Sari Abelson of St. Louis Park featured in St. Olaf College news story

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St. Olaf Artist in Residence Dona Freeman (left) and students Sean Gilbertson '14 and Sari Abelson '13 spent 10 days helping lead a theater workshop in Ireland.

NORTHFIELD, MN (08/02/2012)(readMedia)-- St. Olaf Artist in Residence Dona Freeman '80 and two students were in Ireland last week to help lead a unique theater workshop for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Freeman served as the international theater mentor at the Abhainn Ri Festival, which is run by the Camphill Callan Community, and Sari Abelson '13 and Sean Gilbertson '14 worked alongside her. They conducted workshops and directed productions at the festival, which uses theater as a means to enrich and celebrate the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities.

The trio received a St. Olaf Magnus the Good Award, which promotes new and innovative collaborative efforts between students and faculty, to support their participation in the festival.

They have already worked together this summer on constructing curricula for the workshops and rehearsals that they will lead. Their workshops focus on subjects such as improvisation and characterization, and they conduct rehearsals that culminated with a performance of Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant by the residents.

Abelson is the daughter of David and Susan Abelson of St. Louis Park.