Echo
Directed by Anna C. Bahow
Read at Chicago Dramatists Saturday Series

Abby, an autistic teen, only speaks in echo-speech, until she is introduced to a promising communication method that requires a facilitator to help her type letters into a communicator.  Abby’s mother is thrilled, but her sister and father are dubious about this new method - the latest in a long line of therapies.  Just as the facilitator convinces the family Abby is actually communicating, she types a shocking accusation. “Echo” examines the complex dynamics of a family driven by the increasing pressures of hope.

Check these two stories (both very different) below to learn more:
Carly's Story (Video)
The Wendros Story (Newspaper Series)
The Wendros Story (Video)
 
Both stories above show how complex autism is, how little we know about it, and how heart-breaking it can be for families who don't know whether to push further for their child or accept that their child will be different.
Reading with Circle Theatre at Stage 773 - August 10th at 2PM

A Chicago family believes they are witnessing a miracle: Their non-verbal autistic daughter (Abby) is “speaking” using a new communication method that requires a “facilitator” and letters on a keyboard.  But in a few keystrokes, the miracle becomes a nightmare when the messages she types include shocking accusations.

Directed by Steve Griest

Abby Hughes - Andrea DeCamp
Richard Hughes - Nick Bonges
Erica Hughes - Melody Latham
Liz Allen - Hughes- Lisa Herceg
Jill Bloom - Sarah Bockel
Stage Directions - Greg Payne

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