The after-school Unified Theater program at Newtown High School is set to perform an original show, written by the students involved, called The Pages That Bind Us, this Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31.

Janice Gabriel, who co-advises the program with Alysia Caffrey, said the show was created by having students separate into groups to write scenes based on a fairy tale theme. Each group of students wrote a scene for the show, according to Ms Gabriel.

The Pages That Bind Us will be presented in the NHS cafetorium, 12 Berkshire Road, on Saturday at 7 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm. Admission is by a donation amount of choice, according to Ms Gabriel.

“Whatever these kids put on is going to be stellar and just joyful,” said Ms Gabriel this week.

Roughly 25 students, she noted, have been involved in creating the production.

The Unified Theater program was funded this year through the state’s Arts in Education grant program. Next school year Ms Gabriel said the program is set to be part of the curriculum at NHS.

Students with and without disabilities have been working together through the Unified Theater program. Students of all abilities learned how to write a play, transition between scenes, and produce the show, all while learning the importance of inclusion and the power of youth leadership.

“Being a part of anything unified is just pure joy,” Ms Gabriel said.

Ms Gabriel said she expects The Pages That Bind Us will be “perfectly imperfect,” and said it will be “so much fun” to see the smiles on all of the students’ faces.

Along with funding the after school program, the Arts in Education grant — a joint program of the State of Connecticut Department of Education and Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts — also supported professional development and a future trip for the students involved in this spring’s Unified Theater program to see a Broadway production.

Ms Gabriel said efforts are underway to bring the students to see an autism-friendly version of The Lion King on Broadway.