The Mayo Performing Arts Center will host its first “sensory-friendly” performance Feb. 8 — the popular children’s show “The Rainbow Fish” — as it moves forward with plans to become more welcoming to those with autism and special needs.
Following in the footsteps of other local theaters — including Millburn’s Paper Mill Playhouse and State Theatre of New Jersey in New Brunswick — Mayo wants “to make the theater a place everybody can enjoy,” General Manager Ed Kirchdoerffer said.
“This is a great opportunity to let a group of kids who sometimes feel excluded to feel like they’re a part of something,” Kirchdoerffer said.
It’s a timely move: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year reported that 1 in 41 children living in the state have been identified with autism spectrum disorder. That’s about 2.5 %. Nationally 1 in 68 children have autism spectrum disorder, about 1.5 percent.
Mayo’s first step towards being more inclusive is a partnership with The Miracle Project, a respected national program that uses music, dance and theater to reach children on the autism spectrum. The non-profit is currently offering two of the project’s courses.
The second is offering sensory-friendly performances like this one. The changes to “The Rainbow Fish” will be relatively subtle: The house lights will stay on during the performance and the sound system will be turned down a notch. Audience members will be welcome to move around during the one-act play or encouraged to take a break in a “chill room” set up for that purpose.
But those tweaks make an incredible difference, said Gary Blackman, managing director of ArtsPower National Touring Theatre company, which produces the show. His company has been producing these sensory-friendly productions for about five years and have seen an uptick in requests for them.
“Adapting the light and sound levels removes something that may be a stimulus, but it doesn’t affect the quality or the integrity of the show at all,” Blackman said. “It’s not as formal as a regular performance, but that’s fine with us.”
At the suggestion of autism experts, Mayo hosted a “Meet Your Seat” open house for ticket holders last week so the theater wouldn’t seem foreign and scary. It also sent out documents with photos of the theater and the auditorium to set expectations.
On the day of the performance, there will be family bathrooms available instead of single sex ones.
“We want to create an environment that’s comfortable for everyone,” Kirchdoerffer said
“The Rainbow Fish” is based on the popular 1992 book by Marcus Pfister.
In the story, a fish with colorful scales finds friendship when he learns to share and look at inner beauty, not outer appearances. The stage show features illustrations from the book, which excites audiences, Blackman said.
The show’s stated target audience is ages 4 -10, the same age range recommended for Mayo’s second sensory-friendly performance, “The Little Prince” on May 7.
But Kirchdoerffer stressed that all ages are welcome.
“Sometimes families with a child on the spectrum don’t have as many opportunities to go out and feel included,” he said. “This show is a respite. It is set-up so they have a place to go.”
The Rainbow Fish
Mayo Performing Arts Center
100 South St., Morristown
Tickets: $12-15, available online at mayoarts.org. Feb. 8
Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.
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