Students involved in Barrington High School's Unified Theater program will perform a play titled "UT: Breaking News" on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. 

The Unified Theater program places the "spotlight on ability" and creates an all-inclusive environment for students of varying grades and abilities. The production is written, directed and performed by students in the program, and between the cast members and crew there are more than 100 BHS students involved.

"We have been working hard since November and are very excited to show the community what we have created," said Barrington High School student Hayley Gasbarro.

This year's play will feature big news events, such as the Super Bowl, royal wedding, Miss America Pageant and the 2020 election. The play will be performed in the high school auditorium and admission is free.

More about Unified Theater

Barrington High School's Unified Theater program was created years ago, and has grown from 35 members in its first year to more than 100 students.

Lindsay Daugherty, who graduated from BHS a few years ago, was just a freshman when she helped bring the program to Barrington. Lindsay was later awarded the National High School Heart of the Arts Award, in part because of her work with the Unified Theater program.

Jen McCool, the then-director of programs for Unified Theater at BHS, praised Lindsay at that time: "Lindsay truly believes in the ideals of Unified Theater. She believes that her peers with disabilities deserve to be on stage just as much as her peers without disabilities. She has worked hard to make Barrington High School a place where inclusion is the norm — not the exception."

As a senior at Barrington High School in 2017, Lindsay spoke about the benefits of the Unified Theater program: "It gives every student the chance to be involved…"