with professional artists to create and perform one-of-a-kind musical theater plays that center their ideas, opinions, and dreams. 

  • People with IDD deserve a chance to shine! — We welcome people who are speaking and nonspeaking, hearing and deaf, sighted and blind, those who are ambulatory and those who need mobility assistance. 
  • We operate 100% on donations — all activities are completely free for the performers and for audience members.
  • We go where we’re needed — we work in neighborhoods with few resources and partner with public places like libraries and rec centers.
  • We love working with people with IDD — our director has an M.Ed. in Special Education, and our team includes a certified music therapist, a physical therapist, a certified SPED teacher, a health studies major, and professional actors and designers.

What are Big Heart Theater’s shows like?

  • SO. MUCH. FUN! We emphasize joy rather than perfection. We challenge our performers to do their best, but recognize that “best” looks different for everyone. We provide lots of supports during performances — verbal and visual line prompts, coaching from the wings, sign language interpretation, communication aids, and one-on-one guides on stage. In between most performances we have a free lunch reception where audience members can meet and interact with the cast.

Why is Big Heart Theater needed?

  • Teens and adults with IDD have limited opportunities. There are programs for kids with IDD, but as they age, options are fewer. Many adults with IDD spend their days in day habilitation centers, watching television, coloring, and taking part in other activities that offer little mental stimulation. They have few creative challenges or opportunities to make new friends. 
  • People who don't know someone with IDD may not realize what they're capable of. People with IDD deserve a chance to give audiences — and sometimes even their own loved ones — a deeper understanding of their talent and potential.

Mission

Big Heart Theater empowers North Texas teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to create and perform one-of-a-kind theatrical experiences for themselves and their communities — forever redefining disabilities as possibilities.

Needs

Your gift helps keep our programming completely free for every performer and audience member!

Equity Statement

Equity is at the heart of everything we do. Because we all have different skills, talents, and abilities, we meet every person where they are. Every Big Heart performer participates at their individual level of ability.

Big Heart Theater’s desired outcomes differ from those of more traditional theaters that hold artistic quality as a primary goal. Instead, we prioritize the experience of the performers and their impact on community members. Our primary aim is to offer safe, joyful, fun, inclusive experiences that challenge performers creatively and socially and positively shift perceptions of people with IDD.

Big Heart Theater also addresses historical inequities in past policies by:

intentionally recruiting both performers with IDD and professional artists who are AALANA (identifying as non-white) and/or who come from economically depressed communities;

focusing our recruitment on teens and adults with IDD who have limited opportunities for community or cultural engagement due to barriers around age or ability;

making all rehearsals, performances, and production materials free for participants, and making all performances and post-show gatherings free for every audience member;

and expanding equity and access to events by holding all rehearsals and performances in fully accessible public spaces in neighborhoods with few other cultural outlets.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Big Heart Theater

Tax id (EIN)

75-2945700

Guidestar

Causes

Intellectual, Developmental, and Physical Differences

Operating Budget

$100,000 - $249,999

Counties Served

Dallas, Tarrant

BIPOC Serving

Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx, Other

BIPOC Leadership

Executive Director/CEO

Address

9716 Elmcrest
Dallas, TX 75238

Phone

214 601 3191

Email

lisaleeschmidt@gmail.com

Website

http://www.bighearttheater.org

Social Media