This Saturday at 3:00 p.m., a group of Pike County performers will take the stage at the Ford Center in Oxford as part of the Mississippi Theatre Festival. The production is free and open to the public, with ASL interpreters present. What makes the performance especially meaningful, however, is who is standing under the lights.
The actors are members of Open Doors Theater, a theater group founded by Mackenzie Charles with one clear purpose: to ensure that Disabled artists have equitable access to the arts and a place where they are celebrated for exactly who they are.
Photo credit: Scott Video & Photography
The idea for Open Doors Theater began with frustration and resolve. While attending the Southeastern Theatre Conference, the largest theater conference in the country, Charles searched for work in Disabled theatre. The longer she looked, the more apparent it became that the kind of position she hoped to find simply did not exist.
“The concept of Disabled theatre is largely nonexistent,” Charles said. “In that moment, I decided that if there was nowhere to hire me, I would simply have to create a place myself.”
That decision became Open Doors Theater, a space built on both artistic integrity and access.
Charles describes Open Doors as a celebration of art and ability. The actors, she says, bring instinct, humor, and authenticity to the stage in a way that makes each performance unique.
“One of my favorite things about live theatre is that it is fleeting,” she explained. “You only get a moment once, and then it is gone. You can see the same show three different nights and get three completely different performances. That is especially true at Open Doors.”
While the process of rehearsals and preparation mirrors that of any theatre production, the impact is deeply personal. Charles says the most meaningful moments come on performance days, when the actors finally hear the audience’s reactions.
“You work for months on a show, but you do not know if you were successful until it opens,” she said. “When the actors hear the audience respond, it makes the show ten times better. The difference is that many of our actors never had access to that experience before now. To be able to say, ‘You made this happen. This would not exist without you,’ is the most rewarding part.”
Looking ahead, Charles envisions Open Doors Theater as a lasting fixture in the community. Plans are underway to either purchase or build a permanent home, a space that would allow the organization to grow and deepen its reach.
“I want Open Doors to be around for a very long time,” she said. “I want the McComb and Summit area to become a hub for Disabled arts in the South. With community support, I know we can do it. We are already well on our way, and there are great things ahead.”
At its heart, Open Doors Theater is about dignity, pride, and access. It is about making sure no one is left standing outside the door, and that once inside, they are fully seen.
