Leslye Orr
Leslye Orr is a performer and playwright, and is well known for her virtual presentations and workshops on the integration of people of all abilities. Leslye performs and tours her original plays. As a speaker/specialist through an appointment by the U.S. Department of State, Leslye traveled with her show, Hand in Hand, and appeared through American embassies in Latvia, Lithuania and Israel. She’s a sound-effects enthusiast and was featured on A Prairie Home Companion. Born legally blind, Leslye is the author/illustrator of The People on the Corner, about how to include kids of all abilities in fun and games. Leslye, and husband, theater artist Zaraawar Mistry, own and operate Dreamland Arts, a performing arts 40-seat theater in St. Paul. MN. For information on Leslye’s children’s book, virtual disability awareness events or more “Orriginal” inclusion fusion programs to bring to your community, visit www.dreamlandarts.com
Interview Transcription:
SPEAKERS
Molly Joyce, Leslye Orr
Molly Joyce 00:00
The first question is, what is resilience for you?
Leslye Orr 00:23
Resilience for me is a feeling of when I'm in a situation that is so urgent, there is absolutely nothing to do but to take action. And generally, I guess I'd feel that way if I was doing it for myself, or for someone else, it's a never-give-in feeling.
Molly Joyce 01:07
The second question is, what is isolation for you?
Leslye Orr 01:19
I like being alone. Let's see. That is a very, very, very, very, very tough one. It's very hard because I don't, I don't Well, I suppose I don't like the feeling of being isolated. So if put in that situation, I'll invent my own entertainment and use my imagination to make my time worthwhile because I don't want it to be wasted so but I can't I'm trying to think of tortures and things that people have to do, they were really left alone. And I've never had that experience you know, stuck in the cave waiting for emergency or something like that, I suppose that would have to be at the height of that you can't be reached. Because even when I am alone, I can reach out of I feel like it so to be isolated and be to be unreachable, and I can't reach back it's impossible.
Molly Joyce 02:45
That's very powerful. And the next one is what is, connection for you?
Leslye Orr 02:53
Connection is that complete visceral, intellectual intuitive, explosion that goes on between people or things where you feel there's nothing that can break it up. Interrupted it's golden. It's when you are performing and there is an energy you know, that is so completely given giving on both sides of you want to give your way and those listening are just loving the moment of getting the freedom to do what they want back in response. And the other way around. And with things like last night was unfortunately from the fires this gorgeous pink full moon that everybody in the neighborhood could hear people just screaming with delight. And I had a spyglass first I didn't know where it was my friend is going between the lights now put it pointed that way, just as the clouds burst, and I you know, could magnify it. It was just like, you know, so I think it's the, it's the best gasp.
Molly Joyce 04:51
The last question is, what is darkness for you?
Leslye Orr 05:11
Darkness would definitely not be a visual thing. Because I'm accustomed to, like both ways. But it would be take over, do. And, like, those old biblical movies like 10 commandments with the big green hand and the shadow comes over or any of those that you see like that, you know, that you just, and it does change from where you were, in the light, are maybe two understanding to just being absolutely nowhere, whether it's intellectual or real, physical situation. And I think we, I feel like during the last year felt so many moments like that, that are it's not necessarily akin to isolation because many people can, in darkness, I feel can beat together on it. And and it takes it's one of those things like the moon, you know, it's on the other side. And it makes you wonder about it, and then it can be experienced, like an eclipse, but there's a way out. So, you know, it's not an unending thing. But it does come back and a lot against light.