JetBlue supports nonprofit theater school for youth with autism
Amsterdam, July 2024 – Starting this year, JetBlue, the New York-based airline that flies daily from New York and Boston to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, has partnered with InterActing, the theater school for young people with autism. This nonprofit supports young people through improvisational theater.
Improvisation helps neurodivergent adolescents cope better with the world and make friends. In the Netherlands, there are about 50,000 children and adolescents with autism. As of 2024, InterActing has established a show team with up-and-coming talent in addition to the regular acting groups (from 12 to 22 years old).
JetBlue will help the show team with an annual donation, which will make possible the acting coach, rehearsal space, catering for rehearsals and travel for on-site shows.
JetBlue GM Europe, Maja Gedosev:
“JetBlue continues to foster meaningful relationships within the communities we serve and we are excited to announce our partnership with InterActing to support their extraordinary initiative that empowers people with autism to shine on stage. JetBlue is committed to inclusivity and diversity, and we are proud to partner with InterActing to give everyone the opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity. Together, we look forward to making a positive impact on the lives of many through the transformative power of the performing arts.”
Co-founder Saskia Maas: “Improvisational theater is a form of theater without a script. There are principles you use to improvise, though, and they are very useful for the everyday lives of our neurodivergent teens. Whether it’s being able to build on each other’s ideas or playing with different roles and emotions, at InterActing you get a chance to practice life a little bit in a safe environment.”
About the InterActing Foundation
InterActing was founded in 2018 by Saskia Maas (co-founder of comedy institute Boom Chicago) and Pim Donkersloot, educator and family therapist. Maas has two children, including a son with autism, and Donkersloot is the father of two autistic children. They use improvisational theater to help autistic adolescents develop social-emotional skills, increase their self-confidence and adapt to changing situations so they can better hold their own in the world.