Ep. 150: Joan Steinmann

Artifice

Joan Steinmann earned a Bachelor of Music from The University of Utah in Vocal Performance. Since 2006 she has taught both Choir and German at Paradigm Charter High School in South Jordan. Under her direction, Paradigm High Choirs have won various musical awards and performed extensive through Utah. Recently Joan Steinmann's choirs were featured guests on several concerts of the world renowned Salt Lake Vocal Artists. Mrs. Steinmann's hobbies include reading, cycling, and hiking in Utah's beautiful mountains with her husband and little girl. Solve for X, an original musical created by Joan Riddle Steinmann. solveforxmusical.com Synopsis: Two sisters, one autistic, and one neurotypical, are navigating their freshman and senior years of high school. Elle Richards has been eagerly anticipating her senior year, but is wary that her little sister, West, will negatively affect her social standing. When the siblings were younger, Elle drew Treasure Map versions of the dentists’ office, grocery store, and friends’ backyards for her sister West. This helped West familiarize herself with new locations, and avoid sensory overload. In a twofold attempt to help West navigate high school, and keep her out of the way, Elle resurrects this childhood tradition. Elle creates a Treasure Map version of their high school: the cafeteria is Skull Rock, the gym becomes Pirates Cove, etc. West is skeptical of this new map, but in an attempt to remain close to Elle, she agrees to “play along.” After a series of misunderstandings and mishaps, both sisters gain skills that will help them better navigate unfamiliar territory.