BASICS:Name: Teddy Hoffman
Class Year: 2014
Major: English/TheatreHometown: Edina, MNTIME AT GRINNELL:Best Moment: Every moment I spent working with The Neverland Players. Other Exciting Activities: Working with Neverland Juniors, rewriting the Star Wars prequels, participation in various theatrical productions, somersaulting, playing in the Gamelan (I only did it for one semester, but it was still a fantastic experience), composing text-message essays on Batman, working at the preschool, and training my eyebrows to jump through hoops.Favorite Prof: The enigma that is Craig Quintero.Favorite Theme Party: Disco. Embarrassing First-Year Moment: It took me months to remember the name of one of my best friends. LOVE LIFE:Status: Single.Deal- Breakers: Poor communication and/or cynicism. Most Attractive Quality in a Person: Sincerity and a willingness to banter.Post-Harris: Noyce or ARH?: ARH, particularly the Star Trek room. Great place to crash and watch a movie.MISC:Something People Don’t Know About You: I almost lost the tip of my right ring-finger in seventh grade. Silliest Thing You’ve Done at Grinnell: Once I ate a cigarette while doing a MAP in Taipei. Never again…Advice for Incoming First-Years: Break the rules responsibly and never be afraid of looking like an idiot. And don’t eat cigarettes.Watson Fellowship- tell us about it!!: During my Watson year, I will immerse myself in adaptive theaters: institutions that use drama as a vehicle for celebrating and enabling people of different abilities. From theater/dance companies to community programs, I hope to observe how sharing the spotlight encourages confidence in non-neurotypical and “physically disabled” individuals in New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Ghana. My experiences will give me a better understanding of how these institutions reflect cultural values of “ideal” human bodies and disability rights, and how their work with differently-abled individuals enriches artistic expression through a recognition of marginalized imaginations.