Detour Company Theatre

Mothers have a way of making things happen for their children despite all odds. So was the case when Sam (who goes by her first name only) was asked by her adult son who had developmental disabilities, “When is it going to be my turn [to act on stage]?” Since Sam was the theater arts coordinator at the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, her son often watched but he dreamed performing. When Sam couldn’t find a program for people with cognitive disabilities, she launched one herself called the Detour Company Theatre. “Detour is committed to making opportunities possible. We are called ‘Detour’ because that’s what we do… we take many detours [because of individualized paths] but we all arrive at the same destination to provide entertainment and enjoyment,” Sam explains. Detour has approximately 50 actors, most of whom have cognitive impairments and some who have physical disabilities. To give troupe members as many opportunities as possible, Detour puts on double features – recently presenting Shrek The Musical and Legally Blonde The Musical in the same weekend – to double cast actors as a lead in one play and an ensemble member in the other.

Detour offers a beginning/intro program (ideal for novice actors and those who prefer smaller group settings), a main stage show-based troupe and a touring troupe. Audience admittance is free of charge and includes audio description and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. “We’re funded by miracles! And donations and grants. We don’t charge per ticket – that’s the last big area of accessibility because we welcome everyone to our shows,” Sam says. The audience setting is equally inclusive; for example, a parent whose child has autism that perhaps typically shies away from theater shows can feel comfortable and enjoy Detour’s entertainment.