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Abstract
This study investigates the impact of participation in theatre on youth with autism, and the possibilities this participation might yield in generating personal and interpersonal transformations. Specifically, the study explores the impact of inclusive theatre experiences involving the development, rehearsal, and performance of theatrical productions on youth with ASD. In the summer of 2014, 18 youth with autism and nine non-ASD peers participated in a five-week theatre conservatory held as an inclusive collaboration between The Miracle Project (TMP) and California State University, Northridge’s Teenage Drama Workshop (TADW). It culminated in five public performances of an original musical, Joining the Spectrum (JTS). Using pre- and posttest questionnaires and structured observations, this study examines changes among youth in a number of conceptual areas: self-esteem, empathy, comfort with others, and trust. The conclusion summarizes findings and positively affirms the impact in these areas of inclusive theatre experience on youth with ASD.