-
-
- Residents of QLI’s East Campus partnered with Circle Theatre to bring inclusive films “Mirror Mirror” and “Dimensions: A Space Odyssey” to life.
-
-
-
- The accessible filmmaking project helped residents build confidence, discover creativity, and share their voices.
-
-
-
- The films highlight inclusion, accessibility, and the importance of seeing people beyond their disabilities.
-
The first time many people step onto a stage, they remember the nerves.
The butterflies flying around in their stomach. The uncertainty. The question of whether they are ready.
For the actors at QLI, that moment looked a little different. Some had never performed before. Some had never imagined themselves as actors. Others needed someone to see a possibility in them before they could see it themselves.
That is exactly what happened when QLI residents partnered with Circle Theatre to bring two original productions, “Mirror Mirror” and “Dimensions: A Space Odyssey,” to life on film.
What started as an opportunity to explore creativity became something much bigger: a space where participants could build confidence, discover new talents, and share their voices with their community.
Adam Lind, who plays Anthony in “Mirror Mirror,” never expected acting to become part of his story.
At Circle Theatre, inclusion was never a side note; it was the reason for the work. Through this partnership, QLI long-term residents were invited into a world many people only watch from the audience, where they could see themselves not as participants on the margins, but as performers, storytellers, and artists with something meaningful to share.
A Story That Started Long Before the Cameras Rolled
Mary Sheldrick, a member of QLI’s LifePath Services team and the playwright of “Mirror Mirror,” said this story began decades before the cameras came out.
Mary’s connection to individuals with disabilities started when her high school sweetheart, Alec, sustained a spinal cord injury after a diving accident shortly after graduating.
“It just takes a blink of an eye to change your whole life,” Mary said.
As Mary and Alec navigated life together, she saw how quickly people’s perceptions could change after a disability. She noticed the way others sometimes spoke to him differently or focused on his wheelchair instead of the person sitting in it.
“He’s not deaf. He’s not unable to understand you. He just moves in a wheelchair,” Mary said.
Those experiences stayed with her and eventually became the inspiration behind “Mirror Mirror,” a story about love, relationships, and challenging the assumptions people often make about living with disabilities.
“Dimensions: A Space Odyssey” tells a different story. Set in a fictional world, the film follows Prince Edmund as he challenges the limits placed around him, ultimately reminding audiences that independence isn’t about eliminating risk. It’s about having the freedom to experience life.
Though the stories are different, both films ask the same question: What becomes possible when people are seen for who they are instead of what others assume they can or cannot do?
“Don’t run away from somebody with a disability. Run to them,” Mary said. “Get to know them. Realize that somebody with a disability is just like you and me.”
Anthony, the main character, is in a wheelchair and is played by East Campus resident Adam.
“This is about Anthony’s love,” Mary said. “He’s got a magic mirror in his apartment, and when he looks in the mirror, he sees himself as an able-bodied man.”
Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities
When Circle Theatre began working with QLI residents several years ago, the goal was never to create a separate experience. It was to create an opportunity for everyone to participate.
“We all kind of have the same vision of creating experiences for everybody and making sure that we are inclusive,” said Courtney Stein Cairncross, co-artistic director of Circle Theatre. “Nobody gets left behind at the table.”
Over time, the partnership evolved from traditional theater performances into something new: filmmaking.
The decision to bring the production process to QLI helped remove barriers that could make traditional theater difficult, including transportation, late rehearsals, and accessibility challenges.
“We worked to remove all real and perceived barriers as much as possible,” Courtney said.
That meant rethinking what filmmaking could look like. During “Dimensions,” scripts were projected onto a wall so actors could read their lines while staying engaged in the scene.
When “Mirror Mirror” required more interaction between characters, the team switched to a call-and-response approach, feeding lines to actors in real time before seamlessly editing the dialogue together later.
“The great thing about film is you can do as many takes as you want,” Courtney said. “You can go back and repeat things.”
More Than a Role, It Was a Chance to Be Seen
Throughout nearly a year of rehearsals, the actors discovered more than their characters. They discovered confidence.
“We saw the actors actually inspiring some of the staff members who joined us and were part of our second film,” Courtney said.
Mary saw that growth, too.
“These guys are whip smart,” she said. “Finding a way to live it, they’re right there with the rest of us.”
For residents like Adam and Eli Shaw, acting became an opportunity to step outside their everyday routines and into a new role, one where their creativity, humor, and personalities took center stage.
Eli played Todd Furling, the narrator in “Mirror Mirror.”
He prepared for his role in a way that worked best for him and helped him overcome not being able to see. Mary and QLI’s Zach Lindsay recorded his lines onto a CD, allowing Eli to practice through repetition.
“I kept listening and listening while we filmed so I knew my lines,” Eli said.
The process allowed Eli to build confidence while sharing an important message with audiences.
“It’s all about seeing, like, not just the disability or the wheelchair, the walker or the crutch,” Eli said. “It’s just part of a whole. Seeing the person.”
Eli says the film is about understanding that everyone deserves to have their voice heard.
“Just know that their family member’s voice matters. Their voice matters,” he said. “It’s okay to speak up.”
A New Challenge, A New Role
Known for his love of sports, stepping into a leading role was a new challenge for Adam.
The lead role pushed him into unfamiliar territory and gave him the chance to challenge himself differently.
“I’ve never had the lead role of any play, so I wanted to see what that’d be like,” Adam said.
By bringing Anthony’s story to life, Adam helped show audiences that love, connection, and dignity are not defined by disability.
Playing Anthony also allowed Adam to help audiences understand an important message.
“I hope people get that it doesn’t matter if you’re in a wheelchair or not; you can still love someone the same,” Adam said.
Everyone Deserves a Spotlight
More than 30 actors participated in “Mirror Mirror” and “Dimensions: A Space Odyssey,” bringing together QLI residents, team members, and community members in a shared creative experience.
For Mary, Courtney, and everyone involved, the films represent something much bigger than a final production.
“The residents here are our ‘why,’” Courtney said. “It is about creating and growing and sharing the love for creation.”
Sometimes, all it takes is someone willing to hand them the spotlight.
Months of rehearsals, creative problem-solving and countless takes led to one unforgettable weekend.
During Circle Theatre’s Film Festival, “Mirror Mirror” and “Dimensions: A Space Odyssey” premiered before family members, friends, team members and the Omaha community.
As the lights dimmed, residents who had spent the past year bringing the stories to life watched themselves on the big screen for the very first time.
“Once a person who feels like they have nothing finds purpose, the sky’s the limit,” said Mary.
