Real Life at Encore Studio for the Performing Arts

Encore Studio for the Performing Arts is Wisconsin's first professional theatre company for people with disabilities. For 26 years, Encore has created original, artist-driven theatre that places people with disabilities at the center of the professional artistic process. One of the very few companies like it in the United States, Encore offers an innovative, inclusive, and professional environment where people work together in the pursuit of artistic and theatrical excellence. Encore fosters the individual talents, skills, abilities, and creativity of its acting company while creating professional opportunities for artists with disabilities to develop, perform, and share work that communicates challenging and authentic perspectives on disability and culture. Encore opened its doors on September 6, 2000. Just weeks later, on October 14, Encore premiered its first production, "Not Stubborn... Not Strong-Willed" at Monona Terrace. Since then, Encore has performed throughout Wisconsin and beyond, and its original work has garnered local, regional, and national attention. With a troupe of 21 actors and seven staff, Encore has produced more than 75 original works to date, with many more to come.