Fans of Pixar movies should circle Friday, Feb. 6 on their calendars. That is the day the Barrington High School Unified Theater program will take the stage with a series of entertaining performances.

The program has grown over the years — this year, more than 100 students are involved in the Barrington High School production. Unified theater is an inclusive performing arts program for students with and without disabilities. 

“It is a pretty big group of kids — a ton of people coming together,” said one this year’s directors, senior Addy Jay. “I’m an athlete myself. Athletes come together. Kids who do theater come together, and it’s a place where we cultivate creativity.”

Jay is sharing director duties with fellow seniors Colliape Goldman and Addie Friedman. 

“I know Colliape and I both have the opportunity to go onstage in a normal theater production and put ourselves out there. There are some people who aren’t as fortunate. This is such a special moment for them to come out and use their voice and have a moment where people applaud for them,” Jay said. 

Goldman said she has been involved in the program since her freshman year. 

“I think we’re just trying to continue the legacy of being really inclusive, having a lot of fun, encouraging everyone to be really creative,” Goldman said. “I think everyone gets to go outside their normal friend groups. It’s very collaborative and very much about the process and not anything else.”

The BHS Unified Theater production is a little different than a full-length play or musical — students in the program separate into smaller groups where they write a script and then perform for the audience. The theme this year is Pixar, and all of the performances are based on Pixar movies. 

Vivian Adamek is performing in a Zootopia skit.

“I’m doing a singing role with my friends,” Adamek said. “I’m playing a gazelle. I’m very excited.”

Omar Hallab is performing in a skit about Monsters University. He said the unified theater program is great. He said he would recommend it to every student at the high school. 

“… because it’s fun, and you get to make new friends,” Hallab said. 

Goldman said the program can be very rewarding to everyone involved. 

“No matter who you are, I think everyone feels so uplifted and confident they can be who they want to be in this space. It’s such a good environment,” she said.