Belmont alumnae Kallen Blair and Alie B. Gorrie live in New York City and are pursuing a new project that raises awareness about actors with disabilities. The pair have created a video series to highlight these actors and start conversations around disability in the entertainment world. They were recently featured by Style Blueprint as new “FACES of the South.”
Blair hails from Memphis, Tennessee and studied theater at Belmont, while Gorrie is from Mountain Brook, Alabama and studied musical theater. The pair are the co-producers of the web series titled “ABLE: A Series,” that is directed by Cassidy Cole of Nashville. The series will consist of interviews with people in varying industries of entertainment to discuss their experiences with disability in the industry. According to their website, they aim to “fill a gap of missing conversations within the entertainment world.”
Guests interviewed in the series include actor Danny Woodburn, comedian Maysoon Zayid, actress Ali Stroker and several notable others. The goal is to discuss how people in entertainment can create more inclusive and representative stories surrounding those with disabilities.
In their interview with Style Blueprint, Gorrie said, “through ‘ABLE,’ I want our viewers to see that inclusion enhances everything. I hope ‘ABLE’ breaks down stigmas and stereotypes.”
A passion project that stems from personal experiences, both women hope that people take away from “ABLE” the importance of inclusion and that “telling real stories requires real people.”
The pair have been working on the concept since last summer and will be releasing the episodes online in the coming months.
