Vermont Business Magazine A Saint Michael’s College student is shining light on the lived experiences of people with disabilities – including her own – through her original play, “A Taste of Freedom,” and an accompanying panel discussion.
Sadie Chamberlain ’25, a double major in Theatre and Psychology from Lyndonville, Vermont, wrote and will star in her play, the College’s fall Mainstage production. The play doubles as her senior capstone project.
The play will run from Nov. 6 until Nov. 9 and will begin at 7 p.m. each night in the McCarthy Arts Center Theatre. The performances are free and open to the public.
Chamberlain’s play marks only the second instance since the Fine Arts Department began in the 1960s that a student-written play has been chosen as one of the faculty-directed and designed Mainstage theatre productions.
About “A Taste of Freedom”
Chamberlain’s play is a fantastical, theatrical riff on her life as a person with Cerebral Palsy. Set within the backdrop of a mystical Celtic landscape, “A Taste of Freedom” uses the power of the human imagination to explore the internal complexities of life as a disabled person.
Chamberlain plays the protagonist, The Maiden, who finds solace away from her physical limits by escaping to a bygone age. The Maiden entrusts her deepest frustrations to The Siren (Keira Comtois ’26), who uses her vocal prowess to keep The Maiden entertained and a local farmer enamored. As tensions rise, The Maiden must decide if this eternal balancing act is worth the aggravation.
Jayden Choquette ’10 and Cassie Vanderhoof ’27 round out the four-person cast as The Highlander and The Teacher respectively. The production is directed by Theatre Professor Peter Harrigan, with scenery and lighting by fellow Theatre Professor John Paul Devlin.
“It has been such a gift to work with Sadie during her time at the College, and to see our program, our Theatre building, and our courses through her eyes,” Harrigan said. “Theatre can be a very ableist world, and I’m grateful for the chance to reexamine my assumptions and biases because of her smart and often humorous feedback.”
Chamberlain has been working on the play since the summer after first year at Saint Michael’s, with Harrigan serving as a mentor starting two years ago.
“It has been great fun to work with her since then on edits and improvements, helping to clarify and strengthen this thought-provoking and imaginative play,” Harrigan said. “It is an honor to help bring Sadie’s rich theatrical vision to life.”
Accompanying panel discussion
The play will be preceded by a panel discussion that will further highlight the lived experiences of people with disabilities. The event, titled “Freedom & Disability: Stories from SMC,” will take place Monday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m., on the third floor of the Dion Family Student Center in the Roy Room. This event is also free and open to the public.
The panel will be introduced by Saint Michael’s College President Richard Plumb and moderated by Dr. Omara Rivera-Vazquez, Director of the College’s Institute for Equity & Justice. Panelists will include Chamberlain, Leif Reiderer '26, Molly Thompson '23, and Philosophy & Ethics Professor Patrick Standen.
If you go:
Panel Discussion – Oct. 28 at 4 p.m.
“Freedom and Disability: Stories from SMC”
Dion Family Student Center 3rd Floor, Roy Room
Free and open to the public
More information: smcvt.edu/event/panel-discussion-disability-freedom-stories-from-smc
Mainstage Theatre Production – Nov. 6 to Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
“A Taste of Freedom”
McCarthy Arts Center Mainstage Theatre
Free and open to the public
More information: smcvt.edu/event/a-taste-of-freedom-by-sadie-chamberlain-25
Members of the media who want to connect with Sadie Chamberlain ’25 or Professor Peter Harrigan, or who would like to attend either event, should contact Saint Michael’s College Associate Director of Public Relations Liz Murray at [email protected].
About Saint Michael’s College
Saint Michael's College, founded on principles of social justice and leading lives of purpose and consequence, is a selective, Catholic college just outside Burlington, Vermont, one of the country's best college towns. Located between the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain, our closely connected community guarantees housing all four years and delivers internationally respected liberal arts together with an innovative Purposeful Learning Program, preparing students for fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. Young adults here grow intellectually, socially, and morally, learning to be responsible for themselves, each other, and their world.
Source: COLCHESTER, VT – Saint Michael’s College
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