JILL GARSON
(October 18, 2018)
MIT Co-Founder Jill Garson (October 18, 2018) was a writer her whole life. She began writing and performing songs when she was a teenager, and earned a recording contract with Polydor Records in France. With her band The Honeymooners, she performed all over NYC. Jill shifted from writing songs to writing screenplays when she realized that she had more to say than a three-minute song would allow. She and her family moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue a screenwriting career.
Jill wrote many scripts, several of which were written with Kate Robbins. CANDY STRIPERS was produced in 2006, and distributed by Screen Gems. GIMME THE FINGER, a short she wrote and directed, was distributed by Apollo Films. Jill worke in the low budget world as a writer for hire. She was a finalist in the Sundance Spring Writing Workshop, a semifinalist Chesterfield Screenwriting Competition, a semifinalist in the Writer’s Network Screenplay and Fiction Competition, and a semifinalist in the Heart of Austin Screenwriting Competition. Jill’s original screen play, ROADKILL, is being adapted by her son for an upcoming MIT performance.
Jill and Kate won first prize in the La Femme screenwriting competition in Beverly Hills. She was also a judge in the Carl Sautter Memorial Scriptwriting Competition for three consecutive years, and a judge for the CableAce Awards for two years. Over the past several years, Jill became involved with helping disabled adults achieve their maximum potential. She wrote, directed and produced 6 plays that were community-supported and performed by actors with special needs. She found the work extraordinarily rewarding, and was thrilled to be able to combine her passion for performance with her desire to help others.
Shawnda Davis has been interested in performing arts since she could speak. Although she experienced dyslexia and learning and language disabilities as a child, Shawnda channeled her energy, passion, and strengths on performing arts. During childhood, she acted in two Disney films, studied singing, placed third in a modeling competition, studied comedy, and performed standup comedy in the San Fernando Valley.
Shawnda’s own personal experiences with learning disabilities led her towards a career enriching the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). While employed by Villa Esperanza as a Job Coach for adults with I/DD, she realized her unique capability of building the self-esteem and skills of the adults she worked with, through theater arts. Shawnda’s very first musical production by adults with I/DD was a huge success.
Shawnda was later employed as a Program Instructor with APAC, since renamed Partners for Potential, a community based day program for adults with I/DD. She was passionate about helping participants develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes they needed to lead productive, meaningful, and integrated lives in their communities. Shawnda and Jill met as co-workers at Partners for Potential. Since Jill had scriptwriting experience and Shawnda excelled in performing arts, they decided to combine their talents to produce a pilot performance that doubled as a fundraiser for Partners. Again, their inaugural show was a big hit and they went on to successfully create 4 more entertaining shows, which captured the talents and creativities of their performers on stage.
After 6 years, Jill and Shawnda co-founded the non-profit organization, MIT, so they could share their talents and production ideas with even more uniquely-abled adults with I/DD. Shawnda is doing a fantastic job of carrying on the legacy they both started, with the help of many dedicated MIT volunteers. Shawnda strongly believes that participating in performing arts gave her a “YES I CAN” attitude and she is passionate about the mantra “YES EVERYONE CAN!” MIT is proud to have Shawnda Davis as our Creative Director!
