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"...The bill is being staged by Theater Breaking Through Barriers, whose productions frequently use actors with disabilities, and the other standout among the plays, “Gorgeous,” by Bekah Brunstetter, is a case in point. Anita Hollander and Mary Theresa Archbold, who have prosthetic limbs, play two women who are chatting in the locker room of a gym when a Perfect 10 type (Tiffan Borelli) comes in. The play deftly contrasts their reaction to her with her reaction to them."

So twice in my life I had to learn to walk all over again, with different obstacles,” she said, “first a brace, then with a prosthesis and on one leg with crutches. She always felt these challenges were a test to see if I really wanted to be an actor. In fact everything that happened to me was a gift that has FED my life as an actor throughout my life”.

So twice in my life I had to learn to walk all over again, with different obstacles,” she said, “first a brace, then with a prosthesis and on one leg with crutches. She always felt these challenges were a test to see if I really wanted to be an actor. In fact everything that happened to me was a gift that has FED my life as an actor throughout my life”.

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There are 587 series-regular roles on scripted network primetime television this fall. Only six of them have disabilities. Only one of those six is portrayed by a disabled actor.

That information comes courtesy of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which last week released its annual "Where We Are on TV" report. The survey documents the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters in each new fall television season. This year, for the first time, GLAAD also counted the number of characters with disabilities.

While the U.S. Census Bureau reports that people with identified disabilities make up a little more than 12% of the American population, they make up only 1% of the primetime population. Disheartening though that statistic may be, the fact that it even exists represents progress.

"One of the issues that performers with disabilities in the entertainment industry have continued to struggle with is the lack of accurate measurements on the portrayal and employment of actors with disabilities in television and film," said Rebecca Yee, national director of affirmative action and diversity for SAG.

"This report is more than just numbers; it's really the first authoritative study measuring the number of characters with disabilities on television, and importantly, the number of performers with disabilities who portray those characters."

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WASHINGTON- Anita Hollander walked onto the stage, pulled up her dress and removed her prosthetic leg.
Playwright Anita Hollander begins her performance of “Still Standing” wearing her prosthetic leg.

The nationally renowned actress performed for more than 40 audience members Wednesday as part of a festival to bring awareness to the arts and disabilities.

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Miscelaneous Reviews

Theater Breaking Through Barriers will present the world premiere of Kate Moira Ryan's Bass for Picasso Off-Broadway this spring.

Previews will begin April 17 prior to an official press opening May 2 at Theatre Row's Kirk Theatre. Ike Schambelan directs.

The cast will feature Anita Hollander, Mary Archbold, Felice Neals, Terry Small and Nicholas Viselli.

In Bass for Picasso, press notes state, "amputee and food writer for the New York Times Francesca Danieli throws a dinner party for her friends recreating recipes (including the titular entree) from the 'Alice B. Toklas Cookbook.' The guest list includes Pilar, her multilingual art detective lover, who has spent time in Guantanamo for visa problems; Bricka Matson, a lesbian widow with a small child and Republican in-laws who are trying to gain custody; Joe, an OB/GYN whose lover is a geographically challenged crystal meth addict; and Kev, a playwright who has recently fallen off the wagon and written a soon-to-open Off-Broadway play about all of them. It's an insanely funny, irreverent 80-minute look at gay and lesbian life in the new millennium."

Encore feature article (Julie Taveras 4/10/10): "Actress Anita Hollander, who plays Danieli, describes her character as a 'one-legged lesbian food writer for the Times who has a neurotically driven personality.' Not only is Hollander an amputee herself, which allows her a more authentic take on the physical aspect of the role, but she can also identify with many of the character’s experiences on sexuality and writing." More

Time Out article (4/29/10 Beth Greenfield) at: Read article here

Back Stage review (Erik Haagensen 5/2/10): "The actors wisely play against the absurdity. Anita Hollander has authority as Francesca and gets a good laugh whacking the unfaithful Pilar with her prosthesis." More

NYTheatre.com review (Martin Denton 5/1/10): "Francesca is written in the script as an amputee, and she's played by one, Anita Hollander, with vigor and bravada." More