A HEALING ACT Documentary Short Nominated for a 2020 Northwest Regional Emmy® Award

A unique improvisational theatre program at Seattle's Taproot Theatre Company is helping people experiencing early stages of memory loss or dementia. Improv allows the participants to keep the brain active and live in the moment, while having fun. Produced for Seattle Channel television. ***NOMINATED for a 2020 Northwest Emmy Award.*** Produced for Community Stories on Seattle Channel Television Director/Producer: Laila Kazmi Videographers: Resti Bagcal, Valerie Vozza, Laila Kazmi Editor: Laila Kazmi Sound Mix: Steve Barsotti Senior Producer: Ian Devier Executive Producer: Shannon Gee Kazbar Media: Watch more stories: https://kazbarmedia.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LailaKazmiStories Seattle Channel: Watch more: https://www.seattlechannel.org/ Follow: https://www.facebook.com/SeattleChannel/ Taproot Theatre: Learn more: http://taproottheatre.org/ Follow: https://www.facebook.com/taproottheatre/

We are excited to share that our documentary short, which aired on Community Stories series on Seattle Channel television was nominated for a 2020 Northwest Regional Emmy® Award. Produced/directed by Laila Kazmi, A Healing Act is a story of a improvisational theatre program helping people experiencing early stages of memory loss.

Local community theatres enrich the culture and health of our communities. For over ten years, the Early Stage Memory Loss improvisation program at Seattle’s Taproot Theatre Company has helped people in early stages of memory loss. Improv allows an opportunity to live in the moment, without the pressure of needing to remember. “In improv, there are no wrong answers.” For both, the participants and caretakers, it offers a chance to have fun, as well as a reprieve from what can be a difficult time for most families.

We are grateful to Pam Nolte and Rob Martin at Taproot Theatre and the improv program participants for allowing us into their world to tell this story.

A Healing Act: Improv for People With Memory Loss
Directed/produced/edited by: Laila Kazmi
Cinematography: Valerie Vozza, Resti Bagcal
Audio Mix: Steve Barsotti
Senior Producer: Ian Devier
Produced for Seattle Channel Television